Archive for December 3rd, 2009
Unfortunately, not every homeowner is born with a tool belt on his or her waist. The reality is that most home improvement projects are out of the average person’s reach. Assembling and installing kitchen cabinets is a tough job; so is replacing kitchen countertops. However, there are plenty of tasks around the house which can be handled with just a little patience and an eye for detail. One of these is replacing the hardware on the cabinets themselves. You may have heard of it as part of a cabinet refacing job. There are many ways in which some simple touches – the handles, knobs and pulls – can help complete the design of your kitchen overall. It may sound tricky, but it’s easier than most people think. Here are five ideas for using hardware to create a different, better look on your cabinets.
1. Try flash over regular. Sometimes, the drab look of a cabinet’s color scheme can drag down the entire feeling of the room. One way to combat this effect is to make a bold statement with the hardware. Try a silver and gold combination to wake up an ordinary cabinet. If you have stainless steel appliances, this move can make your cabinets seem like a necessary component of the room, rather than dead weight.
2. For a toned-down design, keep the sparkle to a minimum. For a kitchen that relies on grays and earth stone colors, you don’t want to go too far with hardware. In fact, if there is too much of a sparkle on the knobs and pulls, they are primed for replacement parts. See what the effects of brushed nickel can have on this more neutral design.
3. For the country kitchen, simplify. Rooms that say “country estate,” opt for the elegant simplicity of embossed tin pulls and knobs. Rather than compete with the large presence of such a room, use subtlety on the hardware. Small, round pulls will get the job done, in as quiet a color as you can find for your darker cabinets.
4. Bulk up for the ideal rustic look. Hand-hewn cabinets have the appearance of a rustic, firm presence in the room. It would be a mistake to try and tone this look down. Instead, try and meet the cabinets head-on – and even go one step further – by adding a bulky black cabinet and handle system. The rough black metal will not be overpowered by the strong appearance of the cabinets, and you will have a room that lives up to its promise.
5. Don’t get burdened by a single approach. Most designers recommend thinking about the room in a variety of different ways. If focusing on the materials and colors doesn’t work, try mixing in different sizes and shapes. For every room, there are going to be ideal accents. Spending a little bit of time on different options will go a long way.
Fixing up your home is easy with the right help. See how Sears windows can turn around the style and lighting in your home. For kitchen projects, Sears Cabinet Refacing is an excellent and fast solution.