Help me choose hardware for new kitchen?

Question

Small galley kitchen with Bisque maple cabinets in the shaker contemporary style with bisque appliances. Stainless steel sink, chrome faucet. Light ivory, cream granite (Bianco Romano) with garnet flecks. Tone on tone look. I like oil rubbed bronze for hardware but think chrome or satin nickel would be more modern and tie in the sink/faucet. Also since kitchen is small I was wondering if I could mix handles and knobs for visual interest since color scheme is so neutral. Or would that look too "busy"? Any input would be great. I haven't picked paint or back splash. Overwhelmed!

Answer 1

I just re did our kitchen in almost the same exact colors except I have large single bowl bisque sink and stainless faucet and appliances.
Personally I like the stainless steel with the bisque better than the oil rubbed bronze. It's a cleaner, brighter look and easier to find matching accessories. Although the oil rubbed bronze is nice, it's hard to find matching hooks, knobs and hinges unless you want to spend lots of $$.
I have 3 colors I used with with the eat in kitchen. We used Sherwin Williams Banana Cream on the walls above the chair rail/paneling. Then did the chair rail and paneling in Behr's Laurel Mist and the trim in Behr's Gobi Desert.
Walls were satin finish. Chair rail in semi gloss and paneled bottom was semi gloss. All crown moulding, and trim and the cabinets were done in high gloss. Doors in semi gloss.
On the backsplash I did 13X13 ceramic tile in a bisque and sand that I had cut in half and then got 3X3 glass tiles in Celedon to put in the middle and the other half of the tile on top. Everyone that's seen it so far says they're going to do it on a project in their house so I'm happy that I chose it that way :). I wouldn't do too much that looks busy on the hardware because it's so expensive. I'd keep the kitchen united with the stainless and add punches of color with accessories(dish towels, curtains, rugs) and other kitchen gadgets. Then when/if you get tired of it, it's easy to change colors and refresh the entire kitchen's image again.
I found tons on Ebay. Got the stainless knobs and inset hinges for literally a quarter of the price I found in HD or Lowes. SAME EXACT product! I'd find what I wanted in the stores and get on Ebay and find the sellers that sold in bulk and bought them that way. One even had 6.95 shipping for any quantity. That gave me money left over to spend on something else for the kitchen. Good luck and hang in there. When you get it all done, it's sooooooo worth all the headaches!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Oil rubbed bronze is a beautiful look, especially with the kitchen you're describing. And it's a pretty "hot" look right now - considered fairly modern. Personally, I don't like chrome, but do like brushed/satin nickel. I'd have a hard time choosing in your shoes - for me, I'd either go with the bronze and replace the faucet to match, or go with the brushed/satin nickel (and eventually replace the faucet - it would bug me). (:

You can mix handles and knobs for visual interest. My personal preference is to use just one overall or one type of knob and one type of handle - that way it is more cohesive and less busy. However, I've also seen every knob on every cabinet/drawer be unique and have it turn out surprisingly well.

You might also consider your lighting finish to help choose hardware. My Mom replaced her kitchen ceiling fan to one with copper to match her existing copper hardware - it made an amazing difference.

Good luck! (:

Answer 4

Chrome or satin nickel is your best choice for what you have chosen. Mixing handles and knobs is the new home builders choice. We just moved into our newly built home. Handles go on the drawers, matching knobs on the doors. It's beautiful both in the kitchen as well as the baths. You will like the look. I have cherry cabinets and wood floors with brushed nickel handles and knobs on all cabinets in the kitchen. With your granite you will want a creamy warm porcelain backsplash and you can be as creative here as you want. Have a kitchen specialist help you lay it out before you decide. My granite is black, grey, white flecked so my backsplash is also a lighter rendition of that. You can choose to do listoles all around or fashion blocks over the cooktop area. Paint in your kitchen should be in the same color family as the rest of your downstairs area for consistency and flow.