San Diego Hardware has been family-run since 1892, and today stocks Henry Blake alongside a carefully chosen range of hardware brands for architects, designers and homeowners across the US. We spoke to Vice President, Hannah Haynsworth, about what's changed in over a century of the hardware trade, how San Diego Hardware decides what earns a place on its shelves, and why hardware deserves a seat at the table earlier in a project than most people give it.
San Diego Hardware has been family-run since 1892. What's changed the most about the hardware world in that time, and what's stayed exactly the same?
The biggest change has been the amount of choice customers have access to today. When San Diego Hardware opened over a century ago, hardware was largely about function and necessity. Now, it's an important part of the design of a home, and there are thousands of styles, finishes and manufacturers from around the world. What hasn't changed is the value of quality, craftsmanship and good service. Hardware is something you touch every day, so how it feels in your hand and how well it holds up still matters. Also, with so many things available online, people still want knowledgeable guidance and the opportunity to see and feel things in person.
You carry a wide range of brands and finishes. How do you decide what earns a place in the collection?
There are three main things we look for in the brands we carry. First is authenticity. We only onboard brands that have a strong sense of identity and a point of view that feels genuinely their own, rather than chasing trends or mimicking other brands. Second is relevance. We're always looking for brands that feel connected to what our customers want today. The strongest brands manage to feel current while still having a sense of longevity. Last but not least, great design has to be backed by quality craftsmanship. If we can't trust that a product will serve our customers for decades to come, it doesn't make the cut.
What trends are you seeing right now in cabinet and door hardware, in finish, form or otherwise?
We're seeing a movement toward hardware that feels more organic and artisanal. There's more interest in pieces with character and irregularities, whether that comes through sandcasting, sculptural shapes or hand-applied finishes. Overall, people want hardware that feels more crafted than manufactured. In a world full of mass manufacturing, luxury is less about how much something costs and more about how it's made.
What's one thing homeowners or designers should think about with hardware before they've even chosen a kitchen or door style?
Hardware should not be an afterthought. Time and time again, we see customers who can't get their dream hardware because they selected it too far along in the design process. The cabinetry construction and panel design can very much limit what hardware will fit, so those decisions really should be considered together. In addition, a lot of specialty hardware is made to order, which means waiting can create issues with lead time. When that happens, customers are often limited to off-the-shelf options which may not achieve the look, scale or quality that was originally envisioned. We always encourage our customers to think about hardware early, so it can be an intentional part of the design rather than a compromise at the end.
For someone renovating on a budget, where does spending more on hardware actually pay off?
I firmly believe that interior design budgets should skew towards materials that are physically interacted with. Touch has a strong subconscious influence on how we perceive quality, and tactile moments are often what makes a space feel truly elevated. Investing in things you handle, sit on and use every day creates a sense of luxury that goes beyond what you can see. This is especially true for door hardware. The difference in the hand feel and operation of a premium door handle versus one from a big box store is unmistakable, and can immediately communicate whether a space was quality driven or a budget build.
