New Line.
A whopping 130 decorative pieces make up the new Allison Cabinet Hardware series. The trend-driven designs are sold in most major home centers and hardware stores for about $3 each. Amerock, 800/435-6959, www.amerock.com
Leather Look.
The Paradigm Collection offers coordinated knobs, pulls, towel bars, and more in metal and genuine leather. Finish variations include black leather or brown suede in polished chrome or brushed nickel. Prices range from $22 for a cabinet knob to $140 for a toiletries shelf. Atlas Homewares, 800/799-6755, www.atlashomewares.com
Happy Hardware.
If you've got a client looking for whimsical cabinet hardware that wears its heart on its sleeve, look no further than HobKnobs' many offerings. Prices run from $7.50 to $22 apiece. HobKnobs, 770/631-4080, www.hobknobs.net
French Chic.
Rich metal finishes and jewel-faceted glass distinguish the coordinated cabinet knobs and door pulls in this French maker's Collection de Lalique (right) and Collection Cristal (below). Put a high-class finishing touch on your clients' kitchen and bath for $270 to $790 per knob. THG USA, 954/425-8225, www.thgusa.com
Tile-Setting Problem-Solvers
Seamless Underlayment.
Pour uneven subfloors flat with self-leveling SL-150, a polymer-modified cement designed for use under tile — ceramic, stone, or vinyl — hardwood, and carpet. The product can be used in thicknesses of up to one inch and hardens in about four hours. A 50-pound bag costs between $17 and $27, depending on the distributor; a one-gallon can of required universal primer costs about $30. Bostik, 888/592-8558, www.bostik-us.com
Mold-Stopper.
Antimicrobial technology prevents fungal growth in TexRite Grout, claims the maker. Sanded and unsanded versions come in 25-pound bags at a cost determined by individual distributors. Texas Cement Products, 800/669-0115, www.texrite.com
Sure Stick.
Here's a tile-setting mortar formulated to eliminate back-buttering and ensure 100 percent coverage for full, superior contact between tile and underlayment. Polymer-modified Ultracontact comes in 50-pound bags, mixes with five quarts of water, and can be walked on after 24 hours. Price varies by distributor. Mapei, 800/426-2734, www.mapei.com
