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FEBRUA RY 2017 | 33 Architectural Hardware Architectural hardware is pulling some serious weight around the house by STACEY MCLACHLAN T hough backsplashes and paint colour often hog the spotlight when we talk about residential design, it's architectural hardware that's the true hero of a functional space. "It's not sexy by any means, but quality hardware makes beautiful furniture work and that's what makes it sexy," says George Pavlov, Ontario regional sales manager for Grass Canada. "It's how something actually works that makes it more pleasurable to use." But with high-tech developments, clever new mechanics and sleek styles, the hinges, levers, rails and handles may just be having their moment of glory in 2017. Salice's new Air hinge features a smooth mechanical system that can be fully adjusted in three dimensions. Meanwhile, the company's new flap-style lift system, Wind Lift, utilizes a smaller footprint and is versatile enough for everything from residential design to furniture design and medical applications. Some argue that the lift-up door may not be ideal for all situations. "The lift-up door is difficult for smaller people to use, and takes up a lot of room to operate – not ideal for condos," explains Claude de Lanauze, national product manager for Hettich Canada. New developments in sliding doors, like Hettich's InLine sliding doors that lay flush when closed, offer a sleek alternative with a fresh esthetic. "It's a European or pharmaceutical laboratory look," says de Lanauze. The sliding cabinets also allow for more diversity in kitchen layouts for smaller spaces; even narrower layouts can accommodate an island with this option. Whatever the mechanism, a dampener is part of almost every design. Soft-close is the must-have feature when it comes to cabinetry in 2017. "Everyone wants that nice smooth motion," explains Pavlov. Hettich's aptly named Silent System is one prime example of the trend, while DuoLift, Bucher's lift-up hardware, features adjustable spring tension and dampening for a soft close. And when it comes to exterior doors, mechanisms are also reaching exciting new heights. Dorma Canada's Locking Ladder Pulls, for example, are a security innovation that contain a locking feature that allows them to lock the door to the pull. Spencer Colvin, Dorma Canada's CSI director of architectural specifications and services, notes the design's ability to lock all glass doors, "while still meeting ADA requirements." This is key, because as much as consumers are concerned with esthetics, security is still the priority when it comes to locking hardware. "People want a minimalistic design that's small, sleek and looks good, but the products need to be quality too," says Colvin. With an increasing interest in white and wood grain kitchens, more designs are requiring simple, hidden hardware to match. Pavlov calls the handle-less look "monolithic," and points to his company's increasing selection of options for han- dle-free operations: the Tipmatic is a pop-open design, while the Sensotronic is an electronic system and Sensomatic is completely automated. Each allows users to design a kitchen with a look that's modern, but also one that embodies a certain timelessness. "A lot of times, external hardware dates a room," says Pavlov. "People are turning to a more basic look, for something smooth, clean, crisp and reliable that will stand the test of time." Working It The sleek and seamless Vionaro Drawer from Grass Canada Inc. The smooth motion DuoLift lift-up hardware from Bucher Ltd.

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