How to choose cabinet hardware? Part II - material

In the second part of the guide on choosing furniture handles, we present the available materials - from metal, through plastic, to wood and natural leather.

Metal furniture handles

The material also determines the style of the handle or knob to some extent. The classic ones will most likely be made of metal: nickel- or chrome-plated steel, varnished or aged brass, in a polished or brushed finish. A less popular metal, but currently gaining popularity, is copper – here we will more often find models with a simple form, as well as industrial-style ones, reminiscent of copper pipes used in home installations.

Metal handles can of course also have modern forms, or even completely minimalist ones (for example, edge handles, which, next to the tip-on system, are the epitome of discretion) - the material gives you a lot of scope for creativity. What's more, it can be varnished in any color or supplemented with decorative inserts, e.g. made of enamel or mother-of-pearl.

Plastic handles

A similarly universal material is plastic, which allows for unlimited imagination when it comes to shaping the final product, but is slightly less resistant to mechanical damage, such as scratches.

Furniture handles made of natural materials

For those looking for originality and at the same time natural materials, wooden handles are appearing on the market (made of solid wood of various species or plywood - cut into any flat shapes and stained in various shades of brown) as well ashandles made of natural leather, which are still gaining popularity.

The latter can take various forms and colours, although they usually remain in a palette close to the colours found in nature, and are usually complemented with steel or brass fittings.

Wooden and leather handles will be warmer and more pleasant to the touch than metal or plastic, but remember that these types of materials need to be cared for and maintained from time to time with appropriate products.

Summary

Finally, it is worth remembering that furniture handles made of different materials can be combined. For example, brass handles with leather handles, especially in shades of brown, go together perfectly, and even better when complemented with brass fittings.

In the photo: Lade Ny #1 furniture handles in black leather