Cabinet Hardware: Finding the Right Mix

As you probably noticed yesterday, my office cabinets are naked. At least in terms of hardware. My decision making process on the matter has been woefully delayed, partially because I'm waiting on my desk, but mostly because I haven't had time to figure it out. The desk will have nickel plated legs that look somewhat like this...

So, nickel is definitely in the mix of finishes. The sputnik chandelier that is currently hanging has a chrome finish, however, I might be changing that. I really want to use a fixture that combines gold/brass tones and nickel/silvers ones. Currey & Company's Allusion chandelier is a favorite, but it hangs long so it might not work. 

And I plan to install a picture light at the top of the center cavity in the cabinet unit, so that finish needs to be taken in consideration as well. I'll probably use Circa's 30" Cabinet Maker's Picture light in Polished Nickel...

With all that in mind, I have decided to use brass pulls and knobs to provide some contrast. I don't want everything in the room to be monotone silver/gray! So, here are some of the options I've been considering...

1) Hexagonal Faceted Handle Pull - Nest Studio
2) Pyramid Cabinet Knob with Backplate - Rejuvenation
3) 6" Modern Pull No. 73850 - P.E. Guerin
4) Brass and Acrylic Handle - Nest Studio

1) Gothic Cabinet Knob No. 73300 - P.E. Guerin
2) 5" Bar Pull in Brushed Brass - Lewis Dolin
3) 3" Mission Style Solid Brass Ring Pull (Antique Brass finish)
4) Cabinet Bar Pull, 5 in. - Harney Hardware
5) Mission D Drawer Pull - Rejuvenation

1) Continental Cabinet Pull 8" C to C - Allied Brass via Wayfair
2) Mission D Pull with Backplate - Rejuvenation
3) Solid Brass Faceted Knob - Nest Studio
4) 3" on Center Square Glass Cabinet Handle with Solid Brass Base - House of Antique Hardware

Brass is tough because it's not a finish that is consistent across manufacturers (like polished nickel, for example). As you saw above, there is a lot of variance in the tone and texture, so I'd recommend sticking with one maker or getting samples prior to ordering.

Anyhow, over the weekend I photoshopped hardware options into a pic of the cabinets to help narrow down the possibilities. Here are a few of the mock-ups...

Pyramid Cabinet Knob with Backplate + Mission D Drawer Pull

Artwork - Louisa by Michelle Armas

 These are the Mission D Pull with Backplates...

Artwork - Louisa by Michelle Armas

3" Mission Style Solid Brass Ring Pull (might need to do the Polished Brass finish) + Pyramid Cabinet Knob with Backplate + Mission D Drawer Pull 

Artwork - Louisa by Michelle Armas

 Pyramids + Rings

Artwork - Louisa by Michelle Armas

Rings + simple bar pulls

Artwork - Louisa by Michelle Armas

The Pyramid knobs and Mission pulls from Rejuvenation are definitely more budget friendly than my other favorites from P.E. Guerin and Nest Studio, so I'll probably end up using some combination of those. I guess I could  get samples of ALL of them so I could play with the mix in person.

Also, In the mock-ups I included a painting called Louisa by Michelle Armas that I'd LOVE to get for the space. I also put a polished nickel picture light in there to show what that finish looks like near the brass.

What do you think? Any big opinions or preferences?

Intrigued by Organic Modernism

As far as design goes, I'm a bit of a traditionalist at heart but I crave freshness and truly appreciate uniqueness. I love seeing uncommon points of view and without a doubt, Brooklyn's Organic Modernism has its very own style direction. When I first saw their set of furniture, lighting, and home goods, I immediately knew that my husband would appreciate their aesthetic because it's edgy and has a mid-century modern vibe,  but maintains a natural, handcrafted flavor. To me, most of what they sell reads masculine but it's a sophisticated masculinity (think the opposite of an oversized leather sofa) so it can be easily blended with other styles.

I am totally into the mix of materials that are used throughout their set...lots of wood paired with bronze and brass. I also like to combos of hard lines and organic shapes. In a nutshell, Organic Modernism has really cool stuff that you aren't likely to find anywhere else...and isn't that refreshing? Take a look at this sampling of their wares...

Texas Dining Table - Alma Brass Chair

Lucia-A Dining Table - Peacock 4 Cabinet

Trilight Floor Lamp - Cliff Side Table

Ming-B Cabinet - Emperor Cabinet with Cloisonne Doors

Malibu-B Coffee Table - Kashgar A Hand Forged Bronze Chair - Berlin 2 Sofa

 AND...Organic Modernism has an awesome gallery of original paintings (that are super well-priced). It looks like they are all created by local Guangzhou artist Hidir Jiang Tapanoglu and curiously enough, dear/elk and George Washington seem to be his preferred subject matter. Here are some of his deer pieces...

And finally, in honor of the upcoming anniversary of our great Nation's independence, here's one of the original paintings of George Washington...

