Before attempting a complete design overhaul in your home, consider starting with something simpler and less costly: the hardware.
Located in one of Birmingham’s most hyped about and budding districts, Avondale Specialty Hardware is brimming with premium hardware for the entire home. Jeff Seabolt, who is more fondly known as “The Hardware Man” by his loyal customer base, is the go-to guy here. Since 1987, he’s been helping Magic City residents outfit their homes with the finest products. Whether you want a quick spruce-up or a complete renovation, no design project is out of his wheelhouse.
“He knows everything about everything,” says Avondale Specialty Hardware Marketing Manager Rebecca Lipscomb.
As design trends shift, it’s natural for homeowners to yearn for new décor, Jeff says. What most don’t realize, however, is that you don’t need to break the bank to achieve what you’re looking for.
By meeting one-on-one or scheduling time for Jeff to come to your home, clients can map out a plan for swapping out hardware which can give an instant facelift to any room.
“You can easily take an old piece of furniture and update the knobs and make it look fresh again,” Rebecca says. “If you can switch out your knobs and pulls, that’s a super easy way to give yourself a little more bang for your buck in a redo.”
Since opening up shop, Avondale Specialty Hardware has assisted countless locals with a wide range of products. Because it can be difficult to know specifics when it comes to hardware, having a design team on hand is a great asset, Rebecca says.
“You think you can just go buy a doorknob, but it’s a little more complicated than that,” she explains. “You need to make sure you’re getting the right fit and all the pieces that go with it.”
With countless options available for special order and a warehouse chock-full of inventory, Avondale Specialty Hardware is a one-stop shop when it comes to hardware needs.
And Jeff stays on top of all of the current trends. These days, he’s been seeing a lot of hardware that features unlacquered brass, satin brass and champagne colors — all of which he has on display at the showroom.
“Polished nickel was the thing for a while, and that trend has kind of faded out,” he says. “Now it seems to be champagne or satin brass.”
Unlacquered brass, Jeff explains, will have an “unfinished” aesthetic. Hardware can naturally fade with time, he says, but this look establishes a more Old World patina from the get-go.
Perhaps the easiest room to update with hardware, Rebecca says, is the kitchen. Because there are usually a lot of knobs and pulls throughout the kitchen, customers can achieve a quick update by swapping out hardware instead of replacing cabinets or painting walls.
“We like to call it the jewelry of the kitchen,” Rebecca says of all the hardware accessories that accompany kitchens.
And if for some reason customers can’t find what they’re looking for at the store, Rebecca explains that Avondale Specialty Hardware takes custom orders, because it’s all about achieving the customer’s vision. No matter what type of look clients are seeking, Avondale Specialty Hardware will work to make that dream a reality, she says.
“I think what people need to remember is that they don’t have to do whatever everyone else is doing,” she says. “You can have fun with it — it’s supposed to make you happy. You may have people you want to impress, but you’re the one spending the money, so it should be something you love.”
Whatever your budget or style aesthetic, Avondale Specialty Hardware offers an unmatched selection that won’t disappoint.
Avondale Specialty Hardware is located in Avondale at 150 40th St. S., Birmingham, AL 35222. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. with one-on-one consultations available by appointment. For more information, call (205) 510-4232 or visit avondalespecialtyhardware.com.
This article is sponsored by Avondale Specialty Hardware.
