Crafter with Character

There’s something special about hardware that feels made rather than manufactured.

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That’s something we share with Artisan Copper Handles, an independent maker creating handcrafted copper cabinet handles with distinctive finishes, textures and natural variations. What began as an interest in woodworking and Eastern Red Cedar gradually developed into a business centred around copper and the character that comes with working by hand.

We recently caught up with the maker behind Artisan Copper Handles to learn more about the business, the materials behind the designs, and how Barn & Brass hardware found its way into their work.

From Eastern Red Cedar to Handcrafted Copper

The story actually began with Tennessee Cedar Co., an Etsy shop focused on handcrafted pieces made from Eastern Red Cedar.

It was the individuality of the material that first appealed to the maker behind the business. No two boards were quite alike, with differences in grain, knots, colour and natural imperfections giving every piece its own personality.

As the designs evolved, copper started appearing more frequently.

“I just thought copper was beautiful, and when I put it next to Eastern Red Cedar, the two materials seemed to belong together.”

The warmth of copper complemented the reds and browns of the cedar, and what started as a small design detail soon became an increasingly important part of the work.

Eventually, experimenting with copper led to cabinet handles.

Different textures, finishes and techniques opened up new possibilities, and Artisan Copper Handles was born.

Today, the business focuses on handcrafted copper cabinet hardware, from cleaner, more refined designs to finishes with greater texture, depth, patina and variation.

Rather than trying to make every piece perfectly identical, Artisan Copper Handles embraces the qualities that make handcrafted hardware different.

“To me, that’s part of what makes handcrafted copper different from mass-produced hardware.”

Discover Artisan Copper Handles

If you’re planning a kitchen, furniture or cabinetry project and looking for hardware with a little more individuality, you can explore the maker’s work directly at Artisan Copper Handles.

You can also meet the maker behind the copper and learn more about the process and story behind the business.

Each pull is made from solid copper and hand-finished in Tennessee. Shop the full collection →

Finding Barn & Brass

Artisan Copper Handles first discovered Barn & Brass hardware while working on a handcrafted cedar whiskey tasting tray with copper handles.

For the project, they chose a Chrome Plated Brass Pipe Mount Bracket.

It wasn’t simply a functional choice. With the cedar and copper already bringing plenty of warmth and natural character to the piece, the surrounding hardware needed to complement those materials rather than compete with them.

“I really liked the look and character of the brackets and felt they stood out beautifully alongside the copper and Eastern Red Cedar.”

The brackets became another small but distinctive part of the finished design.

Looking Beyond Mass-Produced Hardware

That sense of character was particularly important when choosing hardware for the project.

Artisan Copper Handles celebrates the natural appearance of copper — including the textures, finishes and subtle variations that make individual pieces feel unique — so standard, overly uniform hardware wasn’t necessarily the right fit.

“I was really looking for something that had character and didn’t feel mass-produced.”

That’s ultimately what drew them to Barn & Brass.

“The first thing that caught my attention was the style and the fact that it had a little more personality than standard hardware. I felt like it paired really well with the copper and fit naturally with what I was trying to do with Artisan Copper Handles.”

It’s a philosophy we appreciate at Barn & Brass too. Hardware might be one of the smaller elements of an interior or piece of furniture, but choosing the right details can completely change the finished result.

Copper Hardware in the Home

That same approach can be seen beautifully in the customer kitchen pictured here.

Warm copper handles have been paired with deep charcoal cabinetry, marble surfaces, stainless steel appliances and dark timber flooring. Against the darker cabinets, the copper becomes a feature in its own right without overwhelming the room.

The variation and warmth of the metal also soften the more contemporary elements of the kitchen, creating a space that feels considered rather than overly coordinated.

It’s a great example of why distinctive cabinet hardware can make such a difference. You don’t necessarily need every finish in a room to match. Sometimes, combining complementary materials creates far more personality.

The Finished Result

For Artisan Copper Handles, the combination of their copper work and Barn & Brass hardware achieved exactly what they were looking for.

“I think the Barn & Brass pieces and the copper work really well together. Neither one takes away from the other, and together they give the finished piece a lot more character. It just feels more complete and intentional.”

That word — intentional — sums it up nicely.

Whether it’s a cabinet handle, bracket, knob or pull, the best hardware shouldn’t feel like an afterthought. It should feel as though it belongs to the piece or room around it.

Would Artisan Copper Handles Recommend Barn & Brass?

Absolutely.

“If someone is looking for something a little different from the typical hardware you see everywhere, I’d definitely recommend them. I especially think it works well for custom projects where you’re paying attention to the smaller details and want everything to feel like it belongs together.”

For us, it’s always rewarding to see Barn & Brass products being incorporated into the work of other independent makers — particularly businesses that share our appreciation for materials, craftsmanship and thoughtful details.

And if the copper hardware in these photographs has caught your eye, we’d encourage you to take a closer look at Artisan Copper Handles. Their collection is well worth exploring for anyone searching for handcrafted copper handles with considerably more character than standard, mass-produced cabinet hardware.

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