Decorative Embellishments

Sometimes you only have to look as far as hardware to give a room a fresh new look. From hooks to hinges to drawer pulls, Matthew Manz illustrates just how much decorative hardware can enhance a home.

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Filed under: Decorating, Frames, Doors

Decorative drawer pulls, hinges and even switch plates can really tie a room together. When you want to dress up a kitchen, a favorite piece of furniture or even the front door, decorative hardware can get the job done.

Drawer pulls aren't the only way to add embellishments to a piece of furniture or decorative accessory like mirror frames. You can easily jazz up these items with nail heads.

Decorative hardware provides the ability to show your personality by the chosen finishes or styles. The hottest thing right now is an oil-rubbed bronze (or weathered) finish, which is designed to change over time.

As far as rules for decorative hardware, it's probably best to stay with one finish within a kitchen, but you could vary the pull styles. Use something completely different in other areas of the home for a statement.

The most traditional type of front door entry is a thumb latch, but a new idea is just a massive pull with great presence. A locking mechanism is concealed above it under a matching piece of hardware.

No door is complete without hinges. From knuckle hinges with finials to H- and L-shaped options, there's a hinge for every taste and every budget.

For another personal touch, check out switch plates. They're generally inexpensive, easy to change yourself and there's a limitless selection of different metallic finishes as well as ceramic, porcelain and enamel options.

When looking for new hardware, go to the store with the center-to-center measurement (between the two screws) of the existing furniture or cabinet pulls to make replacing them easy.

With all of the choices, selecting new decorative hardware can be overwhelming so try starting with something that's been bothering you for awhile.

When shopping for decorative hardware, don't forget about the exterior of your house as new doorknobs, mailboxes and weathervanes add character to your property.