THE HILL HOUSE

I’ve been waiting to write this post until the upstairs built-ins were finished, because hardware is one of those things that’s easy to feel confident about in theory until you actually see it in place. But now that it’s all installed, I can safely say: it came together so well! There’s hardware on the hall linen cabinet, Daphne’s built-in, the bathroom drawers, and both of the boys’ closets. Mostly brass, a little wood, and a complete mix of pulls, latches, knobs, and hinges. None of it matches exactly, but it all feels like it belongs together, which was very much the goal. Today I’m sharing how I approached choosing hardware for our old house built-ins, why I stuck so consistently with brass, where I think it’s worth splurging, where it makes sense to save, and a few practical things I’ve learned along the way, including hardware sizing and why I now feel pretty strongly that knobs are not always the best choice in a kids’ space. Let’s get into it…

Daphne’s closet: drawer pulls 4”, door pulls, hinges, fabric (to match wallpaper), Cathy’s blouse, jeans

Pretty, right?! Garrett built the closet and my mom sewed the curtain panels and the hardware is Rejuvenation of course because they have the best selection of unlaquered brass. Okay, let’s talk about how we select hardware…

My Main Considerations for Choosing Hardware

If you’re choosing hardware for built-ins, here’s how I’d think about it.

1. Aim for consistency, not exact matching
One of my favorite things about the upstairs hardware is that nothing matches exactly, but it still feels good together. We used the same pull family in Daphne’s bedroom and the hall bath, just in different sizes, but otherwise the hardware is all different depending on the cabinet or door it’s on. The latches feel right on the linen cabinet. The wider pulls make sense on bathroom drawers the kids will be using every day. The bail-style pulls - the kind with a curved handle that hangs from two posts - feel a little extra dressy and more furniture-like in Daphne’s room. And the painted wood knobs in Brooks’ room are their own thing entirely. But because almost everything stays in the same finish family, the whole collection still feels cohesive. They all look like pieces that belong in the same house.

2. Think about hardware as the jewelry of the room
Hardware is the jewelry of the room. If you want a space to feel more casual, choose simple shapes and materials. If you want it to feel a little more dressed up, lean into more shape, detail, or polish. In my mind, painted wood knobs feel casual and charming, simple brass pulls feel classic and practical, and brass pulls with curves, latches, or backplates feel a little dressier. That framing can be really helpful when picking out hardware!

3. Splurge where the hardware will do the most work
I definitely did not think every built-in upstairs needed the exact same budget. In the hall bath, the hall linen cabinet, and Daphne’s closet, the unlacquered brass really helps elevate the cabinetry. Those spaces are more visible, more finished, and more part of the shared upstairs experience, so the brass felt worth it there. But in Brooks’ small bedroom, I used simple wood knobs and painted them to match the built-in. They’re incredibly inexpensive (like $0.50/piece!), durable, and utterly charming. In a kids’ room, they feel exactly right - a little softer, a little more casual, and not so precious that I’d worry about them every second. The brass elevates everything, but the painted wood knobs keep one room from taking itself too seriously.

4. Function matters just as much as looks
This one really came into focus for me in the hall bath: knobs do look cute, but a pull is simply more functional, especially in a kids’ bathroom. When hands are wet, messy, hurried, or not especially careful, a pull is easier to grab. It feels more stable, more useful, and more forgiving in daily life. That doesn’t mean knobs are bad. I still love them in the right place. But if I’m choosing hardware for drawers in a hardworking kids’ bathroom, pulls is the smarter choice.

5. Size matters more than people think
If you’re using a single pull on a drawer, it needs to feel proportional to the drawer width. Too small and it can look a little skimpy. Too large and it starts to feel crowded or bossy. My general approach is to use smaller pulls on narrower drawers, longer pulls on wider drawers, and consider two pulls if a drawer gets especially wide. One thing I loved upstairs is that we used the same pull family in more than one place, but adjusted the size depending on the drawer. That helps everything feel consistent without feeling rigid. I’m including the center-to-center dimensions below because that’s the kind of practical detail I always want when I’m reading posts like this myself.

6. Use a hardware template!
We got a hardware template tool for the first time during this round of upstairs work, and I can’t overstate how helpful it was. We’ve had enough off-centered and slightly angled hardware over the years to have earned this lesson. The template made everything faster and a lot more consistent. Less stressful, too. If you’re installing hardware on multiple built-ins and want everything to feel intentional, it is absolutely worth it.

psst: we ordered this hardware template but you can probably find one at your local hardware store.

7. Don’t forget the hinges
I don’t think hinges get enough credit! We used exposed 2.5-inch unlacquered brass hinges on the built-ins upstairs, and they add so much. They help the cabinetry feel more old-house appropriate, a little more furniture-like, and a little less generic. Plus they’re just really pretty! The lesson here is that hardware is not just knobs and pulls - the hinges are part of the look, too.

