Hardware, ironmongery — call it what you will — has had a glow-up. Renovators are realising that those everyday “touch points” — such as light switches, handles and knobs — can be just as transformative as a new colour on the walls and are vital for sparking joy. The devil is in the detail.
As Emma Palin, founder of Our Curated Abode, a hardware shop and design studio in Ramsgate, says: “When you put effort into designing and creating a room and then you finish it off with a cheap plastic socket, you’re unwinding all of that work. Whereas if you invest a little bit more, the overall finish is going to feel so much more elevated.”
Armed with the right kit, it’s not too tricky to swap out a naff door handle for something more unique, or to update a socket to one that feels more considered. Hinges just got hot — and these are the best places to seek them out.
For arty touches
Sending aesthetes into a spin is Petra (petrahardware.com) a US-based “artistic hardware” brand which invites creatives to collaborate on designs.
The result? A cornucopia that’s as beguiling to browse as jewellery. It’s the place to snag jaunty cabinet pulls made from ceramic and wood; hooks set with foraged shells; and glass-fused knobs destined to hack that Ikea sideboard to dizzy new heights. But be warned: the shipping costs are savage.
Closer to home, those in the know head to Tooting-based Izé (ize.info) for ironmongery by Zaha Hadid and David Adjaye; you have to email for prices, though.
For quicker gratification, the hardware offering from MG&Co (matildagoad.com) has expanded with the launch of a metal wave handle, recessed pulls and swing-arm hooks.
The choice of finishes (blackened brass, polished nickel, colourful lacquers) and the option to layer up with backplates offers limitless, mix-and-match possibilities.
And check out Bias Editions (biaseditions.com) a lesser-known destination for unapologetically luxe brass handles: choose from delicate bobbins, directional zig-zags or organic waves.
For traditional homes
Never mind that you live in half of a minuscule terrace built for a factory worker — you can inject a royal flourish into your manor’s electrical points courtesy of the collaboration between Soho Lighting (soholighting.com) and Historic Royal Palaces.
Inspired by the fittings at sites such as Hampton Court Palace, the panel-mounted plates sit satisfyingly flush against the wall. They can even be engraved with initials — or the family motto.
If you have traditional toggles on the brain, check out Colchester-based Lam Lighting (lam-lighting.co.uk). Its handsome switches are encased in rounded Limoges porcelain and come with a choice of metal toggles.
And for everything else, bookmark Yester Home (yesterhome.com); this is the place you might find an air vent you finally like, a Victorian-inspired gallery rail or a good-looking escutcheon.
For modernist interiors
Mid-century modern appreciators are obsessed with linear rocker switches by German brands Gira and Jung. They are tricky to get hold of in the UK (and require an affable electrician) but Lewes-based Swtch (swtch.co.uk) stocks a decent selection, including Jung’s LS990 switch in a palette devised by Le Corbusier.
In the retro camp, Katy Paty’s colourful porcelain switches and sockets are pure nostalgia. Check out the selection at Dyke & Dean (dykeanddean.com) — it’s like scrolling through macarons.
For simple kitchen cabinet updates, Swarf (swarfhardware.co.uk) has a small but perfectly formed collection of unfussy, powder-coated aluminum knobs.
For stealth quality
OK, so you don’t want the light switch to be the star of the room, but remember the mantra “buy cheap, buy twice”.
For premium, weighted accessories with a contemporary feel spanning door handles, window furniture, brackets, door stops and even hinges then it has to be Corston (corston.com).
A destination for interior architects, it offers three finishes across its hardware: antique brass, bronze or polished nickel. It also has a paintable range of switches, sockets and paintable spotlights, so that your essentials blend into the background.
If it’s the smoothness of wood that you’re after, then Scandi Handles (scandihandles.co.uk) has a good offering of handles and knobs all under the £15 mark. Screwdrivers at the ready…
