Kitchen and Bath design news

Today Kitchen and Bath Design news sent me an e-mail about decorative and functional hardware appeal, which I thought was informative and helpful. Here it is:

With inexpensive upgrades increasingly in demand in the kitchen and
bath, consumers are turning to unique decorative hardware to give their spaces a
mini makeover. On the decorative front, simple elegance remains a hot trend,
with custom hardware pieces that mix and match materials increasingly being used
to add a stylish note. In functional hardware, ease of use, space efficiency and
accessibility are among the hottest trends.


Below are some of the hottest trends in decorative and
functional hardware:

The challenging economy has led to a rise in "mini makeovers,"
creating strong demand for unique decorative hardware pieces that can help to
provide an inexpensive kitchen upgrade.

In decorative hardware, cleaner, simpler lines are gaining in popularity, while unusual finishes help to add a point of differentiation.

• 
  Satin nickel and bronze continue to be hot finishes in decorative
  hardware, while polished nickel is challenging polished chrome as the preferred
  finish.


• 
  The mix-and-match trend continues to be evident in hardware, with
  traditional mediums such as finished metals being combined with materials not
  typically used in cabinet hardware, such as glass, crystal and leather.
• 
  In functional hardware, ease of use, accessibility and perceived
  value are key, with quiet-close features and hands-free operation remaining hot
  trends.

The aging Baby Boomers are driving a trend toward larger,
easy-to-grasp pulls, while smaller spaces continue to raise demand for
functional hardware that maximizes space.

Greco Pull

Check out for a full line of decorative and functional hardware available through Hicks.