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Sometimes the smallest decisions can be the most difficult.
When it comes to home renovations and new home builds, you would think that choosing your cabinet hardware color would be one of the easier, quicker decisions - but that isn't always the case.
One of the first decisions you have to make with cabinet hardware is about the finish. Easy enough, right? Well, not necessarily. We get questions every day from customers wanting to know what cabinet hardware color is right for their project.
...and many more questions.
We understand that there are many different colors of door and drawer hardware finishes on the market, so it is not surprising that the seemingly simple task of choosing the right finish of cabinet hardware can turn out to be not-so-simple after all.
Well, let's see if we can help out.
This is Part I of our four-part series on cabinet hardware finishes. In each of the four article we will examine our most popular cabinet hardware finishes.
We have broken down some of these popular finishes into four different groups based on color characteristics:
We will take a look at what each finish coordinates with, the esthetic of the cabinet hardware in that finish, and a bit about the finish itself.
So, let's get started with the cabinet hardware in the EARTH TONES and maybe we can see if any of these earthy cabinet hardware colors are right for you.
When it comes to interior design, earth tones are typically hues that are rooted in nature and tend to be more calming and soothing. In cabinet hardware, the earth tones are those same muted finishes and they generally have hues inspired by nature like moss, bark, or amber.
So let's dig in here - get it? ...earth, dirt, dig...
Hands down, one of our favorite earth tone finishes is the antique copper! After a brief absence from the design theater, we are seeing lots of copper pop-up in home design, especially in kitchens, and we love it!
In cabinet hardware, antique copper is a refined finish that boasts a warm, brown-reddish undertone with a smattering of black patina. The antique copper finish is part of the earth tone family of colors because of its organic, rustic feel. Keep in mind that the antique copper finish is forged to purposely simulate aged metal, which simply adds to its beauty and genuineness.
Cool tones - especially soft muted shades of blues and gentle greens - look stunning with antique copper knobs or pulls.
And we just love the dramatic look of the antique copper knobs or pulls with deep rich shades of blues such as navy or magenta.
Fixtures: Think mixing metals! Antique copper cabinet hardware mixes perfectly with metal faucets and light fixtures like graphite, iron, stainless steel, weathered nickel, cast iron, and more. The contrast of the different metals strikes a balance and warms up a kitchen. We also love these pulls with the ever popular copper sinks.
A copper sink and bronze fixtures blend perfectly with the antique copper pulls.
Appliances: The chic "old-fashioned" inspired appliances seem to be all the rage right now, especially in the whites or taupe shades. Many of these "old-new" appliances have copper-colored trim, so of course, this is a great pairing with antique copper hardware. But, don't worry, stainless steel, slate, white - and all the standard colors go well with the antique copper hardware too.
Oil rubbed bronze cabinet hardware has been around for a long time. For the past couple of decades it was the "go-to" finish for cabinet hardware, especially in kitchens. Although not as popular as it once was, it is still classic finish and will likely forever have a place in kitchens and bathroom design.
The oil rubbed bronze finish is hard to pin down. The finish itself can vary from dark gray tones to a deep chocolate brown, depending on the manufacturer, the material and the product.
Our oil-rubbed bronze cabinet hardware is generally closer to the deep chocolate brown tones. The knobs and pulls have a rich toasted brownish-black base which is complemented by golden-reddish-scarlet undertones. The chocolatey umber finish is set against a ruby chestnut patina that peeks through on the edges of the knobs and pulls.
It may sound like there is a lot going on with this finish and there is, but just like in nature, all these colors just blend together and we find that the oil rubbed bronze cabinet hardware is actually one of the softer, less complicated finishes that we offer.
Making a splash on today's home decor scene is antique brass and it seems to be popping up all over the place, from wall color, fabrics, faucets, fixtures and, of course, in cabinet hardware.
True brass in its natural form is light yellow with brighter gold inflections and you probably know that as true brass ages its finish drastically changes. Our antique brass cabinet hardware is manufactured to replicate that aging process and the result is a much different finish from its cousin brass. Antique brass cabinet hardware still has a golden base, but it has a lower luster gold, not as much yellow and deep brown viridescent hues. It has some moss brown intonations that are closer to the earth tones than the brighter golds.
We love the warm sun-baked colors with the antique brass cabinet hardware. Taupe, khaki, beige, tans, earthy greens, and other natural, simple colors make for a lovely organic design look. Natural or distressed wood cabinets and vanities make a for a really warm pairing as well.
On the other hand, bold colors like emerald or cobalt, and deep reds or crimsons magnificently complement antique brass cabinet hardware.
Cool colors like light greens, pale blues and even light yellow work well with the antique brass cabinet knobs and pulls as the amber undertones are drawn out. Stark white cabinets and vanities are warmed up with the brownish tones of the antique brass cabinet hardware.
Fixtures: The antique brass hardware compliments brass, golden toned, and bronzed tone faucets and lights. We love the finish with darker finishes as well - like blacks or copper. We recommend using matte finishes for faucets and lights rather than more shiny finishes that would have a sheen.
Appliances: Stainless steel, graphite and other more popular finishes all coordinate well with the antique brass finish. Taupe, white or ivory appliances also work well.
Calming cottage to busy Moroccan-inspired designs can all benefit fro a splash of antique brass. The subdued pallet of the pull and its understated tones let it blend into pretty much any design.
The brushed antique brass cabinet hardware finish is similar to its very close cousin, antique brass, and even shares a similar name. However, despite their similarities, when it comes to cabinet hardware, there are notable differences between the two finishes.
The brushed antique brass hardware is chemically darkened to simulate aged brass. Cabinet hardware in this finish has a medium to dark, muted brown-grey-green finish with deep warm golden undertones. Brushed antique brass cabinet hardware also has 'brushed' strokes which are created in the manufacturing process to simulate use and aging.
Brushed antique brass hardware against wooden surfaces, from dark woods like walnut to light woods like pine, is one of our more favorite looks.
White kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanities make a wonderful pairing with the brushed antique brass cabinet hardware. The neutrality of white blended with the warmth of the brushed antique brass finish is perfection.
Earth tones or dark kitchen cabinets like chocolate and black are all great back drops for the brushed antique brass hardware. These warm and cool colors blend well with this adaptable finish.
Fixtures: Copper sinks, black iron faucets, or muted nickel pendant lights will all pair famously with the brushed antique brass cabinet hardware. That mixing metal look works with this finish as the browns and greenish tones really compliment a number of different metals.
Appliances: The grassy undertones give the brushed antique brass finish its stability and versatility making it easy to pair with stronger colors like black, stainless steel and graphite appliances. Depending on the design intent, the brushed antique brass knobs and pulls can work well with lighter appliances including stark white.
Although aged and vintage, the brushed antique brass finish is refined and works perfectly in modern design spaces.
Blends nicely with neutral colors and darker woods, brushed antique brass cabinet hardware can be found in a number of different design styles including, traditional, country-chic, retro, Arts & Crafts, transitional, farmhouse or European.
A furniture rehab to die for! This solid maple dresser was restored with love and finished with the brushed antique brass cabinet pulls and cup pulls.
And there you have it, our most popular cabinet hardware in the earth tone family. As you can see, earthy tones can fold into so many different design styles, from rustic to craftsman, traditional to minimal and the warmth of the cabinet hardware are a compelling backdrop to an array of color pallets. Who knows, maybe one of these cabinet hardware colors is right for your project.
Feel free to leave us a comment and let us know if any of these cabinet hardware colors worked for you.
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