Those who won in Rio can be found post-games posing with their hard-earned medals (gold, silver and/or bronze) at news conferences, talk shows and celebrity events.  Olympic hardware is pretty delicious — and not just because the athletes like to take a playful chomp during photo-ops — the heft and quality of the medals is obvious.  That’s why hardware is one of my favorite elements in design.  Well-crafted hardware not only looks good, if feels good.  Handling a door knob or drawer pull that’s cast and detailed to perfection is like nothing else.  Install beautiful, substantial hardware throughout a residence and the home will have guaranteed gravitas and soul.

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

Door hardware is often one of the first impressions a home can make; it’s an introduction to the story inside … and an opportunity to have a little fun!

(left) vintage brass door hardware with starburst escutcheons via Pinterest  (center) beautifully handcrafted and complex via Tumblr and (right) vintage fish knocker at Comer & Co.

THE FINISHING TOUCH TO CABINETRY

A lot of care goes into the design of millwork, so we want to honor the craftsmanship with the right choice of hardware.  Whether it’s nickel or bronze, knob or pull, ornate or simple — all depends on the vernacular of the residence.

(above) We settled on this hardware collection for a Florida master suite because it has a rustic and organic elegance, a perfect fit for the casual but sophisticated beach-side residence.

(clockwise from top left) The following hardware styles – contemporary in Delray Beach, traditional in Darnestown, Colonial in Virginia and transitional in Bethesda – installed in Huntley & Co. projects.

JEWELRY FOR FURNITURE

Sometimes the success of a furniture piece depends on the hardware.  This handcrafted gold pull wholly represents our credo of modern glamour and was just the magic this custom H&Co. console required.

Gold Branche pull by Objet Insolite glows against the grey shagreen finish of the console.

DESIGNING FROM SCRATCH

Hardware is always essential, but in some cases, it is actually at the heart of the design – as it was in the case of this custom H&Co. trunk.  The antique brass English plate handle was integral to the design process and chosen specifically for our Irish client.  From inspiration, to drawings, to fabrication — no detail was left behind!

(above) the selection process

(below) detailed drawings for our fabricator,  (bottom right) the finished upholstered trunk with plate handles, nailheads, pop-up lid and concealed drop-down door

ON THE ROAD DISCOVERIES

These are the kind of photos I download from my trips.  Forget tourist traps and lounging on the beach.  No, my idea of heaven is snapping shots of door hardware and cabinet knobs.  Can you say #designaddict?

(left) incredible Van Cronenburg at the AD Design Show,  (center) selecting horn pulls at Ochre,  (right) egg knobs and chicken wire at the Marlton Hotel

(left) a collection of heavyweight pulls in Arizona,  (center) Salamander Farm’s entry door hardware,  (right) a brass flag mount perhaps?

I could easily post a hundred more photos of hardware.  Instead, go to Luxe & Lucid’s “interior architecture+details” page on Pinterest.  This much great hardware will make you a #designaddict too!