So you have finally taken the time to remodel your kitchen. You gutted the place entirely, right down to the studs- even though that lovely orange and green wall paper may have been worth saving. You've matched the paint and cabinet color perfectly and you got your new tile backsplash and granite countertop, but yet something is just missing.



New kitchen cabinets are the biggest part of a kitchen transformation but the biggest detail that most people tend to over look is the door hardware. This small dazzling little touch can make all the difference in the world. Choosing the right door hardware can be tricky however, so it is best to decide what look you ultimately want to achieve and as always how much money you want to spend on them.

Traditional looks tend to use a smaller thinner handle for the doors and a matching knob style for the drawers. These would most likely range in color from brass, bronze, wood, or even a copper color. They may also involve some sort of detailing in the handle such as leaves are a barber pole effect in the design. This look is generally conservative and tends to be more attractive to middle aged people and over. The negative side to this look is that certain buyers or renters may feel that the kitchen will look outdated sooner even though they are new cabinets.

Modern looks tend to use a more masculine design by using pull handles for both drawer and doors. These generally tend to stay in the metallic color bracket and even more specifically stainless steel. The European Style Pull Bar is the epitome of the modern look. Providing a look like this is more appealing to today's younger buyers and renters because they are more comfortable with the thought that their investment will not be outdated or have an outdated feel to it. The negative side to a modern look is the fact that it may only appeal to a certain buyer and renter. This could in turn limit yourself to a certain niche? market if you are looking to sell your home.

The knobs and pulls are also a way of adding a touch of your own personality, since hardware manufacturers make everything from whimsical to themed hardware. In most cases it is tough to screw up adding hardware to a cabinet and making it look horrendous. There are many places to find new hardware so be sure to shop around. There are literally thousands of suppliers online that could quite possibly be cheaper than a retail store. Also be sure to spend the extra few dollars and buy a template to help you install the hardware especially if you are going to be doing this yourself.