Hardware First: Why Detail Belongs at the Beginning of the Design Process

At the heart of the conversation was a clear shared perspective: hardware is a foundational design choice. When considered from the outset, hardware has the potential to shape not only palette and material direction, but also the overall atmosphere and emotional tone.

As Laura Stephens explained, while this approach can sometimes feel challenging to communicate to clients early on, particularly when they are focused on the bigger visual picture, it remains integral to her process. Even when not immediately visible in presentations, hardware is always considered from the beginning, guiding finishes, colour balance, and the overall feel of a scheme.

“I definitely consider the hardware the start, because it will really affect the cabinetry, wall colour, and materials."

The discussion opened with a simple but revealing question: why is hardware key? From there, the conversation expanded into a broader exploration of touch, habits, and emotional connection within interiors.

Hardware, after all, is one of the most frequently interacted-with elements in a home. More than cabinetry or walls, it forms a daily point of contact, making its tactile qualities critical. From the weight of a handle to the sound it makes, these details subtly influence how we experience our spaces

"Good hardware should always feel like a beautiful transaction."

Laura Perryman described good hardware as creating a “beautiful transaction”. A moment of interaction that feels satisfying, even if the user cannot articulate why.

Throughout the morning, both panellists emphasised that hardware can act as a catalyst for wider design decisions. A single finish or form can influence cabinetry, wall colour, and material palette.

For Laura Stephens, choices are often shaped by practical considerations such as budget, the formality of the home, and how clients feel about materials ageing over time. The concept of living finishes (materials that patina and evolve) sparked discussion around authenticity, individuality, and the story a space tells over time. While some clients embrace this natural ageing process, others prefer consistency, highlighting the importance of understanding how people want their homes to feel both now and in the future.

Colour and finish interplay became another central theme. Warm tones such as reds and yellows naturally complement brass, while cooler palettes, like blues, can shift dramatically depending on whether they are paired with chrome, nickel, or aged finishes.

Laura Perryman highlighted the power of contrast and tension, suggesting that pairing warm metals with cooler tones creates visual dialogue, while tonal layering, such as combining brass with ochres and deep browns, builds warmth and cohesion.

Importantly, both designers encouraged moving away from the idea of exact finish matching. Subtle variations in tone and finish, even within the same metal family, creates depth and interest, particularly as lighting conditions change how materials are perceived throughout the day. And, when a metal is around a light source, the perception of that metal will change. For example, the finish of a wall light, you’ll have the light bleaching out of the metal, making it look much lighter than a handle you have placed in the darker corner of the bathroom. This is why mixing metals is so interesting, it builds this nuance and we’re not stuck on the intricacies of colour and light theory.

"I really encourage people to go with the overall feel rather than getting obsessed with the precise match."

One of the clearest takeaways from the discussion was that hardware should never be treated as an afterthought. Stephens shared early experiences of introducing handles too late in a project, only to find that the clients didn’t understand how hardware would dramatically alter the intended design. Since then, she ensures hardware is clearly shown, at the earliest stages, including placement and proportion, with clients.

While often overlooked in the early stages of a project, these decisions are essential to achieving a cohesive and resolved scheme.

As interiors continue to move towards more sensory and experience-led design, hardware is becoming increasingly important. The panel explored not only touch, but also sound, weight, and texture as integral parts of how we interact with our environments.

There was also an acknowledgment of how different users experience spaces differently. Whether designing for comfort, simplicity, or rich tactile engagement, hardware plays a key role in shaping those experiences.

Using selected Hendel & Hendel pieces throughout the discussion, the panel explored how hardware can act as an organising element within a scheme.

Rather than being applied at the end of a project, hardware can influence material choices, colour relationships and the overall character of a space from the outset. Even in minimalist settings, where handles may be reduced or removed, material choices elsewhere, such as taps or trims, can carry this same sense of detail and intention.

Ultimately, Hardware First highlighted a broader understanding within interiors: one that prioritises detail, tactility, and emotional connection.

It reinforced the idea that the details we live with every day shape our relationship with a space more than we often realise.