Indoor House Jewelry

There are many small ways to gussy-up a home. We've all heard that changing up kitchen cabinet hardware is an inexpensive way to add jewelry and change the look of a kitchen. I already considered that when I bought our new house. What I didn't consider were wall plates and vent registers. I didn't consider them because I've never lived anywhere where every single wall plate and vent register was DISGUSTING. They are caked in grime, goop, rust, dust, cobwebs, and unknown substances. The registers absolutely have to be replaced but I'm going to try and salvage the wall plates. I want to find all that I can (they've been removed as we paint each room and I'm not sure where all of them are) and wash them in steaming hot, soapy water, clean them with Comet or something else abrasive, and then spray paint them white. Our trim will be white so I hope the elbow grease and cost of a couple cans of premium spray paint will do the trick. If not, I'll need to shop. Here's what I've been looking at so far for cabinet knobs, registers, and wall plates.

I actually just ordered these for the kitchen drawers. There are eight drawers and they're on the small-side, nothing very deep. The pulls are on sale right now for $2.39 each and even better, they already fit the holes in the drawers. I used wood putty to fill the cabinet doors already.

I'm 99.9% sure I just want knobs and not pulls for the doors so one hole is all that's needed. Plus it will be easier to make one hole rather than measuring to make sure two are perfectly lined up. You see what happened with Jeff's night stand, the top two pulls are totally crooked.

Anyway, this is what I might go with for the door knobs.

They are the same finish, satin nickle, and are also on sale. I'll need way more of these than the drawer pulls so I'll have to make sure I count today and place my order. I've ordered them from myknobs.com which Barbara recommended. I went to Lowe's yesterday to look at their drawer pulls and the ones I wanted, satin nickle cups, were 2 1/2 inches and I needed 3 inches, plus they were a $1 more each. Even with shipping I saved $10 and time having to putty fill and re-drill new holes. As for the registers, the options are pretty limited.

This is a standard design and it's $7.47 each. I need at least two for each room. This one, however, is unique and interesting and even pretty.

This is an allen + roth design from Lowe's and it's $21 each. BIG difference. I'll need to take a piece of flooring with me when I shop. I want them to blend in as far as the color but home ownership certainly makes you aware of the expenses of every single detail. Next we have wall plates. These are uber pretty but they also scream, "I'm a pretty wall plate, look at me!"

They're also by allen + roth and are $5.97 each, meaning $5.97 for one freaking wall plate. Each room needs at least two switch plates and four plug plates. There's always this option.

These are $16.99 for 6 equaling about $2.80 each. Much better but a little boring. I know, I can't make up my mind--do I want ostentatious or boring? It's good to know I can buy the screws seperate if I need to.

$.58 for a two pack. Do you see how everything is adding up?!?!?