Why Unlacquered Brass?

Unlacquered brass is one of my forever loves. Have you noticed? It’s a living finish, which means it patinas and wears in over time rather than staying bright and polished forever. I love that about it. On a brand-new cabinet, it adds instant warmth, character, and a sense of history without waiting 100 years.

I also just think brass looks right here. In most turn-of-the-century homes I’ve seen in our area, the hardware was usually one metal throughout: brass. Not necessarily shiny or polished anymore — after decades of use, it often darkens to a rich brown patina — but it still shows up consistently on the doors, windows, hinges, and hardware throughout the house.

And to me, that’s part of what makes unlacquered brass feel so special. It’s warm and comforting and quietly beautiful, and it only gets better with age. Design-wise, it adds warmth, depth, and a kind of quiet history that makes new work feel more at home in an old house.

Our Upstairs Hardware Key

1. Painted wood knob - charming, inexpensive, durable, and one of my favorite budget moves!

2. drop tassel pull - these articulating pulls are sweet and elevated, perfect for Daphne’s closet doors

3. bail-style pulls - reminiscent of a vintage dresser, we added these swinging pulls to Daphne’s drawers, 4”

4. large knob with backplate - we used these for closet door knobs with the 4” backsplash

5. oval cupboard latch - a classic! We added these to the linen cabinet in the hallway

6. bin pull - another classic hardware piece we added the 4” option to the linen cabinet

7. drapery hardware - perfect for hanging fabric panels in cabinet doors

8. 6” drawer pull - the wider 6” option fit the bathroom drawers

9. 2.5” exposed hinges - we used these on all the built-ins. they’re beautiful and add a historic nod to new pieces

10. cafe curtain rod - perfect for our cabinet skirt! these come in lengths up to 60” in the metal option of your choice

11. hardware template - a must-have for getting straight and consistent hardware placement

Our Upstairs Hardware, Built-In by Built-In

Here’s a look at the exact hardware we used upstairs, along with the sizes and a few notes on why each one felt right in its particular spot.

Hall linen cabinet

For the linen cabinet, I wanted something that felt a little more old-house and a little more furniture-like. A latch felt right here. It gives the cabinet more presence than a standard pull would have and helps it feel like a built-in that belongs with the age of the house rather than something purely utilitarian.

Hardware: latch + 4” pull + hinges
Finish: Unlacquered brass
Why I chose them: classic, more character, and a little dressier for our old house

Hall bathroom drawers

This is where function won. Since this bathroom will be used by the kids every day, I wanted hardware that was easy to grab with wet or hurried hands. Pulls made more sense here than knobs. We used the same pull as Daphne’s room, but in a larger size to better suit the drawer width. That little size shift helped the spaces feel related without looking too repetitive.

Hardware: bail-style pulls
Finish: Unlacquered brass
Size: 6”
Why I chose it: practical, easy to grab, and beautiful ball design

Brooks’ built-in closet

This is one of my favorite little budget moves upstairs. Instead of brass, I used simple wood knobs and painted them to match the built-in. They’re incredibly inexpensive, durable, and just so charming in a kids’ room. I love that they make the room feel a little more relaxed and a little less polished than the other built-ins.

Hardware: painted wood knobs + hinges
Finish: painted to match the built-in (F&B Slipper Satin, in satin finish by SW)
Why I chose it: budget-friendly, durable, charming, and perfect for a kid’s room!

Daphne’s closet

Daphne’s closet is probably the dressiest of the upstairs built-ins, so this was a spot where I wanted the hardware to feel a little more furniture-like. We used bail-style pulls here — the kind with a curved handle that hangs from two posts — and I love the softness they bring. They’re a little more decorative than a plain pull, but still very classic.

Hardware: tassel pulls + drawer pulls + hinges + drapery rods
Finish: Unlacquered brass
Size: 4” drawer pulls
Why I chose it: beautiful shape, furniture-inspired, and a little special

Wilder’s closet door handles

Simple cabinet knobs with an integral backsplash function as doorhandles for this bedroom’s closet doors.

Hardware: knob with backsplash + drapery rods
Finish: Unlacquered brass
Size: 4”
Why I chose it: classic, a little bit special, and appropriate for narrow closet doors

I love how the upstairs hardware turned out! It’s consistent without being too matchey-matchey, thoughtful without being fussy, and elevated without losing the warmth and ease I want this house to have. A good balance!

I also love how the brass adds history and warmth to brand new closets and built-ins. The different hardware shapes keep it interesting. And the wood knobs keep it charming. Taken together, the whole upstairs feels more finished and cohesive.

Moore soon!

xx