Home Front: One size does not fit all

Hardware is the jewelry of kitchen and bath cabinets. Failure to select appropriate hardware for cabinets in a new kitchen can compromise the look, feel and enjoyment of the finished project. The challenge for homeowners in the Mount Washington Valley is that the unlimited options make it extremely difficult to select the perfect combination of knobs, pulls and other hardware without the help of an experienced professional.

Cabinet hardware is made from a broad range of materials, from wood and brass to iron and even leather and everything in between. Hardware ranges in size, shape and material. Most hardware pieces are fixed, but some operate as latches. Cabinet hardware is attached by integrated woodscrews, woodscrews from behind, glued tenon, machine screws, bolts and nuts. Some hardware pieces come with backplates to protect cabinets from finger oils, others come with decorative escutcheons, but most hardware is sold as standalone without any type of backplate.