Putting a door knob in the middle of the door adds a unique touch to your room.

Each home is a testament to its owner’s tastes, preferences and interests, and it’s the details that make it so. Whether you’re building new, adding a room, or pursuing a simple face lift to a kitchen or bath, hardware is a detail which merits careful consideration.

As with all details, hardware accomplishes needs of both form and function. While a specific appearance may be desirable, competent performance is essential. Generally, it is the project budget that determines the degree of unique, lavish, or durable your product will be. Imagine a doorknob in the center, rather than the usual position at the door’s edge. An otherwise functioning hardware necessity becomes an artistic statement.

At the other end of the spectrum is invisibility – cabinet doors without knobs and with completely concealed hinges offer simple, clean lines and allow rich hardwoods an

unblemished presentation. How you choose to mix the ratio of appearance to performance can be constrained by more than just dollars.

If matching existing hardware or adhering to a specific theme is your goal, choices are more limited. If along with a face lift you wish to eliminate those sticking, combative cabinet drawers or bathroom privacy locks that fail at inopportune moments, quality “glide” hardware for drawers and trusted brand name lock sets can be investments that pay huge dividends in peace of mind.

Read the full article in the CalFinder Remodeling and Home Solar Power Magazine