Choosing Hardware for Your Custom Home

Captivate with Hardware 

Your home's hardware is like its jewelry.  It can be functional and durable, but more importantly, it helps to set the tone of your home and envelope visitors into your personal style.  A simple way to add charm to your home is by carefully picking hardware that captures your style, adds character, and catches the eye of your guests. 

The best part about architectural hardware is the variety! You can express opulence with trending styles, such as bronze drawer pulls in the kitchen or a brass faucet to match your classic clawfoot tub, or maybe pursue a sustainable route with handcrafted leather-and-wood pulls and reclaimed architectural elements.  These details may seem small, but they are one of the guiding factors that pull the complete lookof the home together. 

Architectural Hardware 

It is an encompassing term for locks, hinges, doorknobs, levers, cabinet knobs, even your mailbox and chimney damper handle fall into this vast category.  From the locks on your shutters to the light switch plates in your formal dining room, hardware makes an impression.  When you are renovating your home or building a custom home, you'll want to identify what look you are trying to convey, where you want to put your emphasis, what works best in your climate, and, of course, your budget for the project. 

Hardware for Your Home

Whether your style is traditional, classic, contemporary, modern or eclectic, the hardware that you choose should have the hallmark that it adds to your life, it doesn't distract from it.  Hardware that is seamless and functions well will be much more pleasing in the long-term than hardware that is overly fussy or of a cheaper builder's grade that may need replacing sooner than expected.

Recently, a client wanted to build a home that was influenced by his favorite vacations around the world.  He chose an Old Key West-style exterior and this helped to determine what types of architectural details, including hardware, would be part of this project.  With a vision that the home was to be elegant, masculine, classic and welcoming, the client worked with his designer and our team to find the perfect blend of hardware.   The outcome would have been pleasing to the likes of Ernest Hemingway and other Key West residents who love the Florida lifestyle.

Where to Place Architectural Hardware

There are obvious places for hardware, such as your front door handles, while other details such as door kick plates and doorbell plates may seem secondary.  They all work together to create a cohesive composition. 

Your custom home is your oasis, and it's up to you where you want to enjoy a visual treat versus simple functionality.  One homeowner may want a custom walk-in closet that looks like a Nordstrom boutique while another would use something basic.  It's your custom home - let your heart guide you! 

Craftsman Style Homes

One great example of architectural design that showcases architectural hardware is the Craftsman.

Craftsman style is popular in Tampa Bay, not only because of their functionality and artistic accoutrements, they are often a reflection of a time in an area’s history. People love these styles because of their smart use of space, ample windows and the flexibility in designing them to feel casual or formal, with plenty of room to customize. They are unique in that they capture a mix of historic and modern features that help them stand out from the rest of the homes on the street, even when other homes nearby may be of similar style.

Turk Custom Homes gravitated to renovating and constructing new Craftsman-style homes because of our admiration for the original detailing—as the name suggests— its craftsmanship, as well as, its respect of nature and inclusion of art. Originally the design become popular in the late 1800’s, in a time when mass-production of homes became popular, home buyers began looking for houses that showcased hand-worked, original, and creative architecture features that spoke to the blood, sweat and tears put into the project. Craftsman style homes effortlessly emanate personality from every nook and cranny of the interior of the home. From vaulted ceilings with revealed beams, prominent fireplaces with handcrafted tile surrounds, clever use of seating and storage space, to the small-but-significant details in lighting and hardware, a craftsman style home is sure to capture the essence of artisanal style and luxurious feel you’d hope for. 

Installing hardware and finishes in a Craftsman style home can be simple. The classic look and feel of hard wood floors and cabinetry pairs well with copper, bronze and metal hardware for your sinks, tubs and door handles. The simple yet classic style found in craftsman-style homes adds enough charm to grab attention but won’t outshine the architecture of the home. 

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