Putting the finishing touches on your kitchen and bath design.
Story by Tracy Dickinson
Featured in Summer 2024
They say no outfit is complete without the right accessories. The same is true in decor, whether that’s artwork on the wall or throw pillows on the couch.
In the kitchen and bath, those finishing touches include hardware and accessories, details that often get overlooked or are given last-minute consideration. But accessorizing well can make an already beautiful design something truly special.
Keep It Simple
“Simplicity is the keynote of elegance.” —Coco Chanel
As with fashion, accessorizing your home is often most effective when done with simplicity and in a style that reflects your personal taste.
“I always tell clients, whether something is trendy or not doesn’t matter,” says Woodharbor’s Jammie Pekarek. “If it is something you like, it works.”
In the kitchen and bath, the cabinetry serves as the backdrop for those accessories. The hardware selection should enhance the cabinetry’s style, color, and finish.
Moehl Millwork’s hardware specialist says, “Size of the cabinet hardware can be the most difficult for homeowners to understand, especially since there are so many options available.”
She says the size of the cabinet should help determine the size of the hardware. “Upper kitchen cabinets typically have the tallest doors in the room, so pulls work well on these. On smaller doors, a knob is more proportional and also creates a design change.”
Selecting your hardware for both form and function ensures that it will not only complete the look of your space but will enhance the way you use that space also.
As Coco Chanel observed, elegance is often found in simplicity.
Consider Your Space
“The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.”—Coco Chanel
As Pekarek says, the colors that work are the ones that you like, whatever the current trend. But if you like to include trends in your home decor, there are ways to do that without creating a look that will be dated in a year or two.
For example, she says wall sconces are popular accessory items in both the kitchen and bath, but they aren’t something you’ll be replacing on a whim when fashion changes. “Choosing a sconce that complements the style and the other finishes in the space adds an updated look without being too trendy. Adding some floating shelves below the sconces is also a great add-on, which creates a nice focal point, especially in a small space like a bathroom.”
Kitchen & Bath Company’s Tina Noel says, “Mixed metals are popular right now, and this can work even in a small space, but you definitely want to coordinate your cabinet hardware with the faucet finish.”
“Mixed metals are popular right now, and this can work even in a small space, but you definitely want to coordinate your cabinet hardware with the faucet finish.”
Tina Noel, Kitchen & Bath Company
With the mixed metal trend, all the pieces do not have to come from the same product line or have a matching finish, but mixed metals also don’t necessarily mean anything goes.
Pekarek says, “I personally love it when you pick one or two metal finishes in a space because it adds texture and interest. I like to do the lights, the faucet, and the cabinet hardware matching and then use a complementary metal with a similar finish for the bath hardware and bring that same metal in with accessories, like a framed mirror.”
Noel says, “I’m seeing lots of honey bronze, especially with black, which is so popular right now. In a beautiful textured metal instead of a smooth finish, this is a very versatile choice that outlasts the trends.”
Your home’s style shouldn’t prevent the use of current trends or your personal taste. What you love always works best. But adapting trends to fit your taste and your home is a sure way to accessorize well.
Balance the Practical with Some Pop
“Fashion changes but style endures.”—Coco Chanel
Once you have your colors and finishes selected, bringing in some fun accessories can add interest and function as well.
In addition to sconces in bathrooms, towel racks are a functional accessory that should be part of your design choice rather than an afterthought. “I’m seeing more people wanting the towel rack warmers,” says Pekarek. “They add style and comfort. It’s so nice to have a warm towel when you step out of the tub or shower.”
In the kitchen, many of the accessory items are actually hidden from view, keeping countertops free of clutter and using wall space for cabinetry.
“Pull-out spice racks, canister storage, even paper towel storage—all of these free up counter space and allow the cabinetry and countertops to shine rather than your kitchen supplies,” says Noel.
Moehl’s hardware specialist says, “We’re seeing a lot of different pot racks in kitchens today, which can be a real statement piece. More new homes are also incorporating a true butler’s pantry or scullery space behind the kitchen so that all the mess and clutter of cooking can stay out of sight, leaving the kitchen and dining areas tidy when entertaining.”
She says another fun way to add pop to a kitchen is by choosing hardware that is as decorative as it is functional. “So many kitchens have different cabinetry around the perimeter, so selecting different hardware on those cabinets is a nice finishing touch, whether it’s a different style or a different color. I’m also seeing hardware used almost like jewelry to accessorize the display cabinetry. Why not make the hardware a display piece, too?”
As Coco Chanel famously said, “Dress poorly and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”
The same is true of your home. Accessorizing well is one way to create a memorable space for you and your guests. •
Resources
- Hardware specialist Moehl Millwork
- Tina Noel Kitchen & Bath Company
- Jammie Pekarek Woodharbor
