How We Choose : Hardware

Two new series in one week?! Insane… I know. Things are getting wild here at Room for Tuesday. Ha! In all seriousness, I’m just as excited to start this collection as the Room 101 series. We’ll be covering how to make good purchasing decisions for different types of products. Living in a time with accessibility and the internet at our fingertips is amazing and convenient- but there are plenty of challenges that come with shopping remotely. First up…. learn how we choose hardware! Click through for the details.

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Questions to ask yourself prior to purchasing hardware:

• What is the door (or overall) style?
• How will this piece look with my existing decor?
• What is my budget?
• What is the appropriate size hardware needed for this door, cabinet, wall, etc? Scale is important!
• What does the installation process look like?
• What are the requirements I need (privacy door knob vs. passage, dummy, etc)?

Here’s a list of things to check / consider when you’re purchasing hardware online (or in person).

• Consider the weight. It’s deceiving to determine if it will look “cheap” once installed just by looking at a photo of hardware. A heavier weight is typically a good indication of a better quality product that will look good- no matter the price.
• Order one piece prior to placing the full order. Trust me- this step is worth it. Seeing the finish is person is key and it’s 100% worth investing the extra time and small shipping cost.
• Read reviews. I’m one of those people who reads reviews, but it’s important to note- not all reviews are created equal. Some people have high standards, others skew a little low. It’s a tough call. Regardless, reviews can help with purchasing decisions! Lots of good reviews are a great indication of an awesome product. It’s always a bonus if someone takes the time to post a photo of the actual product.
• Check the material. With hardware, it’s easy to differentiate good materials from bad. Metals, glass, wood and leather, for instance, are great materials. On the opposite end of the spectrum, avoid plastic, hollow and painted products. Product images can be deceiving, so check the specs!
• Measure the size every time. Even I’ve fallen prey to this… I’ve impulsively made a purchase without checking the dimensions and it ends up arriving in the mail, I excitedly open it, only to discover it’s way too big or small. Every single time I make an online decor purchase, you better believe I whip out my measuring tape and visualize the piece in person. SO important!
• Shop around. You’d be surprised that the same hardware can be sold at so many different price points. Google the name or model number and find the best deal. Some people don’t like spending the time (and that’s totally fine), but I love scoring something for less.
• Shop outside the box. In addition to shopping around, check unexpected resources. Rejuvenation is not the only place that sells fantastic hardware. Believe it or not, some of my best finds have been from Etsy. Even though Anthropologie seems like a prime choice for clothing, their hardware is also top notch. You can also find the manufacturer of these products and buy direct from the manufacturer in some instances.

I would like to chat about how I landed on the hardware in our new home. So far, we’ve installed all of the door hardware for the interior doors, closet doors, and exterior doors. I got everything from Nostalgic Warehouse (love love love their products!). We’ve yet to address the kitchen, so cabinetry hardware will happen later down the road. When selecting door hardware, I knew I wanted something classic, timeless, unique shaped, brass, and knobs with a backplate.

Our interior door style is pretty simple… each door has three panels, with the center panel being the smallest. The backplate perfectly anchors the center panel balancing the visual weight. I’m still gawking at the beautiful hammered texture on the knob.

For the closets, I wanted the same finish, but smaller backplates and a different knob style. I landed on classic ovaled knobs. These were installed on five sets of french doors throughout the home and they look stunning! Now if only I could kick myself into gear and finish painting all the doors.

I’m a big fan of purchasing the interior and exterior door hardware from a single company so the finishes match exactly. With that being said, I’m not into the super “matchy, matchy” look… that’s why I opted for a different hardware style on the closet doors.

The exterior hardware is equally important. If you’ve been following our renovation, you might’ve noticed we replaced a digital keypad lock system to a traditional locking set. I definitely prefer the way it looks and our home feels more secure. Emmett voted for the digital keypad, and I voted for the traditional set. We tried his option for awhile (compromise, people!), but it never worked properly. We’re actually happier with the set we landed on below. It feels much more appropriate with the door style and brick exterior.

Here’s how it looks from the inside… nice and clean.

