The design shift from cookie-cutter to custom doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or renovation. Oftentimes, it’s simply in the details: a classic bullion fringe trimming an armchair; an embroidered border edging a pair of solid curtains; a thoughtful collection of knobs and pulls to add that finishing touch to cabinetry.
Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find a haute hardware source for your next project: The source sheets of AD’s home tours are the who’s who of the design world—for fixtures, furniture, and beyond. We combed through recent tours in search of the stylish architectural hardware sources designers are speccing right now. Read on for the standout finds—some of them newcomers to the scene, others tried-and-true—and see the designer projects that so beautifully put them to use.
Classic Brass
High-end solid brass hardware has been, fittingly, the calling card at Classic Brass since its founding in 1996. Each piece is finished to order, giving designers the choice of 40-plus metal finishes—some richly antiqued, others pristinely polished. In the primary bath of a San Francisco home, AD PRO Directory designer Lauren Nelson opted for classic bulb knobs from the Jamestown, New York–based manufacturer.
Armac Martin
Armac Martin has been making premium brass hardware since 1929, making the English brand a time-honored option. Though the brand celebrates its legacy—with everything designed, made, and hand-finished at its Birmingham factory—its sights are on the future, making promises to reduce its emissions by 50% by 2025. The manufacturer now sells its brass in matte black and white finishes, though the hardware used in the kitchen and pantry of this Studio McGee–designed project proves you can’t go wrong with the classics.
