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Top Knobs Launches New Social Media Mood Board Campaign

July 29, 2021

Top Knobs, the leading manufacturer of decorative kitchen and bath hardware, announces the 2021 Mood Board Campaign. Top Knobs is calling on architects and designers to showcase their design inspirations and innovations by posting their mood boards, featuring Top Knobs hardware, for a chance to be featured on Top Knobs’ social media channels.

The campaign, which runs from August 2021 through December 2021, celebrates the art of visual design and thoughtfully crafted presentation.

On the first Monday of each month, starting in August, Top Knobs will announce a theme, via social media, as a guideline for participants to follow. Design professionals are then invited to post their mood board, inspired by the given theme, to their own social channel. Participants are asked to tag Top Knobs and use the hashtag #TopKnobsMoodBoard for a chance to have their design reposted with credit on Top Knobs’ Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

“Every month, Top Knobs lends creative encouragement to our design community in the form of meticulously curated flat lays and mood boards,” says Warren Ramsland, President of Top Knobs. “We’d like to turn the tables and offer an opportunity for talented design professionals to share their ingenuity, craftsmanship and personal style with their peers and celebrate their talent with our vast network.”

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

A Mid-West Kitchen Gets an Industrial Update with Top Knobs

August 19, 2020

Before finding success as an award-winning kitchen designer, Dave McFadden had a long and accomplished career as a mechanical engineer, leading design teams for several electronic manufacturing companies. After changing course to follow his creative passions, McFadden started his own firm, PB Kitchen Design, lending his architectural expertise to clients longing for one-of-a-kind interiors.

Interior Designer Dave McFadden

Based in a small Chicago suburb, McFadden’s artistic style draws upon the surrounding city’s contemporary architecture and blends with the traditions of mid-west homes. It is with this unique approach that he received top honors for an industrial kitchen renovation in Top Knobs inaugural “Design Board Contest”.

With the objective of presenting a designated kitchen space where the homeowners had ample room for meal prepping and entertaining, McFadden and the team at Kubala Washatko Architects based all of their design decisions on creating a space that complemented the home’s existing modern appearance.

Top Knobs Industrial Kitchen Design

“The key to this project was to create a kitchen fitting of a residence with strong industrial aesthetics that works equally well for quick family meals or large gatherings,” said McFadden. “Warm, organic and sturdy materials were specified to enrich the integrity of the design.”

Although the completed space is nothing short of spectacular, McFadden faced a few challenges throughout the design process. The expansive windows above the sink and large hood above the range meant there was limited space for upper cabinets. With a need for additional storage, he was strategic about lower cabinet placement and utilized the expansive island to include 42” cabinets. While the unusually high ceilings could not support optimal lighting, suspended structural beams were installed to create an impressive light fixture.

Top Knobs Industrial Kitchen Design

With the foundation of the kitchen complete, Dave McFadden combined transitional elements and luxurious finishes, to complete the look of this avant-garde kitchen. The floors are composed of polished concrete, stone and wood cladding were used on the walls and Top Knobs Flat Sided pulls in Silicon Bronze Light adorn the cabinets.

Top Knobs Industrial Kitchen Design

View more of Dave McFadden and PB Kitchen Design’s work here:

Website: https://pbkitchendesign.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pbkitchendesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PastBasketDesign

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.de/PastBasketDes/boards/

 

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

Q & A with Interior Designer Ariana Lovato of Honeycomb Home and Design

June 17, 2020

California based Interior Designer Ariana Lovato has made a big name for herself in the design community. As Owner and Principal of Honeycomb Home Design, she has always had a spark for design and all things creative. Recently named an NKBA 30 under 30 during this year’s KBIS she has a keen understanding of kitchen and bath design and brings a distinguished edge to interior spaces.

Ariana’s talents were on full display in a kitchen renovation that was selected as an honorable mention in Top Knobs’ inaugural Design Board Contest. This dreamy farmhouse kitchen was carefully crafted with love after a fire had destroyed the owner’s original home. We had the opportunity to delve into Ariana’s design decisions, creative inspirations and much more during a special Design Board Member Spotlight Q & A.

TK: Tell us about the kitchen and how it fulfilled your client’s plans for their home.

AL: This was a whole house re-build. We completely redesigned this home from the ground up due to a devastating house fire. My clients are elderly so I worked mostly with their daughter who lives in Houston, TX. We corresponded mostly via Zoom and email to make their decisions. We designed the single level home to accommodate their large family with a big open floor plan, a large kitchen island and butler’s pantry, 4 bedrooms, 4 baths and a spacious master bath.

TK: Which Top Knobs hardware did you use for this project?

AL: I used the Ascendra pulls and knobs in Sable in the kitchen and also in Brushed Nickel in the Master Bath.

TK: Tell us what made you choose Top Knobs hardware for this design?

