Whether you are looking for a more modern look in the kitchen or you just want some cabinet hardware that will stand up to the abusive use of your family, you may want to consider steel.
Once you hear the name, you likely understand that steel cabinet hardware is stronger than many other pieces of hardware you would select for your home. Being a tough metal, steel hardware will be able to handle the kids running through the house hitting things against it, banging the cabinets together, and the other trials they are going to put it through.
Additionally, the silvery metal of steel is at the top of today’s trends for kitchens and cabinets, being marvelously modern pieces. If you have already purchased or are considering purchasing steel appliances, think of how well matched your kitchen will look when your cabinet hardware matches the appliances.
Before you start shopping for steel hardware, you have to make a list of what you need to get the job done right:
Type – There are many types of cabinet hardware out there. From knobs to pulls and handles, you have a few decisions to make on the type of hardware you want for your kitchen. If you are renovating, and adding these pieces on to cabinets that are already in place, you will need to go with pieces that will fit the old cabinetry unless you want to do some refinishing work.
Style – While cabinet hardware is made to be functional, these days it is just as much about décor. Look around at the other items in your kitchen and make sure the hardware pieces you are considering will suit the rest of the feel. For example, if you are going for a modern décor style, you are not going to want ornate steel hardware; you want something crisp and sleek.
Measure – If you are retrofitting new hardware on existing cabinetry, you must know what size pieces you need. If you have knobs, this is not much of a problem, as there is only one. But, if you have handles or pulls, you will have two holes that need to be lined up. Therefore, you must take a measurement of the space between those two holes. This is the same amount of space to be between the entry points on the new pulls. One smart rule of thumb is to take one of the old pieces of hardware with you and compare it to the new pieces under consideration.
Numbers – This may seem like a common sense thing, but many people forget to take an accurate count of the number of knobs and pulls they need before they leave for the store. Once they get there, they guess how many, and often get home to start installing their hardware and find out there aren’t enough pieces to complete the task. Start at one side of the room and count all of the pieces. Write this number down and take it with you.
A modern and sturdy set of steel cabinet knobs and pulls is not far away. With just a few screws and a little planning, you can have a kitchen that looks new again and is stronger than ever.