Our house-made, small-batch leather conditioner uses only time-tested natural ingredients. Our recipe was inspired by historic fishermen's boot recipes from the Library of Congress.
Leather Handle Colors on Different Material Backgrounds (Lots of Project Photos!)
June 22, 2022
In this post, we'll explain the differences between our four leather colors and share lots of customer project photos showcasing our leather pulls in all colors against project backgrounds of all colors (cabinets, drawers, furniture, and more) -- organized by color: Black, Rich Blues/Greens, Dark Wood, Medium Wood, Blonde Wood, Gray, White -- plus a bonus section on Brick and Rust accent walls.
About Our Four Leather Colors
The leather we use for our handles comes to us as Natural vegetable-tanned leather, and we hand-rub old-fashioned oil dyes into the surface to make the colors of Honey, Dark Brown, and Black. These colors represent a nice spectrum of natural tones, and contrast with each other.
Learn more about the differences between our leather colors in our post: About Our Four Leather Colors. This photo of all four colors taken together outdoors in natural sunlight is the most true representation we have of the colors as they actually look in person:
Our four leather colors: Natural, Honey, Dark Brown, Black
Leather is a natural material, and each hide's base color can vary just a little, and this can affect the final color. That natural color variation is what makes our leather so beautiful: just like natural wood grain, each piece is unique.
We sell leather samples / color swatches so customers can see them in person themselves before they buy. These swatches are up-cycled pieces from our Bicycle Barrel Bags, and can be used as a beautiful drink coaster.
Customer Project Photos: Leather Handles on Different Color Backgrounds
Leather Handles on Black and Black-Brown Cabinets
Commentary: Honey is one of the most popular leather color choices with black cabinetry, but as you can see, every leather color looks good with black. The choice of contrast or blending is up to the overall project's theme or customer's preference.
Black-Brown IKEA Sideboard Furniture with Honey Leather HandlesBathroom Sink Cabinet Black Cabinetry with Dark Brown Leather Tilikum Handles and Wood and Blue AccentsBlack Walk-in Closet Cabinets with Black Leather and White Oak Sellwood HandlesDark Black Wardrobe with Honey Leather Hawthorne Handles @housetweakingBlack Stainless Steel Chef's Kitchen with Honey Leather and Wood Sellwood HandlesBasement Black Floating Storage Cabinet with Natural Hawthorne Leather HandlesRoad Haus Handcrafted Mobile Home with Dark Kitchen Cabinets and Honey Leather Hawthorne Wide HandlesBlack-Brown Basement Dry Bar and Music Corner with Honey Sellwood and Fremont Leather and Wood HandlesBlack-Brown Furniture Buffet with Natural Tilikum Leather Handles
Leather Handles on Dark, Rich Colors (Green / Blue / Navy)
Commentary: Honey looks stunning with greens and blues, as it's on the opposite side of the color wheel, but it's so stunning, that it can steal the show. Dark Brown and greens are handsome. Natural provides the greatest color contrast, while Black can be strong but subtle.
Green Bunkbeds with Dark Brown leather and wood Tilikum and Sellwood handlesKitchen Remodel Deep Blue Cabinetry with Honey Leather HandlesKelly Green AirBnB Kitchen with Natural Tilikum Leather HandlesMarine Blue Chest of Drawers with Black Tilikum Leather HandlesNavy Blue Kitchen Island with Honey Leather HandlesDeep Gray Blue Laundry Room Cabinets with Honey Leather Lovejoy Handles
Leather Handles on Dark Wood Cabinets
Commentary: Black is classy and classic, and keeps the attention on the wood grain. But our brown tones, Honey and Dark Brown, can really punctuate the warmth and coziness, carrying the natural material palette seamlessly and thematically. But it is important for the tones to be a good match, so it is very dependent on the wood color/stain.
Dark Wood Bar Back with Black Leather Hawthorne HandlesWalnut Wood Cabinetry with Honey Morrison Leather HandlesGreen Stained Wood Dutch Door on Oiled Wood Outbuilding with Dark Brown Hawthorne Wide Leather HandlesDistressed Barn Wood Furniture with Burnside Large Black Leather Hinged HandlesDark Wood TV Cabinet with Dark Brown Hawthorne Small Leather HandlesDistressed Wood Bathroom Cabinet with Burnside Small Honey Leather Hinged HandlesDark Brown Tilikum Leather Handles on Dark Walnut Wood Custom FurnitureStriped Tiger Wood Nightstand with Dark Brown Tilikum Leather HandlesBlack Hawthorne Leather Handle Installed Flat on Wood Office Cubicle DeskDark Wood Bench Seat with Black Leather Hawthorne Small Handles and Yellow Accents
Leather Handles on Medium / Warm Wood Colors
Commentary: The most popular leather handle color for medium wood cabinetry, like oak or beech, is Dark Brown. It makes sense: a classic wood color meets a classic leather color. Honey can actually blend in to medium wood pretty well for a more subtle approach.
