The Finishing Touch: How hardware shapes the feel of a space – with Armac Martin

We sat down with Armac Martin to talk craftsmanship, finishes and the small details that make a room feel effortlessly elegant...

When it comes to design, the smallest details often have the biggest impact. In our new Naked Designs showroom in Chelsea, those details include the beautiful Armac Martin handles and knobs that complete each piece of cabinetry — the perfect finishing touch to what head of design Jayne Everett describes as “unstructured elegance.”

For years we’ve loved working with Armac Martin, whose heritage and ethos align naturally with our own. Founded in Birmingham in 1929 and now a fourth-generation family business, they’ve spent almost a century perfecting the art of design-led brass hardware — pieces defined by beautiful detail, exceptional materials and true craftsmanship. Their collections are favoured by designers and architects across the world, and we’ve used their handles throughout our kitchens for as long as we can remember.

We asked the Armac Martin team to share their thoughts on how hardware shapes the mood and feel of a room, and why it plays such an important part in the new showroom’s look.

The power of the finishing touch

“Hardware is the finishing touch to any style of cabinetry,” they explain. “It’s an opportunity to personalise your home — and to have some fun at the same time.”

Because handles are the most-touched part of any kitchen or dressing room, they need to feel as good as they look. Armac Martin’s solid brass and bronze designs are crafted in Birmingham using techniques passed down through four generations — weighty, durable and hand-polished by skilled craftsmen to ensure every piece feels satisfying in the hand.

Details that define a mood

The Naked Designs showroom was created to feel relaxed and warm but with a touch of the luxurious — a mood that Armac Martin’s pieces echo. “We design authentic, timeless hardware that elevates daily life,” they say. “With so many fleeting trends, we share Naked’s commitment to creating beautiful pieces that will never date.”

From the sleek, curved Edgbaston handles on the Onslow wardrobes to the sculptural Colmore T-bars in the dressing room, each range adds subtle personality. It's these tactile details that turn rooms into lived-in, characterful spaces.

Choosing handles that work beautifully

So how do you pick the right handles for your space? “Consider both the overall style and the usability of the cabinetry,” the team advises. Minimal edge pulls, such as those in Armac Martin’s Loop collection, suit contemporary schemes, while cup pulls like the Oldbury or the Cotswold add a classic touch to Shaker-style doors.

And don’t underestimate the power of finish. Unlacquered, “living” finishes that age naturally — from aged brass to hand-burnished nickel — are increasingly popular, lending depth and individuality over time.

Timeless craftsmanship with modern possibilities

Armac Martin has been crafting brass hardware in Birmingham since 1929, and many of its most loved designs have been part of the collection for decades. “Every piece passes through the hands of more than ten craftsmen,” they note. “That heritage is visible in every curve, polish and patina.”

It’s an approach that perfectly complements Naked’s own philosophy of design that’s personal and made to last, wth no limitations.

How to choose hardware that elevates your space

Here are a few simple principles — drawn from both Naked’s design approach and Armac Martin’s expertise — to help readers make great choices for their own homes:

1. Think about use before looks

Handles are touched dozens of times a day. Weight, grip and comfort matter just as much as appearance. Try opening a door or drawer with the handle you’re considering. Check how it feels from different angles — especially on larger doors or integrated appliances.

2. Match the handle to the mood of the door style

Hardware shouldn’t fight the cabinetry.

• Shaker doors: cup pulls or rounded knobs create softness and classic charm.
• Contemporary doors: slim T-bars or minimal edge pulls keep the look clean and architectural.
• Freestanding furniture: bolder, sculptural handles can add personality.

3. Choose a finish that will age well in your home

Armac Martin’s “living finishes” develop a gentle patina over time — perfect for the relaxed, characterful feel of unstructured elegance.

• Aged brass warms up a scheme instantly.
• Burnished or polished nickel brings softness without the glare of chrome.
• For a crisp look in high-use areas, lacquered finishes offer stability and low maintenance.

4. Use hardware to create cohesion across rooms

One of the most effective ways to make a home feel unified (without making it matchy-matchy) is to repeat a finish or handle profile in subtle ways:

• The same finish on kitchen handles and bedroom knobs
• Matching gallery rails, shelf brackets or hooks
• A T-bar in one room echoed by a knob from the same collection elsewhere

5. Don’t forget the supporting cast

Hardware isn’t just handles. It includes the small architectural details that can elevate a room:

• Gallery rails (beautiful in larders, dressers or even as shoe rails)
• Shelf brackets (add sculptural support and a premium look)
• Hooks and wall hardware (perfect for boot rooms and dressing rooms)
• Sockets, switches and cabinet latches (small but transformative).

Bringing ‘unstructured elegance’ into your own home

If you love the feel of the Naked Designs showroom, a few simple rules will help you create the same effect at home:

• Keep the palette calm and tonal, not matchy.
• Mix natural materials like timber and unlacquered brass.
• Choose handles with softness in the hand — rounded edges, curves, organic forms.
• Let the hardware add subtle personality rather than statement contrast.
• And above all: design without limitations. Combine fitted and freestanding, classic and contemporary; the mix is what really creates the charm.

At the Naked Designs showroom, Armac Martin’s hardware completes the picture: solid and elegant, and made for real life.

See Armac Martin's full range on their website. And plan a visit the Naked Designs showroom in Chelsea here.

See also:

Unstructured Elegance: Inside the new Naked Designs Chelsea showroom

How do I choose the right handle for my kitchen? - by Armac Martin