Fine Furniture hardware
Like many things in modern life, the choices of hardware for fine custom furniture can be confusing and can generate a lot of opinions, some technical, some confusing:
Mortised butt hinges are the only choice for doors
Euro-style hidden hinges are a travesty
Ball bearing drawer slides have no place in custom furniture
Piston fit, hand-cut dovetail drawers are the only signs of fine craftsmanship
In truth, there aren’t many hard and fast rules here.
Choosing door and drawer hardware is all about design, function, taste and how well it works for you.
Modern hinges would not fit with a Federal style cabinet. Wood drawer slides may be a poor choice for a drawer that gets a lot of use in an environment that might be subject to larger temperature or humidity swings.
For fine furniture, the first thing to look for is high quality fixtures. The price will be higher than for items found at a box store. The smooth action and solid feel of top notch hardware is what is proper for bespoke furniture. Look for hinges and slides from elite quality manufacturers such as Blum, Salice or Grass to name a few.
Handles and pulls should have the weight and strength to complement the unique quality of handmade furniture. They should feel as satisfying as the wood itself.
The best hardware will have satisfying features such as soft close for both drawers and doors, hidden slides that mount neatly under the drawer adjustable settings to allow everything to look and feel just right.
Some pieces will call for specialty hinges that are visible or mount into the top and bottom of a door instead of the side. Or they may be completely hidden unless the door is open. Often made of brass or stainless steel, these fixtures require precision to install yet contribute the proper details to the piece. And details matter. Brusso and Soss are producers of high quality specialty hinges.
When drawers are made without mechanical slides, make sure you discuss the construction technique with your furniture artisan to ensure that potential issues with the environment or use are minimized.
When you use mechanical slides, ensure you’re getting the style that works best for you - soft close, push to open, side mount, under mount, and so on.
Choosing the right hardware is key to making sure your custom furniture is truly special and fits you properly. Get to know the products and options, weigh the pros and cons and be sure to ask questions. Is your shop guiding you with the right details?
The appropriate solutions will be those that align with your expectations and resonate with both form and function.
My goal is to listen and help you fill in the areas with added knowledge & experience to allow your style and tastes to come to life within the furniture. Choosing a custom builder is the starting point of a collaboration with lasting value.