Brushed metal, leather, knurled and acrylic pulls are among the cabinet hardware finishes making a splash in kitchens
Finding the right hardware finish for your kitchen cabinets is every bit as important as selecting the cabinets’ style, stain or color. Depending on your selection, cabinet hardware can serve as a bold accent piece or virtually disappear into the background.
We asked established kitchen designers and remodelers to share which cabinet finishes they’re loving right now and how they use them to elevate a space. Read their recommendations and tips, then let us know which cabinet hardware finish hits the sweet spot for you.
Carl Mattison Design
Allison Lind InteriorsMatte black. Allison Lind of Allison Lind Interiors in Seattle is also loving cabinet hardware with a little less shine. “Personally, I’ve never been a fan of chrome because it feels so cold,” she says.
For this recent kitchen renovation, Lind paired matte black pulls with crisp white cabinets. “If you’re aiming for some drama or interest, go for a bit of contrast, like black pulls against white cabinets,” she says. “I will never say no to black. It’s classic, sleek and bold.”
Focal Point HardwareKnurled. Cabinet hardware pieces with a textured finish, especially knurled pulls, are getting lots of attention.
“Certainly metal is still what we see used the most,” says Alicia Saso of Drury Design in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. “That said, some manufacturers have taken metal hardware to the next level and done pieces that are knurled.”
Saso recommends using a knurled brass pull against a dark stained or painted cabinet. “This way the hardware becomes a subtle accent piece,” she says.
Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design LLCEmbossed. Metal pulls and knobs with embossed patterns are great for adding character and subtle pattern to a kitchen.
Elizabeth P. Lord of Elizabeth P. Lord Residential Design in Denver used embossed brass knobs for the upper cabinets in this kitchen remodel in a historic home. “Cabinet hardware is the jewelry of the kitchen, so I use it to make a statement that adds a personalized detail to the design,” she says.
Inspired Spaces, Inc.2. Go Beyond Metal
While metal is still the most common material used for kitchen cabinet hardware, designers and remodelers note that other materials are starting to gain attention.
Leather. If you’re looking to add a warm, natural vibe to your kitchen, you might want to consider leather pulls or leather-wrapped hardware. “Leather hardware adds a simple texture that people don’t expect,” says Kaitlyn Stokes of Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Minnesota.
Inspired Spaces used leather cabinet pulls in this recently remodeled San Francisco kitchen.
Tri State KitchensAcrylic and glass. If you want a fresh look that adds a little glam, acrylic or glass hardware might be the way to go.
Chad Esslinger of Chad Esslinger Design in Chicago agrees: “Acrylic or glass hardware combined with metal is a nice look for modern kitchens.”
Tri State Kitchens added acrylic-and-gold pulls to this contemporary kitchen remodel in Brooklyn, New York.
Kitchen Art Design3. Complement Appliance Panels
When it comes to creating a refined-looking kitchen, concealing the appliances behind panels is an elegant approach. But to take your paneled appliance to the next level, you’ll want to choose the perfect hardware.
Sabrina Moncion of Kitchen Art Design in Vancouver, British Columbia, added a reeded metal cabinet pull to a paneled dishwasher in this recent kitchen remodel. “I love the black-and-gold combo,” she says. “It’s a striking look, and the contrast demands your attention.”
Studio DearbornSarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn added custom oak cabinetry with a chevron pattern to conceal the refrigerator and pantry storage in this recent kitchen remodel in Westchester County, New York.
Long wood-and-brass pulls for the refrigerator and pantry doors provide a furniture look that elevates the space.
CHAD ESSLINGER DESIGN4. Create the Perfect Mix
No matter the cabinet hardware material, getting the combination of pulls, knobs, latches and other hardware elements just right is key to a successful kitchen renovation.
Pulls and knobs. The most common kitchen cabinet hardware types are pulls and knobs, but deciding where to use them and where to forgo them can make a dramatic difference in the overall look of the space.
“I usually suggest pulls for all drawers, and knobs for doors,” says Esslinger, the Chicago designer. “Except when it comes to taller doors, like pantry doors, I like to use longer pulls.”
Esslinger used this combination of pulls for drawers, knobs for doors and longer pulls for pantry doors in this recent kitchen renovation, with great success.
Olympic KitchensLeave off upper-cabinet hardware. If you want a clean-lined modern kitchen, forgoing hardware on upper cabinets is a good option to consider.
“Clients are loving the clean lines of no hardware on upper cabinets, mostly in contemporary spaces,” says Louie Katsis of Olympic Kitchens in Toronto. “Pulls on upper cabinets can often look bulky, depending on the pull selected.”
Katsis opted to forgo hardware for the high-gloss upper cabinets in this recent contemporary kitchen remodel. The stained-wood lower cabinets have low-profile pulls.
1. Take the Shine Off
Many of the kitchen designers and remodelers we talked to have been moving away from cabinet hardware with highly reflective metal finishes, such as chrome or polished nickel, in favor of metals with brushed, matte or textured finishes.
Satin brass. “Currently I am loving satin brass, or what is sometimes called champagne bronze,” says Carl Mattison of Carl Mattison Design in Atlanta. “It is a matte brass in a soft tone that works well paired with darker cabinet colors and wood cabinet finishes.”
Mattison used satin brass for the cabinet hardware and the faucet in this recent kitchen remodel. The warm brass knobs pop against the black upper cabinets, as do the brass pulls against the stained wood lowers.