2011 Cliffside Power Rankings 3 comments

Our last top ten list examined products quite some time ago. Since late 2008, there have been significant changes to the Cliffside product line, with the addition of over 500 hardware pieces in the last two years alone! That said, Cliffside’s products are timeless, and so this week’s power rankings will compare our 10 best-selling products to where they ranked when we first started our blog.

#1: 100 series knobs

The 100 series, shown in antique brass

Previous rank: 1
No surprises here. Cliffside Industries was founded with only 1 knob — the 100-PB. Since that time, we have expanded this series into 14 classic finishes which range from the glossy sheen of polished nickel to the deep vibrance of Venetian bronze. This elegant piece is a testament to the fact that the right piece of hardware can stand the test of time. It also comes in a miniature size, the 100-20, which is available in 10 finishes.

#2: BH2A series hinges

The BH2A hinge in black

Previous rank: 2
Cliffside’s BH2A hinge continues to be the best seller in our proprietary European hinge line. Styled by Old World craftsmen who pay the finest attention to detail, our hinges are precision-honed to exacting specifications to bring you the highest-quality product imaginable. Solid, one-piece construction characterizes our hinges as among the strongest brass pieces in the industry, and they are extruded rather than stamped for added durability. Available in up to 15 finishes, these hinges are, without question, the best on the market. An honorable mention is given to our ball-finial BH2A hinges as well, and they are available without a finial too.

#3: 161 series knobs

One of the 161 knob's 12 finishes is iron.

Previous rank: 4
The popularity of the 161 has recently skyrocketed — so much so, in fact, that it has surpassed some of our top-selling hinges in pieces sold! The attractive ridged face of the 161 combines with its wide base to complete our second-best selling piece. Available in 12 finishes, this knob can be used in a wide variety of applications (and it’s also your blogwriter’s favorite piece!).

#4: BH2A-NM series hinges

OA is the most popular hinge finish.

Previous rank: 3
The convenience of non-mortise hinges helps them to maintain their spot in our rankings, just below their mortised counterparts. The slightly thicker barrel and finial are an attractive option for manufacturers, and these hinges are extruded — as all Cliffside hinges are — to reduce metal wear and squeaking. With 15 finishes, the selection of the BH2A-NM, shown at right in old antique, is unparalleled.

#5: 158 series knobs

The 158 looks primed for big gains (shown in old copper).

Previous rank: 9
The biggest gain in positions among our prior top-10 members belongs to none other than the 158 series. Its attractive beveled backplate has made it a favorite among designers and manufacturers alike. It has a rounded face, which has become very popular among designers seeking polished chrome and polished nickel finishes. Since we added these items in early 2009, their popularity has only grown greater, and we at Cliffside predict further success in the future.

#6: B1 series pulls

B1-3 in polished brass

Previous rank: out of top 10
A newcomer to the party, the B1 series of pulls is a recent addition to Cliffside’s top 10 pieces of hardware. With a classic bevel around the feet of the full and bold, striking lines throughout the piece, the three sizes of the B1 (available in 3″cc, 8″cc, and 12″cc) are here to make a statement. These pieces were left out on the very cusp of our top 10 the last time around, but no longer! The B1 series pulls are now the most popular handle in the Cliffside line and are sure to remain a hit with clients and contractors for many years.

#7: K4235 series cup pulls

The K4235 cup in polished chrome

Previous rank: 7
The only cup pull to crack the top 10 is the K4235, long the leader among all of Cliffside’s bin-style handles. The simple half-circle design and the attention paid to the tiniest details in crafting this pull are what sets it apart from the competition. With a 3″ center-to-center measurement, like the rest of Cliffside’s solid brass standard pulls, the K4235 is great for drawers of many sizes and shapes. It is one of five standard cup pulls that Cliffside currently offers, but it has always been — and continues to be — the most popular.

#8: BH3A series hinges

In polished nickel, BH3A is popular.

Previous rank: 6
The longer length and beefy barrel of the BH3A series hinge keeps our customers coming back for more! Though the BH3A has dropped two positions in our rankings, it is no less popular in total pieces sold. With 12 attractive finishes, this hinge is designed to hold up to the toughest and heaviest cabinet doors. At 3¹/₂” long overall (2¹/₂” leaf), the BH3A is the largest mortised hinge in the Cliffside line.

#9: 105 series knobs

105 in silver satin, our most popular finish

Previous rank: 8
The oblong 105 is the only non-round knob that features in Cliffside’s top 10. It’s a popular piece that is easily secured against spinning by a convenient brad that holds the knob in place against the face of the cabinet door or drawer front. Its elongated design makes it easy to grip — whether installed vertically or horizontally — and its solid brass construction ensures that this piece, and its popularity, will endure for years to come.

#10: 110 series knobs

Our newest finish, Venetian bronze, on the classic 110 series

Previous rank: 5
The 110 series knobs lend a touch of class to any cabinet face. The distinctive ringed face, a simple but classic design, matches well with any cabinet style or molding. This piece is a great complement, no matter what style of kitchen you are creating. One of the heaviest knobs in our line, it is also one of the most durable.

This concludes our Power Rankings to open 2011. With questions on anything you see here, contact our Customer Service department or e-mail the blogmaster.

Honorable mention

Honorable mention: BH2A-AB-BALL

• SP series pulls (previously #10; new #11)
• K341 series cup pulls (new #12)
• BH2A-BALL and BH2A-NM-BALL hinges (new #13 & #14)

Read all about it! No comments yet

Cliffside's Fine Hardware Collections catalog

In August 2010, Cliffside Industries released our newest Fine Hardware Collections catalog. This new generation of product catalog was born from countless ideas and requests from Cliffside customers to offer literature that is concise, straightforward, and well-organized with a clean approach. By eliminating fussy background and distracting props, we have brought the focus back to the hardware; Cliffside’s customers have asked and we delivered!

What’s new in this catalog?

The first new feature begins immediately inside the catalog, with our Table of Contents on page 3. Coupled with the Index (page 67), Cliffside provides two easy ways to cross-reference our products. Distinct color tabs define individual product lines, making it easy to locate a specific item.

New to this catalog are our hardware suites, which occupy pages 4 through 15 of the catalog. Each suite, including the new Artisan Suite, is shown in its entirety on these pages. All of Cliffside’s suites are crafted from solid materials, including brass, stainless steel, and bronze. Every item shown in the suite has a letter code, referencing the catalog page on which the item can be found. Customers have said that showing the hardware suites in the beginning of the catalog helps their clients to visualize the complete look of the job and facilitates decision-making.

Immediately following the suites is the complete breakdown of Cliffside’s product line. Each item is shown in all of its available finishes on the same page, and are shown on a white background for easy color comparison. For example, on page 17, you will find the 110 series knob in all of its available finishes. The clean look of the white page allows a truer interpretation of each finish color, repeated again for each page of solid brass knobs, latches, and cup pulls.

Beginning on page 24, you can see Cliffside’s new solid brass pull sets; each is shown in all available finishes in its 3″cc size, with the 8″cc and 12″cc sizes shown for proportion. You can now see up to thirty pieces of hardware on just one page of our catalog! Additionally, we offer suggestions on each page for coordinating cup pulls to complete your look.

If you are interested in Cliffside’s solid brass hinges, look no further than pages 34 to 46! Our 2010 catalog includes an expanded hinge line with several new products, as well as several classic hinges in new finishes. Our hinge specifications have grown to three whole pages to provide the most comprehensive information for your hinge purchase.

Just added to our hardware line is our builders’ hardware, which involved expanding, improving, and unifying several different Cliffside product lines. There are four finishes available in the builders’ line, which are shown on pages 52 and 53 of our catalog; several new products are available in this line, including the all-new Z211-96 and the addition of finishes to the 813-B knob  and 1040-B pull.

As in our previous editions, this catalog has several pages devoted to Cliffside’s top-selling special-order hardware, including European lead crystal and novelty items. Check out Cliffside’s website in the near future for our continually expanding line of novelty products.

How can I get literature for my customers?

To give your customers a more streamlined selection, small literature flyers are available.

If you need literature for customers, please contact Cliffside or make a literature request through our website. We are proud to say that we are the only company in our industry who is providing a full-line magazine-style catalog for our dealers to distribute to their clients. We have premium-grade catalogs for designers and manufacturers to use in their showrooms and shops, and we also offer a separate customer magazine that can be distributed without fear of losing your original book.

Our customer magazine contains the same 68 pages as our regular premium-grade catalog; it is simply a slightly smaller size, and is printed on a magazine-quality paper. This allows your clients to take home the same literature that they see in your showroom. If they have a question, they can call you directly; their catalog page numbers will be the same as yours, so it’s easy to cross-reference! They can also use their magazine in conjunction with our website, as you can, but they’ll never see your prices!

If your customer is indecisive about the full hardware line, you can also request small flyers which limit the hardware selection; these concise product supplements show four of our solid brass hardware suites, the stainless steel suite, and the Sedona line, as well as the finishes in which the solid brass hardware is available.

Can I get more literature for my showroom?

If you need additional literature, please contact us or make a literature request through the website. If you have any questions on literature you have received, Cliffside’s customer service staff is ready and willing to assist; our hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET.

Feel the difference No comments yet

Because cabinet hardware is looked upon mainly as a design accent in many fields, deciding on, and purchasing, the correct hardware for your kitchen or bathroom should be a sensory experience. The kitchen, as a whole, is the center of taste, smell, and sound in the household; just as you “eat with your eyes,” you should also “shop with your hands.” Feel the difference that Cliffside hardware can make on your new cabinets!

Feel the smooth, natural elegance of marble.

Feel the density and weight of high-quality solid materials like iron, solid brass, marble, and bronze.

See the natural ruggedness of the Iron and Old Copper finishes. Feel the rustic surfaces of Sedona’s Bronze and Antique Silver.

Feel the natural textures of Black and Old Antique hardware; see the rich, dark colors.

Reflect on the mirrored shine of Polished Nickel, Polished Chrome and Polished Brass.

See the difference that a solid brass hinge can make.

Hear the smooth-gliding, quiet-sounding knuckles of solid brass hinges; feel how freely they swing.

See the painstaking attention paid to every detail of our new criss-cross knob and pulls and rope-design cup pull.

See the dazzling clarity of crystal; feel its opulence.

See our website for more details on any of the products you see here; feel the difference in the quality of customer service you will receive.

Cabinetmaker’s Special: Hinge designs and styles No comments yet

Cliffside offers six distinctly different hinge styles for a variety of different installation applications. The question is, when do you use a specific style of hinge? Today’s blog attempts to address some of those pertinent questions.

What styles of hinges does Cliffside offer?

Cliffside offers six unique hinge styles in a variety of finishes. There are two beaded inset (mortised) hinges: BH2A and BH3NA; there are two flush inset hinges (non-mortise): BH2A-NM and AHI; and there are two offset hinges (3-8-OFFSET and AHO).

What are the specifications of your hinges?

BH2A

BH2A hinge shown in old copper with ball finial

The BH2A hinges have a 2″ leaf and a 2³/₄” overall barrel length for the standard finial hinge. The barrel diameter is ³/₁₆“, while the overall width of the hinge when laid flat is 1⁵/₈“. Each individual leaf measures ³/₄” across, and the leaves are ¹/₁₆” thick. With a ball tip, the overall barrel length is reduced to 2¹/₂“, but otherwise the dimensions are identical. The non-finial hinge also has the same specifications, but with a barrel length of 2¹/₁₆“. 16 finishes are available in the traditional finial style, while 11 are available with a ball finial and 5 with no finial.

BH2A-NM

BH2A-NM shown in Venetian bronze with steeple-tip finial

BH2A-NM hinges also have a 2″ by ³/₄” outer leaf, while the inner leaf is ¹/₂” by ⁷/₈“. The thickness of the leaf is also identical, at ¹/₁₆“, but the barrel diameter of ¹/₄” is slightly larger than its mortised counterpart. This is a three-knuckle hinge, as opposed to the BH2A’s five knuckles. The finial hinge has a barrel length of 2¹³/₁₆“, while the ball-tip version is slightly shorter, at 2⁷/₁₆“, and the non-finial hinge is merely 2¹/₁₆“. The non-mortise finial hinge is available in 14 finishes, with 11 ball-tip and 2 non-finial finishes available.

BH3NA

BH3NA shown in antique english

The BH3NA, or “BH3″, hinges are larger versions of the BH2A hinges in most senses. The leaf width is the same, at ³/₄“, but due to an increased barrel diameter (⁵/₁₆“), the overall width of the hinge is 1³/₄” when laid flat. The leaf of the hinge is 2¹/₂” tall, while the barrel is 3¹/₂” long. The leaf thickness is ¹/₁₆“. BH3NA is available in 13 finishes, only with the standard finial.

AHI

AHI shown in silver satin

The inset armoire hinge, or AHI, is a larger, two-piece hinge design that is crafted for ease of transportation and installation. The top and bottom halves of the hinges are separable; therefore, cabinet doors can be fitted at the shop, then shipped separately to the job site or installation location without a danger of swinging open, banging against other pieces, or falling off. Then, on arrival, the doors can be installed with a minimum of effort. The leaves of this unique hinge are 1″ wide and 1⁵/₁₆” long. The barrel is 5¹⁵/₁₆” in overall length, while the diameter is ⁵/₁₆“. The AHI hinges are also non-mortise, and are available in 9 finishes to suit any style. Because these hinges are “faced”, you must specify left or right when ordering.

AHO

AHO shown in iron

The offset amoire hinge (AHO) is a standard ³/₈” offset partial overlay hinge. It features many of the same design elements as the AHI, in that it is two-piece and available in the same 9 finishes. The barrel diameter on the AHO is ¹/₄“, while the overall length is 6¹/₈“. The lower leaf is 2″ long, while the upper leaf is 2¹/₈” long. Because these hinges are “faced”, you must specify left or right when ordering.

