How We Choose : Hardware

French-Door-Closet-HardwareTwo 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.

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)?

Rosette Backplate HardwareHere’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.

Hammered KnobI 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.

Brass Door KnobOur 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.

French Door HardwareI’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.

Exterior Door KnobHere’s how it looks from the inside… nice and clean.

Exterior Door HardwareOne 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).

glass door knobAlright, let’s transition into cabinetry hardware…

Modern Cabinet HardwareThis 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.

hardware diagramI 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

Brass Cabinet HardwareOnce 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!

Built In HardwareI 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!!

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19 Comments

  1. Hi Sarah! Absolutely love your hardware choices….they’re beautiful! Could you please share the link to your exterior set? Thanks!

    1. Thanks, Celeste! Absolutely… you can find it here: xo

      1. Thanks for the reply! Link isn’t showing up for me…could you please repost it?

          1. Woo, thanks!! :)

          2. What finish did you get? Thank you for sharing the link!

          3. No problem! Antique Brass

  2. Another fantastic post, Sarah, and I envy all of the amazing hardware you show here. I’m especially enamored of your interior door knob and backplate. They are gorgeous. Thank you for the excellent advice and recommendations. Cheers, Ardith

    1. Thank you, Ardith! The hardware is probably my favorite thing about our renovation so far… I love it and I’m glad you guys do too! Thanks again. Hope you had a wonderful weekend. xo

  3. Tomas Killington says:

    My wife is currently decorating our apartment. She wants to hang some photos, so she wants to go to the local hardware store and choose the hardware she needs. I didn’t realize how important it is to consider how much weight of the hardware to ensure it is a better quality product. I’ll be sure to share this info with my wife.

  4. Hi there, I was hoping to purchase the exterior/interior door handle set that you have. Do you mind me Asking which finish you purchased it in? I wanted Vintage Brass , but the dealers don’t seem to offer that for an option with interior and exterior. They only seem to offer the exterior set in vintage but no interior sets to match. Thank you

    1. Hi Callie! We have the New York Handleset, “S” Grip… in the Vintage Brass color. For any questions, contact Sean directly (he’s amazing and super helpful): sfierst@nostalgicwarehouse.com . Hope this helps! xo

  5. Sarah, Wonderful post. Can I ask when choosing cabinetry hardware. Do you think it has to be the same finish in the bathrooms as it is in the kitchen? Also, if you have brass door hardware, should you use brass for the cabinetry hardware as well? Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Susan! Excellent question… no- it definitely does not need to be of the same finish / color. You can mix and match in a room, you can mix and match in a home- and even from cabinets to entryway doors. Hope this helps! xo

  6. Hi Sarah
    We are renovating our home and I am working on interiors door hardware. This post was very helpful. Just wondering about the color of the door hinges and if you prefer square or round? Thank you!

    1. So glad to hear that Leslie! I really don’t have a preference… it just depends on the door style. Sometimes installation of one is easier than the other, also something to consider.

  7. Carlyn Albers says:

    Hello! What a helpful (also beautiful and inspiring) article! Choosing door styles, color and hardware right now and this was super encouraging! ;) I’m doing three panel shaker style doors and want vintage brass knobs with the longer base plates . . . but they’re crazy expensive! Was thinking of using the New York style w/ the longer base plates on the master (double doors) and the french doors into the office . . but the shorter plates on the remaining bedrooms etc. Was thinking it would be an appropriate mix & match situation? :) What are your thoughts? Also, do you know the black paint color you used (& the sheen)? We are doing black on our interior doors as well and I’m trying to figure out how shiny to go. Looking at Tricorn Black or Black Beauty in terms of colors. Thanks so much!!

  8. Greta James says:

    My sister is thinking of building a new home on the outskirt of the city and really wants to create a welcoming sophisticated mood in the home. I really love the good door hardware on the black door with the white trim and red brick I think the contrast looks super sophisticated. I think my sister would love something like this in her new home.

  9. Hi Sarah,
    My wife and I are interested in the exterior/interior that you have in your article. Can you please share the link where we can purchases.
    – Thank you