Light Wood Side Table with Dark Brown Tilikum Leather HandlesOak Wood Cabinet with Dark Brown Leather HandlesWarm Wood Entry Hall Drawers with Honey Tilikum Leather HandlesMedium Wood Cabinetry with Honey Burnside Large Leather HandlesHand-built Wood Media Center with Dark Brown Hawthorne and Tilikum Leather HandlesKnotty Wood Bookshelf with Dark Brown Hawthorne Small Leather HandleNew Mexico Retreat House with Light Wood Cabinetry and Dark Brown Leather Handles
Leather Handles on Blonde / Light Wood Colors
Commentary: blonde or light-colored woods vary widely in undertone and finish. Some are a bit gray, some are a bit blue, and some are just on the very light side of warm. And then there's plywood! Our customers have chosen Honey, Dark Brown, and Black for their light wood cabinetry in equal numbers. The exact tone of light wood is critical to finding the right color match, but as always, you can never go wrong with Black leather.
Scandinavian Birch Bathroom Cabinet with Black Leather White Oak Sellwood HandlesAirstream Renovation with Light Wood and Cane Cabinetry and Burnside Small Honey Brass Leather HandlesMountain Cabin Kitchen with Verdigris Blue Light Gray Wood and Honey Tilikum Large Leather HandlesFremont Honey on Light Birch Wood Midcentury Modern Desk @don.paiDark Brown Morrison leather handles on Bleached Wood Cabinetry @interiorsbymbBlonde Wood and Black Contrast Walk-in Closet Cabinets with Custom Black Painted Leather and Oak Sellwood HandlesPlywood Interior with Black Leather Hawthorne Wide Handle and Black Accents3 Leather Colors (Honey, Dark Brown, Black) Hawthorne Small Leather Handles on Knotty Pine IKEA Dresser
Leather Handles on Gray Cabinetry
Commentary: Gray cabinetry has been rising in popularity, and Honey is the most common color our customers have chosen for this background. Honey is the warmest color, and its contrast against what could be a cool and even industrial color makes a striking contrast. However, as our customers have shown, Black leather with gray cabinetry adds a historic black-and-white photo look, and Natural leather looks serene and clean when paired with very light gray cabinetry.
Colorado Chalet Kitchen Gray Cabinetry with Black Leather Handles and Honey Leather Bar StoolsCustomer Laundry Room Remodel Gray Cabinetry with Honey Burnside Leather Hinged HandlesGray Driftwood Effect Bathroom Cabinet with Tilikum Large Honey Leather HandlesGray and Gold Study with Natural Leather Hawthorne and Morrison HandlesHawthorne Small Honey Nickel on Medium Gray lockers @focus_buildersHawthorne Small Natural Leather Handles on Light Gray Cabinetry
Leather Handles on White and Off-White Cabinetry
Commentary: Much like Black, all leather colors stand out and look beautiful on white backgrounds!
White with Natural Sellwood HandlesWhite Bunkbeds with Dark Brown Leather Tilikum HandlesWhite Rec Room with Black leather Tilikum and Hawthorne Small handlesWhite and Gray Kids Room with Honey Leather Hawthorne Small HandlesHoney Hawthorne Wide Handles on Off-White Bookshelf Storage @ashlynathomeMudroom Makeover with White Cabinetry and Hawthorne Honey Small Leather HandleOff-White Kitchen Cabinetry with Dark Brown Lovejoy Leather HandlesWhite IKEA Hack Dresser with Black Knobs and Natural Leather Hawthorne Wide Handles RealSimple MagazineWhite Nursery Cabinets with Honey Hawthorne Leather PullsSellwood Black Handles on White Laundry Room @amandamarieinteriorOff White Breakfast Nook with Honey Leather Handles and Blue and Orange Accents3 Leather Colors (Honey, Dark Brown, Black) Morrison Leather Handles on Off-White IKEA HEMNES Dresser
Bonus: Brick and Rust Accents
Commentary: Although none of these handles are actually attached to brick or rust walls, the presence of their colors can heavily influence the leather color (and vice versa). Most customers choose Honey or Natural when working with these beautiful tones.
Sellwood Large Natural on Black Cabinet in Brick Kitchen @caryrayHoney Tilikum Leather Handles on Black Kitchen Cabinetry Next to BrickHoney Leather Tilikum Handle Installed on Vintage Truck Door with Rust and Aqua Blue and WhiteHoney Leather on Black Kitchen Cabinets with Red Brick Wall
Free Photo Search Service
If you have mock-ups of your interiors to send and want our advice, or if we can dig through our photo archives to find certain color combinations, please let us know. We're happy to help.
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