Door hardware. Cabinet hardware. Bath hardware. Hinges. Deadbolts. Entry sets. Here's a complete project checklist so nothing falls through the cracks.
A complete interior design project touches every hardware category in a home — door hardware, cabinet hardware, bath hardware, hinges, deadbolts, and entry sets. Missing one category or specifying incompatible finishes between categories creates problems that are expensive to fix after installation. Here is a complete specification checklist and the thinking behind it.
Door hardware: the full category list
For every door in the project, you need to specify:
- Function: Passage (hallway/closet), Privacy (bathroom/bedroom), Dummy (non-operational), Entry (exterior keyed). See our guide: Door Hardware Functions Explained.
- Lever or knob style — lever is almost always preferable for ergonomic and accessibility reasons
- Finish — confirm it coordinates with plumbing and lighting in the same rooms
- Rose or escutcheon style — round, square, or rectangular; concealed or exposed mounting
- Backset — 2-3/8" (interior) or 2-3/4" (exterior). Must match door prep.
Hinges: the invisible specification
Hinges are invisible until they are wrong. Specify them in the same finish as the door hardware — a satin brass lever with chrome hinges creates a finish conflict that is visible on every door edge. Size: 3-1/2" for standard interior doors, 4" for solid-core or heavy doors, 4-1/2" for tall or heavy exterior doors. Ball-bearing hinges for all exterior doors and any high-frequency interior door. See our hinge guide: Hinge Size Guide.
Deadbolts: exterior door completion
Every exterior door needs both an entry function lever and a deadbolt. The lever set provides access control; the deadbolt provides security. Specify them in coordinating finishes — most quality lever manufacturers (Emtek, Taymor) offer matching deadbolts. Backset for deadbolts is almost always 2-3/4". Browse deadbolts.
Entry sets: the front door package
Entry sets are the complete front-door hardware assembly: exterior handleset, deadbolt throw, and interior trim. Specify the entry set before specifying the rest of the door hardware — it sets the design language for the whole home. The finish and style of the entry set should be reflected (not necessarily matched exactly) in the interior door hardware. Browse entry sets.
Cabinet hardware: the kitchen and bath specification
Cabinet hardware requires:
- Pull or knob choice — pulls are more ergonomic; knobs are more traditional
- Pull size — apply the 1/3 rule (pull length = 1/3 of drawer or door face). See: Cabinet Pull Size Guide.
- Placement — upper cabinet doors: top corner; lower cabinet doors: bottom corner; drawers: centred. See: Cabinet Knob Placement Guide.
- Appliance pulls — refrigerator panels, dishwasher panels, and oven handles each need separate specification
- Quantity count — count every door and every drawer, including in bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any other cabinetry in the project
Bath accessories: the third hardware category
Towel bars, robe hooks, toilet paper holders, and shower accessories complete the bath hardware specification. These do not need to match the door hardware exactly — in many contemporary bathrooms the bath accessories are a deliberate contrast finish — but they should coordinate coherently. Confirm the finish language for each bathroom independently.
The finish coordination matrix
Before finalizing any hardware specification, build a simple finish matrix:
- Door hardware finish(es) — one finish throughout, or one per floor
- Cabinet hardware finish — kitchen, primary bath, secondary baths
- Plumbing fixture finish — often specified by the plumbing designer; must coordinate
- Lighting fixture finish — often specified by the lighting designer; must coordinate
If all four categories are specified by different people independently, finish conflicts are almost inevitable. The interior designer's role is to hold the finish matrix and verify every specification against it before orders are placed.
Trade accounts and project support
VK Hardware works directly with interior designers on project specifications. We offer trade pricing, sample programmes, and specification review — bring us your hardware schedule and we will identify gaps and flag potential conflicts before anything ships. Contact our team to set up a trade account or visit our Oakville showroom for a project review session.
VK Hardware
Questions about your project? We are always happy to talk hardware.
