11.13.2008

Hardware Changes Everything!

As I told you a few days ago, we have been on pins and needles as we attempt to put our house on the market and buy the bigger house next door.  (No news there...just waiting to hear which offer the bank accepts, ours or the other people's.)  To keep busy as we wait, I have been working on little projects, which has been therapeutic for me but is starting to drive my husband crazy!  

Changing the hardware on a couple of our furniture pieces has been a great way to update their look without spending a lot of money.  Here's our coffee table (that I bought a few weeks ago at a garage sale for $40!):

The craftsman look of the handles didn't really match the rest of the furniture, but for $10 I was able to trade them out.  Like the change?

Next is my grandmother's hutch, which you have probably seen a lot if you've been around here for a few months.  As you can tell, the handles were a very dated-looking brass:

I got these inexpensive knobs and handles from Lowe's, and I really like how they make the hutch look a little more up-to-date:

It's amazing to me what a difference the time of day makes out here in Colorado.  I did nothing to the finish of this hutch but it looks totally different in Picture A versus Picture B.  I guess it's the sunlight, and a little bit of the new knobs making their impact.  I love it when small changes pay off!   Next time you are attempting to buy a new house, you should try changing out some hardware...maybe it can help you too!   :)


51 comments:

AJ said...

Little changes can make a big impact! Looks great:) I just recently sprayed our kitchen cabinet knobs and it made the room look totally different!

angie {the arthur clan} said...

I love little changes like that which end up making a HUGE difference. Your coffee table is beautiful!

Still crossing my fingers and praying that everything will turn out as it should with your home offer...the waiting is the hardest part, isn't it? Not fun at all...

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

Love these little changes!
What a difference!! That doesn't even look like the same hutch!!

Still holding on to hope for you and the new house!

Lisa

Davene said...

Changing the hardware is exactly what I need to do in our kitchen! You're right...it is amazing what a difference it can make.

I hope you have a peaceful day! :)

Kelli said...

I was wondering about the finish. The new hardware looks really good. Especially on the hutch. Way to go!

Anonymous said...

You are always so inspiring~ looks wonderful!!!!

Christy said...

When we moved into our house we changed all the hardware on the bathroom cabinets as well as give it a fresh coat of off white paint. Huge difference!

I recently "inherited" a T.V. cabinet and I gave that a fresh coat of paint and new hardware as well. Looks like a brand new piece.

Have a great day Carrie and hope you receive good news about the house:)

Betsy said...

Looks great. What a change. Hope you know something on your house soon.

Michelle said...

Little changes make big improvements and the great thing is you feel like you have new things!! Have a good day!

Shell in your Pocket said...

Wow..that really does make a big difference especially on that cabinet!
Have you ever been to the Restoration Hardware? So fun and full of handles!
-sandy toes

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

They look great! I love your coffee table, you always find great deals. Wish we could shop together!

Keeper of the Skies Wife said...

I am amazed that you didn't refinish it. WOW! It looks really good!

Jboo said...

Looks great! We recently changed the hardware in our kitchen! I may try it on our bedroom furniture too now that I see how nice your Grandmother's hutch looks! Have a good day!

Janet

Kim said...

I tried to do the same thing to an old dresser we brought out of the basement, painted black and I'm using as a storage unit for my children's arts/crafts things. Unfortunately, they no longer make the same size knobs (without special ordering/expensive)... so I found a great spray paint that makes the finish look like hammered nickel. Love the look of the new knobs you found!!! So glad it worked for you. The coffee table is a great find.

Free Art Printables said...

Love the hardware changes! I think it makes all of the difference!

Darlene said...

I absolutely LOVE your hardware changes...and it is funny...looks like a whole different hutch in the lighting!

Carolina Mama said...

Nice and may it be your good luck charm for the new house. :)

jennykate77 said...

I really love the changes the hardware made...maybe that what my kitchen cabinets need...new hardware. Thanks for the idea!

Hope you have a great Thursday!!

Belle- Pink Cupcake said...

Wow, that change is HUGE! They both look completely different now. I had similar gold hardware on a hutch, and its just looks so much more modern with new handles. Who knew?

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Here's hoping that the house thing will turn out well! You're right, sometimes it's the simple things that make the biggest difference!

Anonymous said...

New knobs is all it took to give these beautiful pieces a boost. I will have to give that a try on my dresser.

Ms. Tee said...

The hardward looks great! It really updates the look a lot - love them. :)

Aleta said...

Ohh! I like the changes! You are so right, the little details make the difference when you are trying to update! Isn't it fun ~ sort of like having new furniture without the expense!

Shilo said...

Perfect! Big impact for the small investment!
Hoping you'll be able to make that bigger "investment" soon and move next door!
Blessings!

Wendy said...

The hardware looks great! I agree with you that it makes a huge impact. I have a habit of doing the same thing when I am "making over" a furniture piece.

Emily said...

Great changes! It's amazing what a little hardware change will do.

Angela said...