One last thing to note on interior / exterior doors… if you’ve never had to purchase hardware before, you should familiarize yourself with a little door set lingo. When it comes to door sets, privacy, passage, and dummy are common terms.

• Entry = This is a lockset that operates with a key on the exterior and a turn-piece/button on the inside. Entry sets are used where security is important (like your back or front door into your home).
• Privacy = This is a lockset which can be locked by a button or turn-piece on the inside, but has no key function. They are used on interior doors in bedroom and bathroom applications. Generally all privacy locksets have an emergency entry hole on the outside to allow easy access to a room if needed.
• Passage = This is a lockset which has no locking function at all. It’s used anywhere a locking function is not needed… like closets or entrances to rooms where privacy is not an issue.
• Full Dummy = These sets are full-size door knobs or handlesets that have no mechanical latch mechanism. They are flush mounted and require no mortise, or hole, through the face of the door. Full dummy sets are used in certain decorative applications such as double doors, closet, pantry, and utility space doors. A dummy knob or handleset cannot be distinguished from its fully functional counterpart by simple visual inspection, allowing it to blend into the hardware scheme of your home.
• Half Dummy = Same as the full dummy,  but instead of a pair of knobs or levers- a single knob or lever is provided. Generally used on linen closets and other closet applications where a matching knob or lever is not needed on the inside of a door. Acts as a pull only and are screwed onto the face of the door.
• Interior Mortise = Typically found on vintage interior doors. Knobs turns and operate a latch. A skeleton key is used to lock and unlock the door (I actually had these at my previous home, shown below).

Alright, let’s transition into cabinetry hardware…

This is an entirely different thing, but the shopping process is the exact same as interior / exterior hardware (weight, finish, etc). You will need a new set of vocabulary though…

• Recessed Pulls = Recessed pulls mount into the cabinet, and are flush with the door. These have a great, custom, vintage look!
• Cup / Bin Pulls = Cup or bin pulls contain a rounded, cup-like shape that is easy to pull open. Their heavier, unique shape is what makes them popular.
• Knobs = Knobs are self explanatory… these looks great on upper or lower cabinetry doors.
• Bar Pulls = Bar pulls are shaped like a handle. They’re sometimes referred to as “t-bar” pulls.
• Appliance Pulls = Appliance pulls are like bar pulls on steroids. They’re made especially for heavy, large scale doors (like appliances or pantry doors).

If you’re on the hunt for a certain style, it’s definitely helpful to search using the correct term. You wouldn’t believe what a difference something that simple makes.

I know at least one person will ask, so if you’re interested in the links for the products above: recessed pull | cup / bin pull | bar pull | appliance pull | knob

Once you’ve decided on hardware, here’s a handy tutorial on where it should live on your cabinetry. It’s so easy to install hardware in the wrong place- you don’t want that.

It’s also important to note, don’t limit cabinetry hardware to just the cabinets in your kitchen. These are great on built-ins and furniture, too!

I tried to cram as much info as possible into this post, and with the other new series kicking off last Monday- I’m sure you guys have had enough for the week! Did you find any of this helpful? I’m really looking forward to this series and am eager to share tips for buying difficult products. Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!!

If there was a competition for the top spot of which decision during the house build has been the hardest to make, then choosing our interior door hardware would be a strong contender! It was important for me to find a style that would work well throughout the house, a metal finish that would complement the other fixtures and quality hardware that would hold up over time.

Door hardware is probably not the first thing you'll notice in a room, but it's definitely not something to be overlooked. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...details like these make a big impact on the way a home feels, so I don't regret all the time I spent going back and forth on this!

With all the different styles, finishes and types of hardware to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start and how to narrow it down. I learned a whole bunch through the process of choosing our interior door hardware, and I'm going to break it all down here.

With competitive price and timely delivery, CORNER sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

START WITH FUNCTION

A good starting point is with the practicalities, and working out what kind of door hardware you will need in your home. I used our house plans to make a list of all the interior doors, and then tallied up the different types of hardware we would need:

Passage hardware (for doors that don't need to lock)
Privacy hardware (for doors that need to lock eg. bathrooms)
Dummy hardware (one-sided "fake" hardware for reach-in closets and the fixed side of a set of double doors)
Flush pulls (for our pocket doors)

With this list in hand, the next step is to consider the style of interior hardware that will work best with your home.