So, what do you think of Organic Modernism's offering? I'm a fan, even though it's not wholly in line with my personal aesthetic. Any favorite pieces? I totally adore the Malibu-B Coffee Table and the Emperor Cabinet (although I'm not 100% sure about the hardware).

Next time I'm in New York I'll have to go check out one of their stores. Have any of you been?

Highlights from High Point - Round 1

Last week I ventured out to High Point Market...my husband refers to it as a "furniture festival," which is hilarious and relatively accurate. Held in High Point, North Carolina, HPMKT takes place in the epicenter of the American home furnishings industry so it draws manufacturers from its own backyard and from abroad. Designers, shop owners, and buyers descend upon the area twice a year to see, feel (and sit on), and price everything from furniture to rugs, lighting, and accessories. It's a rare opportunity to see a massive quantity of goods within a few days.

I went out to shop for a few current and upcoming projects and I found lots o' great stuff. I took nearly 1,100 pics while I was there! After pounding the pavement for four days, I noticed a few trends that popped up in multiple showrooms...

1) Faux Shagreen - aka Stringray, this faux skin was wrapped around all sorts of tables and case goods. It's a great texture and the colorways I spotted at market were most often neutrals like gray and ivory.

2) Cerused Wood - There's an example directly below via Global Views, but basically it's a type of finish that highlights the wood grain and has a modern/rustic look.

3) Lacquer - high gloss, super saturated paint finishes were everywhere...even on lamp shades.

The two chests shown next are both by Bungalow 5...

4) Natural materials used to create unique, luxe adornments.

Pebbles/rocks at Lee Industries

Glass/Mirror/Resin at Made Goods

Bone at Mr. Brown

Pyrite at Emporium Home

Resin/Teak

And aside from the "trends" (I actually hate that word), here are a few other favorite items I spotted...

Linen-covered studded chest at Mr. Brown...

Platinum and gold toned fireplace screens...

Glass pineapple light fixture via Global Views...

Well-priced ceramic gourd lamps with trimmed shades...

Brass swing-arm sconce...

This lamp looks strikingly similar to my beloved Hermès' Balcon du Guadalquivir china...

Woven stools at Palecek...

Globe chandelier with wood beads at Regina Andrew...

Stunning mirror at Arteriors...

 COCOCOZY Bedding!

Chair with pull-out mini side table via COUEF

Embroidered arm chair at J. Douglas

Dining chairs + table from Made Goods

What do you think of the things I snapped? Any favorites? I want that first shapely Shagreen cocktail table for my own house!

In case you've fallen in love with something and want to buy, keep in mind that pretty much everything at High Point is trade-only, so you'd have to buy through a retailer or a designer.

AERIN At Home

If you haven't already, you should check out Aerin Lauder's site, AERIN. It's full of all things fabulous thanks to the creative force of its high-style curator. The beauty and lifestyle brand reflects a sophisticated, modern, and slightly edgy aesthetic. This image from the site pretty much sums it up...like Aerin herself, the goods are cool and classic all at the same time.

There are lots of gold and brass tones in the set and I especially love the gilded accessories and objets in the At Home set. Two of my favorite pieces are shown in the below photo - the Round Woven Cachepot and the Round Match Striker.

Here are my other picks:

Grey Agate Geode - $150  --  Round Match Striker - $190

Large Gold Comb - $40

Gold-Dipped Circle Bowl - $700  --  Geo Bowls - $550

I didn't really delve into the Beauty realm, but aren't the At Home collections lovely? I really love the bowls and cachepots for orchids.

Are you wondering why I picked the random comb? I have to admit that I have had the same wide tooth comb since the 90s - seriously. It's teal and hot pink and probably matched the Caboodle I had at the time...hehe. So, it's probably time for me to upgrade!

Best of the Web: High Street Market

If you haven't shopped High Street Market yet, you probably should get on that. They sell fantastic new and vintage merch and the thing I like best about it is that you can find unique pieces at very reasonable prices. The assortment isn't huge, but there is tons of variety. You'll find furniture, textiles, lighting, hardware, and everything in between. It's also an excellent source for well-priced lampshades, especially black linen drum and rectangular shapes. Here are some selections from their current lineup...

Brass Champagne Bucket - Dragonfly Throw Pillow - Vintage Pair of Side Chairs

Blue Willow Porcelain Tray - Higgins Faceted Table Lamp - Vintage Owl Door Knocker

Herringbone Sisal Runner - Brass Palm Candlesticks - Greek Key Throw Blanket - Vintage Black Chest of Drawers

I'm dying over this 1960s Paul McCobb Credenza...

And to keep you coming back to their site, High Street Market offers a tempting Daily Deal. For example, Monday's deal was a 50% price slash on these super cool Silver Leaf Agate Bookends, which made them only $49.50!

Too many fun goodies, don't you think? I'm obviously a bit fixated on all things brass at the moment! What are your faves?

If you plan on spending lots 'o money at High Street Market, then I advise you to follow proprietress Kelly Robson on Twitter and Facebook because she posts flash promos like free shipping and you won't want to miss out on those!