I love the new looks! Especially the hutch. Those handles were the ones I had picked out first for our kitchen cabinets (until Derek found the ones we have for only $1 a piece--couldn't pass that up!)
Good luck with selling the house!

edie said...

It's all in the details Carrie. Love the transformations!
Thanks for your thoughtful comments yesterday!

Ally's Corner said...

I'm going to do that to our hutch.
DH had it before we would married and I really never liked it, big surprise. Changing the knobs is a great idea.

Heidi Boos said...

I changed the knobs to my daughter's white bedroom dresser by painting wooden knobs the color of her wall. It helped make the whole room come together...I couldn't believe what a difference it made from the knobs that it came with. Simple things sometimes make the biggest changes!

Anonymous said...

I love little changes like that - they make such a HUGE difference. Best of luck with the house!

Rue said...

Hi Carrie :)

I love being able to do something so simple like that and having it make such a big impact. They both turned out beautiful!

rue

Lacy said...

Your so right Carrie. The hutch looks so much more modern and I love the pulls on the coffee table. I may be the last to know...but I found some great knobs at Target!!!

duchess said...

What a difference.
They look great.

Unknown said...

I love making little changes like that. It can really make the biggest difference! Good luck on your house!

Mrs. Gray's Class said...

Great minds think alike - I just posted about the same things! Looks great - and sending good thoughts for the house.

Sunny said...

Very much like the changes!

Shannon said...

I love changes like this. The coffee table hardware changed the whole look! I love it!

Peggy said...

I've been a lurker, but I had to come out of hiding to ask a question about your fabulous updated furniture pieces. When you removed the old hardware did it not leave marks where they were on the drawer fronts? That is why I haven't changed my bathroom knobs...they have the plate behind the knob, and I'm afraid the outline of it will show when they are removed.

Lisa & Gerald said...

Yep you are a junk sister alright lol always changing the looks to every thing! Love what you have done in your home!

asnipofgoodness said...

i am making some little changes too! I love what your new nobs do for your furniture, great pics!!!

AndreaLeigh said...

It does make a big difference! I have those brass handles on my dresser (it is over 20 years old) and I want to change them out. I think I will have to make a trip to Lowes!

Harbor Hon said...

I like the changes very much. I've been thinking about changing the handles on my kitchen cabinets for some time. Now that I've seen yours, might be time. So pretty. xxoo

My Days with Daisy said...

I love the little changes that make so much difference. I love alot of bang for my buck!!! You sound so much like me, Carrie. my Lowes is just around the corner and some of the cashiers see me so often that they know me and speak to me. A fun date night for me is to go walk around Lowes and see what is new. My friends joke that I am either at Michaels, Lowes, Home Depot or Sams. Hope your deal comes through!

CIRCLE OF LIFE said...

I LOVE CHANGE AND A CHANGE AS SIMPLE AS THAT CAN MAKE PICE LOOK SO DIFFERENT! LOVE IT A IN EXPENSIVE WAY TO SPICE SOMETHING UP!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT WAIT IS GOOD MAYBE NOT FOR A EXPECTING MOM BUT THAT THEY ARE TAKING THERE TIME AND THAT IS GOOD. DID YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBORS? THAT YOU CAN TALK WITH THEM, WERE YOU ALL GOOD NEIGHBORS? GOSH I HOPE SO YOU DIDNT THROW MEAT AT THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE OSSIE OSBORN RIGHT? THEY WERE NOT NICE NEIGHBORS I WAS IN G.A AT MY SISTERS HOUSE AND SHE AND HER HUBBY WERE WATCHING THIS OSBORNS SHOW ON MTV I BELIEVE AND THEY WEE LAUGHING I THOUGHT THE MAN WAS LOST BUT ALLMEN ARE CREATED DIFFERENTLY, THEY WERE PRETTY BLUNNT BRITISH FAMILY. BUT ANY HOW HOPE YOU DIDNT THROW MWAT GOSH !!!

I SURE HOPE YOU GET THE ANSWER THAT YOU ARE HOPING FOR !!

Jules from "The Roost" said...

I think knobs make a hugh difference. Keep us posted on the house!

Jodee said...

I love hardware too! Both look great!

Angie said...

The change in hardware looks great on both pieces! I need to do that to some things in my home too!

Anonymous said...

carrie -
looks great! small changes = big impact.
~nicole

Mamajil said...

wow great new look!

Lindy D. said...

I'm here from "The Nester" scrolling back over old posts. How lucky you are to have your grandmother's pretty wood hutch. The new knobs look good, but I hope you *SAVED* the old ones, too.

My mother has taught me that with older, nicer furniture, it is good to keep the original hardware at hand since it can add to the value, charm, and integrity. (And please don't spray paint them!)

I have my parents' beautiful mahogany low boy. I had the brass hardware professionally polished and then lacquered by a silversmith as suggested by a Martha Stewart article. It looks beautiful. Some day brass will be more in style and you may change your mind about the handles.

P.S. Love your blog!!