AL: We wanted a sturdy piece of hardware but did not want to compromise on style. I found the Ascendra collection and I fell in love! The Sable finish was the perfect contrast to the white cabinetry in the kitchen. We used the brushed nickel in the master bath against the stained wood cabinetry.

TK: Did you run into any challenges with this specific project?

AL: The plans that my client had drawn up by their previous architect yielded a much more craftsman style home. My client was wanting more of a modern farmhouse style, so we had to make some changes to the exterior and interior as we went. That was challenging, but I think we did a good job of incorporating the touches they were looking for.

TK: We’d love to know more about you and your design firm can you tell us more about your background?

AL: My name is Ariana Lovato, Owner and Principal Designer of Honeycomb Home Design. Honeycomb Home Design is a full-service Interior Design firm located in Pismo Beach, CA. I grew up on the coast and moved to Los Angeles to attend FIDM for Interior Design after high school. I moved back home upon graduating, earning a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of LaVerne, and worked for designers, builders and even in the tech world for a start-up company before branching out on my own in 2016.  I had been moonlighting for a couple years and had a small savings and a whole lot of determination. Design has always been a passion of mine and I love working with my clients and making them happy.  Our design aesthetic is based upon our client’s tastes, but we always try to streamline and modernize finishes to highlight architectural details. Now, we have a team of 3 designers and usually work on about 15-18 projects at one time.

TK: Where do you turn to for new ideas and inspiration?

From other designers. I also love Kelly Wearstler, Vanessa DeLeon and House of Bohn’s work.  I also find inspiration from travel. Earlier this year my trip to Malaga, Spain fueled my passion for handmade tiles!

TK: Which design trends are you most excited about in 2020?

AL: Terrazzo!! It is everywhere right now and I am not mad about it!

TK: What’s the best interior design lesson you have learned?

Pay attention to scale. It’s one of the fundamentals of design but it is so important especially when you are playing with patterns. Also, double-check your measurements. That was not a fun lesson to learn but it had to happen. From a business perspective, I would suggest to hire out the things you are NOT good at (i.e. bookkeeping), but I encourage everyone to know how to read a balance sheet and a profit and loss sheet so they can do their own check-ins.

View more of Ariana Lovato’s work here:

Website: www.honeycombhomedesign.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeycombhomedesign

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeycomb_homedesign/ or https://www.instagram.com/ari.lovato_/

Photography provided by Ariana Lovato and Marcel Alain Photography

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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.

Top Knobs Announces the Winners of the 25th Anniversary Design Board Contest

January 7, 2020

Top Knobs, the leading manufacturer of decorative kitchen and bath hardware, announces the five winners of its inaugural Design Board Contest. Entrants including interior designers, architects and trade professionals, were invited to submit their Top Knobs projects for a chance to win up to $5,000.

The Design Board Contest ran from June 3, 2019, to November 1, 2019, and winners were selected by a panel of design professionals led by Top Knobs President, Warren Ramsland.

“The Design Board Contest has provided our supporters with a platform and community to celebrate, share, and express their extraordinary designs,” says Ramsland. “We are filled with gratitude from the number of responses we received in our first Design Board Contest. To see the unique designs in which Top Knobs has been a part of has truly been an honor.”

Winning Designs

Grand Prize – Dave McFadden, PB Kitchen Design, Geneva, IL

Dave McFadden used the Flat Sided pulls from Top Knobs Aspen II Collection in Brushed Satin Nickel in his kitchen design. McFadden focused on creating a kitchen fit for entertaining while maintaining the industrial aesthetic of the rest of the house.

Second Place – Craig Couture, Cypress Design Co., East Providence, RI

Craig Couture remodeled a 1940s Rhode Island home with the goal of keeping the home’s existing character while creating a functional modern space. In the kitchen, Couture used Knobs and Pulls from Top Knobs Devon Collection in Honey Bronze to add a touch of warmth to the space.

Third Place – Katie Borchardt, Jean Stoffer Design, Chicago, IL

Katie Borchardt was tasked with creating a custom kitchen that was both elegant and functional for her client. Borchardt used the Rounded Pulls, Round Knobs, and Oval Knob Backplate from Top Knobs Aspen Collection in Light Bronze to harmonize the kitchen’s two-toned cabinet design.

Honorable Mention – Ariana Lovato, Honeycomb, Home Design, Arroyo Grande, CA

Ariana Lovato designed the home of her client’s dreams after a fire destroyed their previous home. With a modern farmhouse aesthetic in mind, Lovato opted for the Ascendra Knobs and Pulls from Top Knobs Transcend Collection in flat black to help bring the rustic design scheme into the kitchen.

 

Honorable Mention – Meadowcreek Builders, Inc., Waukesha, WI

The team at Meadowcreek Builders, Inc. transformed a dark and dated kitchen complete with an adjoining dining area into a bright and spacious retreat for their clients to enjoy. They used Top Knobs Somerset Weston Pulls and London Knobs in Old English Copper to add contrast and texture to the space.

Click here to view the full image gallery of the winning designs.

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

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