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7 Steps to Achieving the Kitchen Island of Your Dreams

March 30, 2022

Improve your kitchen functionality with a few simple additions

The workhorse. The dining table. The desk. The prep station. Today, kitchen islands have become more than just a focal point – they’ve become the center of activity. Making prep work, entertaining, and dining easier than ever, the kitchen island provides endless functionality. And the best part? You don’t have to sacrifice beauty. It can be both functional AND beautiful.

From under-counter storage and housing your appliances to stylish small details like mix and matching hardware, you can take your kitchen island from workable and efficient, to sleek and stunning.

Check out our tips below on how to create a dreamy kitchen island:

It’s All in the Details

Is your style more traditional, modern, minimalist, or transitional? Do you prefer bold accents or subtle charm? No matter what you love, make sure you choose hardware that perfectly complements your style. With knobs, pulls and appliance pulls available in over 25 collections and 30 finish options, choose from endless decorative pieces to help create the ultimate focal point.

The Modern Metro tab pulls shown in Flat Black is a sleek showstopper.

Decorative Hooks and Storage

No one likes a cluttered countertop…right? Consider adding a few well-positioned hooks under your island counter to add a decorative yet purposeful touch, allowing you to hang backpacks, small pots, or other items, all while freeing up counter space.

The Ryland collection of decorative hooks offers added personality and storage to your space in familiar styles that complement some of Top Knobs’ most popular decorative hardware pieces.

Seating

For some homeowners, island seating is an informal area used for quick meals and to connect with whoever is in the kitchen. For others, it’s a more formal area where many meals are shared. No matter how you use your kitchen island seating, we recommend keeping the following in mind whenever choosing new seating: chair height, comfort, and style.

These gold metal bar chairs are the perfect complement to this kitchen island. The bronze finish brings a pop of color to this traditional kitchen and perfectly pairs with Top Knobs’ Honey Bronze hardware that adorns the cabinetry, while the height and spacing leave enough room for guests to sit comfortably.

Storage

Being the central hub, it’s only natural for the kitchen island to become a drop zone for everything from books and laptops, to schoolbags and snacks. Adding additional storage like a small bookshelf or cubby helps keep items neatly stowed away and organized.

Cabinetry

While the options for cabinetry seem to be endless, have fun exploring customization options that help make your island yours. Taking the time to add extra detail to your cabinetry like glass panels and column legs, to bold colors and open shelving creates the perfect opportunity to have your island shine in the kitchen.

One trend we love is incorporating a pop of color – the contrast of the white kitchen cabinets and black kitchen island creates a neutrally cohesive, yet stunning look.

Integrated Appliances

You’ve chosen the perfect countertop, but do you really want to clutter it with appliances? For a real space saver, we recommend integrating appliances like a microwave or wine fridge into your island to maximize space and storage.

And for an easy and stunning upgrade, swap your appliance pulls for a perfectly matched look throughout the kitchen. Our Regents Park and Morris collections offer robust ranges of styles and finishes, allowing you to take customization to the next level.

Mix & Match Hardware

A simple, yet subtle, design choice to elevate your cabinetry even further is to mix and match your decorative hardware. The combination of knobs, bar pulls, and cup pulls, can give your island a slightly different look and feel without straying too far from your kitchen’s overall design.

Our go-to favorite, the Channing Series, offers knobs, pulls, cup pulls, and backplates that can be combined to establish a cohesive look.

For more products, trends and tips from Top Knobs, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

Kitchen Cabinets and Decorative Hardware, a Perfect Pair

April 21, 2020

Kitchens have become one of the most significant rooms of the home when it comes to interior design. With so many components to consider, their versatility in function and style is a large part of what makes kitchen design so exciting!

There’s always a surprising number of decisions to make, and as the defining layer of a kitchen’s layout the cabinets you select might arguably be the most important. The options for style, size and color are just so abundant, and many kitchens need a carefully thought-out combination of cabinetry and decorative hardware to convey the perfect look.

Whether your interior taste leans more towards sleek and modern or you find yourself longing for a vintage farmhouse look, Top Knobs is here to help you find the perfect cabinet and hardware paring for your kitchen. Below, we highlight the most popular styles of cabinetry among today’s homeowners with complementing hardware that are sure to elevate your home.

Traditional

The most formal style of cabinetry, traditionally designed cabinets embody elegance and sophistication. The doors often feature raised panels with intricate woodwork. Traditional cabinets can be found in rich wood tones such as cherry, mahogany and chestnut.

Elaborate hardware in bronze and copper tones add a distinctive finishing touch to traditional cabinets. Detailed embellishments like those found on the knobs and pulls in our Somerset Collection, further enhance the finesse of traditional cabinets.

Shaker

Popular with today’s younger generation of homeowners, Shaker-style cabinets showcase a timeless design with a simple and clean look. These cabinets have a five-piece door with flat recessed panels and a thin frame and are available in just about any color.

Thanks to their versatile design, Shaker cabinets can be paired with a wide variety of hardware. For a classic look we suggest opting for simple hardware with a flat design in a subtle finish like our Brushed Satin Nickel or Polished Chrome. For a look with added interest, we suggest adding contrast to the cabinets with hardware featuring ornate details such as pieces from our Cobblestone Collection.

Contemporary

Featuring a streamlined overlay surface, flat doors and little to no details, Contemporary cabinetry lends to a modern, high-end kitchen design. While their details may be minimal Contemporary cabinets can be found in a bevy of vibrant hues to create a bold and glamorous look.

When selecting decorative hardware for contemporary cabinets, we suggest maintaining their sleek design with tab pulls from our  Europa Series or Minetta Series in on-trend finishes like Flat Black, Ash Gray or Honey Bronze.

Glass-Front

Meant to be paired with traditional styled solid cabinetry, glass-front cabinets are a great way to make a statement in the kitchen. Generally used as upper cabinets, they serve as a functional place to show off your personal style and display glassware, bowls, vases, cookbooks and more.

For this style of cabinetry, we love a matching look and recommend paring with hardware inspired by glass. The soft delicate details of our Emerald Crystal knobs or a selection from our Crystals Collection, complements the refined design present in glass-font cabinets.

Farmhouse

A modern take on traditional design, farmhouse cabinets feature charming characteristics with rustic influences. Often made from reclaimed materials such as shiplap and beadboard Farmhouse cabinetry are almost always painted white or a soft neutral shade and highlights the natural textures found in wood.

Farmhouse cabinets are best adorned with bold hardware that makes a statement. Hardware like the cup pulls from our Channing Series, knobs from our  Kingsbridge Series and pulls from our Arendal Series in finishes like Flat Black and Tuscan Bronze add to the allure of a vintage farmhouse design.

For more products, trends and tips from Top Knobs be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter, and Pinterest.

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