A Room-by-Room Guide To Choosing Architectural Hardware
With expert advice from Croft...
Architectural hardware is used throughout the home, but what works well in a kitchen is not necessarily the right choice for a hallway, bedroom or staircase. While coordinating finishes and designs can help create a consistent look, scale, comfort and function should also influence what is specified in each space.
Paul Clifford, Managing Director at British architectural hardware manufacturer Croft, shares his room-by-room advice on choosing hardware that works together visually while still being right for the job.
The kitchen
“The kitchen is a good example of why one type of hardware does not always suit everything. A small cupboard door, a deep drawer and an integrated fridge are all doing different jobs, so the hardware should respond to that. Knobs can work well on lighter cabinet doors, while longer pulls or more substantial handles are often more comfortable on heavier drawers and appliances. They can all come from a coordinated collection or share the same finish, but the format should suit what you are actually opening."
"The same applies to handled and handleless cabinetry. It does not have to be one or the other. Heavier integrated appliances or drawers that are opened repeatedly can often feel more comfortable with a handle, while less frequently used cabinetry can remain handleless. It comes down to how each part of the kitchen will actually be used.”
The hallway
“Hallways are often where you see several doors at once, so this is one area where consistency can work particularly well. Using handles from the same collection or repeating a finish helps the different doors sit comfortably together. You can then carry that finish into adjoining rooms through cabinet hardware or other fittings, creating a connection from one space to the next. Comfort is important here too, because these are handles you use throughout the day. They need to sit naturally in the hand and feel right for the size and weight of the door.”
The staircase
“The staircase is another opportunity to continue a finish through the home. Stair rods can pick up the brass, bronze or nickel finishes used on nearby door furniture, helping the staircase feel part of the wider scheme rather than something treated separately. They do not have to be identical in tone to every other fitting, but there should be a relationship between the finishes so the space feels connected.”
Bedrooms and living spaces
“Bedrooms and living areas allow a little more flexibility depending on the character of the room. A more decorative lever might suit a bedroom or formal living space, while something simpler could work elsewhere. The same applies to cabinetry within those rooms. A cabinet knob or pull can sit within the same collection as the door hardware, or simply pick up the same finish or design detail. That helps create continuity without forcing exactly the same piece into every application.”
Across the home
“One of the most important things is not to choose hardware purely because it looks good in an image. These are pieces you physically interact with every day, so how they feel matters just as much.Does the lever have enough projection? Is the pull comfortable to grip? Is a small knob really the best choice for a heavy cupboard door? These are simple questions, but they make a big difference once you start living with the space.
The best approach is to think about the home as a whole while still choosing each piece for its specific purpose. Coordinated finishes, collections and proportions can create consistency, but the hardware also needs to work properly in the room where it is being used.”