Decorative Hardware

You might think that there’s nothing special about a paper towel holder, and if your into buying the generic type that looks like a flimsy piece of tin hanging on your wall, then there isn’t.  So lets change the way you look at certain types of decorative hardware when it comes to your kitchen or bathroom, by not creating the stereo-type most folks label as ” it’s just another ” one of those common everyday items.

Just take a look at that hand wrought black iron beauty in the picture above and maybe you can see why it needs to be shown off!  Other types of decorative hardware items that should be given more attention to are toilet paper holders, robe hooks, towel rings, switch-plate covers and strap hinges.  So remember that even the so-called ” lowliest ” of bathroom accessories and kitchen cabinet hardware can and should become the shining star on any household wall or cabinet!

Does the interior of your home look a little incomplete?  Replacing the old worn out decorative hardware with some new restoration hardware could make the interior of any room in your home shine.

It’s kind of like that empty robins nest in the picture above.  Yet in the spring, mama robin does a little remodeling of her own and adds something new that looks like something old, get the picture.  Whether your restoring door hardware, bathroom hardware or kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls, you don’t necessarily have to change the look of your decorative hardware, just a little newer!

Why do we always think to replace just the cabinet hardware on your kitchen cabinetry or bathroom vanity?  Have you ever considered replacing the  decorative hardware that’s on your china hutch or entertainment center or, maybe even the drawer pulls that’s on your bedroom dresser?

You could match those old knobs and pulls with your kitchens hardware or try something unique.  So lets get going and have some fun with your creativity, and with a little effort, your old furniture will come back to life as your reward.

Restoration hardware is any type of hardware that is used to make your house look nicer.  Restoration hardware can be used in several ways to update the style of your home.  Any type of hardware can be used for restoration purposes.

One example of using hardware for restoration purposes is door hardware.  A beautiful new hand crafted set of door knobs will add a look of elegance to your home. A second example of using hardware for restoration purposes is bathroom hardware.  By replacing all your bathroom hardware with stylish updated hardware you can add a new feel to your bathroom.  A third example of how you can use hardware for restoration purposes in your home is to replace old kitchen hardware.  You could easily give your kitchen a new feel by adding new kitchen cabinet hardware.

Just the smell of that country air is enough to keep you coming back for more, so shouldn’t the interior of your home have that same effect?  Sure, your home is made of logs and stone, but does it have that special touch that gives it that cozy character?  So maybe we should give it some of that rustic charm. 

Instead of the term “decorative hardware” lets use the lesser known but well fitting phrase “mountain hardware” for your log homes interior design theme.  Maybe instead of a polished brass or chrome finish that’s used on most kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls, try a very unique and different wrought iron look that some companies have to offer when choosing your “mountain hardware”. 

Just remember that the same love and charm you gave to your homes interior, is the same love and charm the blacksmith used in creating the mountain hardware that is now used in it.

My home in Montana borders National forest lands.  It’s very common to view all different kinds of animals right from my back porch and I have taken some amazing photos of the many different species of wildlife that call my backyard home.

Last week a small herd of elk decided to pay me a visit, and was surprised when 2 of the bulls began to challenge one another with displays of hate and anger.  The largest bull was sporting a huge rack of mountain hardware just waiting to gore his opponent with, while the other bull was quite a bit smaller in size, but showed no signs of backing down.

The fight was on and lasted for about 15 minutes when the smaller bull decided it was time to leave, and boy did he!  I will say he gave the large bull a run for his money, but for now, the winner had the herd back to himself, and after awhile they all disappeared back into the woods as quickly as they came.

You can make vast improvements to the comfort of your home and expect to get back a great deal of your investment at resale, but only if you avoid these common mistakes.  First, deciding on the right investment is very important, but whatever that investment is, it will only pay off if others like it as well.  If your favorite color scheme is lime green walls with a bright pink entry door, don’t expect others to pay as much for it as you would.  Keep your investments mainstream and classy, unless the sole purpose of your investment is for personal use. 

Also, don’t go overboard.  Many people assume that the better the house the more it will sell for.  This is true only to a certain extent.  Keep your price range within 25% of the other houses on your block, if you raise your price above this you will likely have a hard time selling it, even in a good market.  If your house has trendy amenities it is likely to sell faster, but these trends tend to become out dated quickly. If you are looking to remodel for your own taste, do whatever your heart desires, but you should not expect others to pay as much as you would for those fancies.

My grandpa taught me many good things about life.  He was a kind and gentle man who loved his country store and the many customers that he called his friends.   His business was very successful because of his hard work and diversity with his products.

You name it, his store carried it, from your common nail to even some very unique bathroom accessories.  There was also a grocery section and an area where you could sit down and enjoy a cup of his special blend of coffee!  Although he passed away, his store still stands there as bright and cheerful as the man that built it, my grandpa!

Resolutions can be a tough thing to keep, but this one was a little different because it involved my home this time and not so much myself.  It was a new year and of course still in the middle of winter, and good old springtime was just around the corner which meant that I would be redesigning the interior of my house, something that I had been wanting to do for years.

I was down to deciding on what style of decorative hardware I would use on the interior doors of my home.  I was kind of interested in maybe a Southwestern rustic look that hopefully was handcrafted from wrought iron.  Whatever my decision, I knew that with a little bit of hard work and thought, I would finally have the house of my dreams.

Volume has become the buzz word in real-estate lately.  You can add volume to your home in a number of ways, and you cannot go wrong with more volume.  One of the best ways to add volume to your home is by adding and replacing your old windows.  According to Remodeling Magazine a Window remodel can fetch an 84.5% return on investment.

Windows with fewer cross hatches and bigger panes add more volume.  The more easily you can see the outside the more volume you will add.  Also, change that old exterior door as well, and add a new one with a lot of glass.  Other things you can consider are mirrors.  Mirrored closet doors are the new trend in smaller homes.  They add depth to an area without any.  With properly placed windows and mirrors you can really increase the volume of your home.