CHOOSING A STYLE

Door hardware is a great way to reinforce the overall design style of your home. It's subtle, but it really does make a difference. Although I'm definitely mixing it up with different decor styles, overall I want the bones of our home to feel timeless and classic, so I was drawn to more traditional hardware that would bring some age and depth to our new construction.

The other thing to take into consideration is the interior door style. Our interior doors are simple 2-panel shaker style which have the potential to feel very modern/minimalistic paired with clean-lined door hardware. Instead I opted for a classic rectangular rosette which has a decorative detail around the edge, along with simple Providence Knobs to hopefully achieve a more transitional look.

For the most part, this is the style of hardware I'll be using everywhere in the house, but there are a few doors that get special treatment. All the pocket doors (the office, laundry room and toilet room in the primary bath) will have 6" flush pulls. The dining room french doors leading to the back patio will have Merrimack Levers instead of knobs since they are exterior doors. And the kids' bedrooms upstairs will have Melon Knobs with Rope Rosettes for the closet doors—a fun little detail that will only be noticed once inside the room.

Overall, I am keeping the style as consistent as possible, but it can add interest to change it up a little, as long as it's done with intention.

CHOOSING A DOOR HARDWARE FINISH

Picking a finish was the hardest part of the process as there were so many good options to choose from. I changed my mind multiple times because there were a lot of different elements to consider.

My first consideration was the practicalities of each finish. I love the look of unlacquered brass and polished nickel, but could my perfectionist side handle the fingerprints? Probably not. For that reason, I decided to stick with a matte option.

That narrowed things down a lot, so at this point it was choosing something that would complement the door color (SW Modern Gray—a light taupe) and the other fixtures I had already decided on in the house. The hardware finish would essentially become the main metal finish in the house since it's repeated everywhere, so it was important for me to get it right.

I eventually landed on Oil Rubbed Bronze which is something I never would have considered at first. I think I'd discounted it as brass and matte black are having a moment right now, but when I took a step back and looked at how it might work in my home, I realized that Oil Rubbed Bronze could be the perfect match.

Emtek's Oil Rubbed Bronze finish is a beautiful rich black/brown with an aged feel. It provides that high contrast look—similar to matte black, but with more softness. It's a true "transitional" finish—it feels both modern and timeless, exactly what I wanted. It will complement the accent metal finishes I'm using (brass and nickel) and act as a neutral anchor to pull it all together.

METAL FINISHES: TO MIX OR NOT TO MIX

I’m a big fan of mixing metal finishes when it’s done well. It adds a lot of depth and character to a space. However, my personal preference is to stick to one metal finish for all the interior hardware so that it feels cohesive throughout. I will be layering in different metal finishes in other areas—lighting, mirrors, and plumbing fixtures.

The one area I'm breaking my own rule (although you might not even notice) is with the flush pulls, which are actually solid bronze vs. brass with a bronze finish.

It's also a good idea to match hinges and accessories (eg. flush bolts, ball and catch) to knobs/levers. Emtek has matching hinges available for all their finishes.

MY TOP TIPS FOR CHOOSING INTERIOR HARDWARE

To recap, here are my tips for choosing interior hardware:

1. Function goes first: make a list of what you need.
2. Consider the style of your home and your interior doors.
3. Mix up styles if you like, but don't overdo it.
4. Choose a finish that works with the style of your home—don't worry about trends.
5. Be consistent with your door hardware finishes throughout the house. Add accent metal finishes with lighting and other fixtures.

If you are on the hunt for hardware for your home then look no further! Emtek is such high quality and I cannot WAIT to see this beautiful hardware installed in the house—just a few short weeks away now.

Our home is built and I am thrilled with how the door hardware looks. It is timeless and looks like it belongs—exactly as I was hoping! Here's a few sneak peeks of our new home: