Simple Kitchen Updates: Transform Your Space with Timeless Brass Hardware

Few elements have the power to transform a space as dramatically and cost-effectively as new hardware. When it comes to kitchen renovations, the simple act of upgrading your cabinet hardware can breathe new life into the heart of your home. If you want to take it one step further like I did, you can also swap out your faucets. I wanted all the metal hardware in my kitchen to match and in my opinion to make polished brass work, you have to commit to all or nothing.

My kitchen update with polished brass has the touch of warmth and elegance I wanted. I’m so pleased with how it turned out.

A bright kitchen with a white countertop featuring a gold faucet and soap dispensers. A large bouquet of flowers is placed on the counter. In the background, large windows and a glass door offer a view of a patio with outdoor seating.

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Why Brass Kitchen Hardware Is Making a Comeback

Among the many finishes available today, brass hardware stands out as a particularly compelling choice for kitchens seeking a touch of warmth and sophistication. This timeless material has experienced a well-deserved renaissance in recent years, and for good reason.

Brass has been used in home decor for centuries. While it’s popularity may have ebbed and flowed with changing design trends, I’ve always been drawn to it. The kitchen that I have pinned on my pinterest board, many of them have polished brass fixtures and hardware.

Today, brass hardware is experiencing a major revival, appearing in both traditional and contemporary spaces. What makes brass so special is its warm golden hue that adds instant character and sophistication to any room.

Let me share my journey of upgrading my kitchen from brushed chrome to polished brass hardware and why it might be the perfect choice for your next kitchen renovation project.

picture of a kitchen cabinet and my stove after a through cleaning — Before Picture

Types of Brass Hardware for Your KitchenTransformation

Note: The term “hardware” can encompass a wide range of metal finishes, including door knobs, cabinet pulls, plumbing fixtures like faucets, and even lighting.

From polished and bright to antiqued and muted, there’s a brass finish for every aesthetic. My personal favorite is polished brass. For a second I considered unlacquered brass, which develops a beautiful patina over time, telling the story of your home and adding depth that mass-produced finishes simply cannot replicate. It would be appropriate for my cottage core style however my yearning for the sophisticated look of polished brass won out.

Before diving into a brass hardware upgrade, it’s important to understand the various options available:

A kitchen cabinet with white panels and brass handles is next to a stainless steel appliance. On the black countertop above, there are bottles, a mug, and other small kitchen items against a white tile backsplash.

Brass Knobs vs. Pull

The debate between knobs and pulls is as old as kitchen design itself. Knobs are typically more affordable and work beautifully on doors, while pulls tend to be more ergonomic for drawers. In my kitchen, I opted for a combination approach: brass knobs for my cabinet doors and brass cup pulls for all of my drawers. My decision was based on what I previously had and I needed to not only match the current drilled holes. I also love the classic design of what I have.

The mixed approach of both knobs and pulls provides visual interest while maintaining cohesion through the consistent brass finish.

Faucets

Again I chose a bridge faucet that matched the holes that were drilled into my countertop along with a matching side sprayer and filtered water spout.

I also have a pot filler over my range so my investment was a little more than if you are just swapping out your sink faucet.

While my faucets has a look that compliments my cozy cottage decor, there are so many choices from ultra modern to old world looks. Make sure you measure the distance between your current cut-outs so you purchase a faucet that will fit your current set-up.

My Kitchen Fixtures

Three white pendant lights with brass fittings hang from a wooden ceiling. The background includes a chalkboard with a green wreath, a bookshelf with decorative items, and part of a framed painting. — Island Pendents

A dining table is elegantly set with white and green floral arrangements and candles. Crystal glassware and a chandelier enhance the setting. White chairs are covered in textured fabric. A wooden cabinet and a potted plant are in the background. — Island Pendents

Lighting

While you don’t have to change out your lighting to make a statement in your kitchen, its actually where I started. I swapped out the brushed chrome pendants that hung over my island for polished brass lights. My old lights had a bit of a nautical look and I chose new ones that were more simple and sleek.

I also replaced the light fixture above my dining room table. My kitchen, living and dining room are all an open concept and I wanted the cohesiveness of all of my metals to be polished brass. Again, I chose a more minimal simple look than the ornate, tiered, fixture I previously had.

Two white drawers with brass cup handles. The drawers are close together, and the handles have a shiny, reflective surface. The image focuses on the handles, highlighting their metallic finish against the white background. — This picture shows the polished brass on top and and the brushed brass below it What a difference

Finish Options

When shopping for brass cabinet hardware, you’ll encounter several finish options:

Polished Brass: Bright and reflective, this finish makes a bold statement
Satin Brass: A more subdued option with less shine, perfect for contemporary spaces
Antique Brass: Features darkened areas that highlight the detailing and create an aged appearance
Unlacquered Brass: The living finish option that will naturally patina over time
Brushed Brass: Features a directional grain that reduces fingerprints and adds texture

Planning Your Brass Hardware Kitchen Upgrade

Learn from my mistakes. I switched out the drawer and door hardware about a year ago to brushed brass and it just wasn’t making the statement I intended. However I liked the brass look, I just realized that what I wanted was polished brass. So I waited until I could afford to switch out both my door knobs, drawer pulls, and my faucets all at the same time.

When I started my kitchen renovation journey, I was initially hesitant about introducing brass elements. I was worried that the brass might clash with my stainless appliances. Would they feel too trendy? After months of living with my brushed brass kitchen cabinet hardware, I felt confident that my design decision was one that I was committed to.

Transforming your kitchen with brass hardware requires thoughtful planning. Here’s how you can approach the project:

A stylish kitchen with white cabinets, dark countertops, and a stainless steel oven. Glass cabinet doors reveal dishes inside. A patterned rug is on the wooden floor, and small potted plants add greenery to the space. A door leads to an outdoor area.

Assessing Your Space

Before ordering any hardware, take an inventory of your kitchen cabinets. Count every door and drawer, noting which were particularly wide or narrow, and considering how each would be used. Drawers containing heavy items like pots and pans benefit from substantial pulls that distribute the weight across a larger area, while spice cabinets work beautifully with smaller knobs.

Also considered the overall style of my kitchen. With shaker-style white cabinets and a cottage core design aesthetic, I wanted hardware that would complement rather than compete with these elements. The classic design of my drawer cup pulls enhanced the classic look of the cabinetry while adding a touch of warmth.

A modern kitchen stove with a stainless steel gas range, large black pot, and tea towel. White cabinets and backsplash, wooden utensils in a holder, condiments, and decorative plants on a shelf above. Subtle lighting creates a homely atmosphere.

Coordinating with Other Elements

As I outlined above, your hardware isn’t just the pulls on your cabinets. . When selecting brass cabinet hardware, you should consider how it would interact with the other fixtures in your kitchen, including:

Faucet
Light fixtures
Appliance handles
Outlet covers
Switch plates
Towel bars

While perfect matching isn’t necessary (and can sometimes feel too contrived), ensuring your brass hardware coordinates with these elements creates a cohesive look.

The one place that I didn’t change my hardware was my island. It was custom built to have an old world piece of furniture look. It’s painted black with some distressing and the black hardware that I originally chose for this area fades into the look of the island. I didn’t want the hardware to detract from its beauty and I still feel that way.

A cast iron pot sits on a stove. Behind it is a white subway tile backsplash with a brass pot filler faucet. To the right are jars of salt and spices, and to the left is a light blue pitcher.

Budget Considerations

A complete kitchen renovation can be costly, but upgrading hardware is surprisingly affordable compared to other changes. My kitchen with 13-cabinets and 13-drawers cost me approximately $150 for the new hardware—a small investment for such a visual impact. My faucets cost me about $500 which also included my pot filler faucet so that almost doubled the cost.

The light fixture above my dining room table was steal at $75.00 and the pendants over my island were $80 a piece.

The reality is that you could spend thousands of dollars for your update but I wanted to do mine on a budget and I’m very happy with the quality of the items that I purchased.

A kitchen with white cabinets and gold handles, a black countertop with a toaster, butter dish, and various utensils in a jar. The stove is partially visible on the right, and a door with "Pantry" written on it is in the background.

Beyond the Kitchen: Extending Brass Hardware Throughout Your Home

Now that I experienced the warmth brass brought to my kitchen, I’m going to slowly change out the metal elements in other areas of my living area. Here are what I’m going to budget to switch out to polished brass:

The handles and hinges on my doors
Light Fixture in the Hall
The fixtures (faucet and lights) in our downstairs bathroom

In my dining room, I already have brass fixtures on my built-in corner cabinets and the leaded glass in these cabinets has been brass since “Handy” made them for me 30 years ago. The pulls on the built-ins that surround my fireplace also have brass pulls on the lower cabinets.

picture that highlights the beautiful blue and white wallpaper, the blue cabinets and the brass hardware — We used brass hardware when we updated our laundry room

Installation Tips for Your Cabinet Hardware

Once you’ve selected your brass hardware, proper installation ensures it looks its best:

Measuring and Template Creation

Consistency is key when installing cabinet hardware. If you are putting hardware on new cabinets, I suggest creating a template from cardboard or a thin wood, marking the exact placement for knobs and pulls. This ensured that every piece was installed at the same height and position relative to the cabinet edge.

For lower cabinets, you want to position pulls slightly higher than center, while upper cabinet hardware sits slightly lower than center. This subtle adjustment makes reaching for handles more comfortable and ergonomic.

For my doors the pulls are in the bottom corner on the uppers and the top corners of the lowers. My cups are exactly centered on the face of my drawers. I have one pull on smaller drawers and two pulls on my larger drawers that hold heavier items like my pots and pans.

Tools You’ll Need

A successful hardware installation of hardware on new cabinets requires:

Drill with appropriately sized bits
Tape measure
Level
Phillips-head screwdriver
Your template
Pencil for marking positions
Painters tape

If you’re replacing existing hardware with brass knobs or pulls that have different mounting dimensions, you may need to fill old holes with wood filler before drilling new ones.

When we drilled our cabinets originally for hardware, “Handy” put painters tape over the spots where he was going to drill to avoid any possible splintering of the paint and wood of the new cabinets.

I opted to find hardware that I like with the exact same hole configuration. We did have to buy longer screws for the installation of the door pull cabinets but the only thing I needed to install my hardware on the doors and drawers was a screwdriver.

Professional Help vs. DIY

While installing cabinet hardware is a relatively straightforward DIY project, if you’re not comfortable drilling into your cabinets or if you have many cabinets to outfit, hiring a professional can ensure precision. In our case, we tackled the project ourselves on a weekend afternoon. It took us about an hour to do.

two different homemade multi-purpose cleaning products

Care and Maintenance of Brass Hardware

Different brass finishes require different care routines:

Lacquered Brass

Lacquered brass has a clear protective coating that prevents tarnishing. Clean with a soft cloth dampened with mild soap and water, then dry thoroughly. Avoid abrasive cleaners that can damage the protective finish.

I have an all-purpose cleaner that I make myself that works on all my surfaces. You can find the recipe HERE.

Unlacquered Brass

This “living finish” will naturally darken and develop a patina over time, especially in areas with frequent touching. If you embrace this aging process, simple cleaning with mild soap and water is sufficient. If you prefer to maintain the original shine, periodic polishing with a brass-specific cleaner will be necessary.

Unlacquered brass kitchen hardware will develop a subtle darkening around the areas where fingers most frequently touch the pulls—a beautiful record of your family’s interaction with your home that tells a story no manufactured finish could replicate.

Why Brass Hardware Has Become My Favorite Design Element

Here are the reasons why I love brass hardware:

Versatility: Brass works beautifully with nearly any cabinet color—from crisp white to deep navy to natural wood tones.
Warmth: In a space dominated by cool stainless steel appliances, the brass adds much-needed warmth and balances the overall palette.
Timelessness: Unlike trendy finishes that quickly date a space, brass has stood the test of time for centuries and continues to feel both classic and current.
Character: Particularly with unlacquered brass, the evolving patina adds character that makes a kitchen feel like it has a history, even in a new renovation.
Transformative Power: For a relatively small investment, the brass hardware completely changed the feel of my kitchen, elevating it from ordinary to special.

Kitchen Refresh Mood Board-2 | Living Large In A Small House, LLC

Final Thoughts on Brass Hardware for Kitchen Transformations

If you’re contemplating a kitchen renovation but are constrained by time or budget, upgrading to brass cabinet hardware offers tremendous bang for your buck. This simple change can refresh your space, add warmth and character, and completely transform the feeling of your kitchen.

Whether your style leans traditional, contemporary, or somewhere in between, there’s a brass hardware option that can enhance your cabinets and elevate your entire kitchen design. From substantial brass pulls that make a statement to delicate brass knobs that add subtle refinement, the options are virtually limitless.

My journey to a brass-accented kitchen has convinced me that sometimes, the smallest details make the biggest impact. As you consider your own kitchen renovation plans, I encourage you to explore the beautiful world of brass hardware—it might just become your favorite design element too.

Remember that good design is about creating spaces that not only look beautiful but also function well and bring joy to everyday activities. The simple act of opening a cabinet with a well-crafted brass knob or pull can add a moment of pleasure to daily routines—a small but meaningful enhancement to the heart of your home.

Peace and Love,

A blue background with hand-drawn elements sets the stage. A heart symbol flanked by two lines adds charm, while the text "Lynn xoxo" in cursive whispers a promise to make food prep easier and more delightful.

P.S.

The only other changes that I would love to make in my kitchen is to lower the bar area of my island and make the counter just one level surface. It’s and ongoing “discussion” in our home and I’m chipping away at “Handy’s” brick wall about it! 🙂