3-8-OFFSET

3-8-OFFSET shown in black

The second ³/₈” standard offset partial overlay hinge in the Cliffside line, 3-8-OFFSET is now available in 8 attractive finishes, four of which were just introduced. The leaves of this hinge are 2″ long, while the barrel is 2¹⁵/₁₆“. The barrel diameter is ¹/₄“, and the hinge has an industry-standard 5-knuckle construction. These hinges are precision-crafted to meet exacting standards.

All hinges

Every Cliffside hinge is extruded solid brass. All hinges have 2-4 adjustable holes to aid in installation, and each style comes in a variety of finishes.

When should I use a certain hinge?

Use smaller hinges for standard doors.

Use smaller-sized hinges for standard-height and standard-width cabinet doors. This includes floor-to-countertop-sized doors and countertop-to-below-celing-sized doors. The hinges recommended for these applications are BH2A, BH2A-NM, and 3-8-OFFSET, which are the three smaller-sized hinges in the Cliffside line. This offers a choice of a mortised inset hinge, a non-mortised inset hinge, and an offset hinge for your cabinet.

Hinges can be cabinet jewelry.

Use larger-sized hinges for oversized doors or extremely wide doors. The larger hinges are stronger because of their size and provide extra durability. We especially recommend larger hinges for doors that are from floor-to-ceiling in height, or doors that are from the floor to above the height of the countertop. The three hinges that Cliffside recommends for these applications are AHI, AHO, and BH3NA, providing you with the same three design choices as are provided for standard-sized doors.

Since the armoire hinges are “faced”, you will need to specify “left” or “right” when ordering. This designation indicates whether the hinge you are ordering is for a left-hand or right-hand door. Therefore, if you are building a cabinet with double doors, you will likely need two right hinges and two left hinges.

Design tip

Certain hinges can also be used as a design accent. This is one of the reasons that Cliffside offers a ball finial, a steeple-tip finial, and non-finial hinges in the BH2A and BH2A-NM. The armoire hinges are a particularly striking accent to any cabinet because they provide a large focal point for the eye, acting like jewelry for the cabinet rather than simply a functional piece.

How can I get Cliffside hinges?

Use our dealer locator to find a dealer near you, or call customer service at (800) 873-9258. To place an order, visit our website or send a fax to (800) 926-3435.

Holiday special: ABCs of Cliffside Industries 3 comments

The holiday season is a time for childlike wonder and joy, so without further ado, a blast from your past, the ABCs of Cliffside Industries, just in time for the holidays!

A is for Appliance Pull

Cliffside offers a full range of appliance pulls to suit any need, from T-shaped stainless bar pulls (T305 and D85) to 12″cc solid brass appliance handles that are the pride of our line. More styles, including a completely new pull, and 8″cc pulls to match our most popular styles, are coming early next year, and readers of this blog will get the scoop first, so keep reading, loyal viewers!

K4235-SS bin pull

B is for Bin Pull

We had a couple of options to pick through for B, but we chose to feature our popular bin pulls. Also known as cup pulls, these are a popular way to add a decorative accent to the face of any drawer. Some of our most popular cup pulls include the K341, K4235, and P-398, and we will be adding a cup pull to complement our rope-series pulls early next year.

C is for Customer Service

As our slogan says, Cliffside is respected throughout the kitchen and bath industry for our fast and courteous customer service representatives. We are available to assist you between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM Eastern time, and will strive to answer any hardware questions you may have, from hinges to knobs, from pulls to latches. You can also contact us any time via e-mail.

K-515 die cast knob

D is for Die Cast

Cliffside offers a wide selection of zinc die cast hardware, and we are offering special pricing on some of our die cast items on our inventory clearance special. This hardware is attractive and economical, as well as offering a variety of both traditional and contemporary styles.

E is for Elegance

Elegance is just one of the qualities that Cliffside hardware claims. Just look at the classic styling of our popular solid brass hardware lines, or the handmade craftsmanship of our iron “birdcage”-style hardware. Cliffside Industries is your destination for that artistic touch on your cabinets.

105 series "football"-styled knob

F is for Football

Some of you may wonder what the gridiron has to do with Cliffside, but take a close look at the 105 series knobs. Does that remind you of the shape of that peerless pigskin so prevalent around the holiday season? We offer several other oblong-shaped knobs, including the B711 series. We will be introducing the new B721 series oblong knob in early 2009 as well, a larger version to replace the B711 in the rope series.

G is for “Green”

In an attempt to be more environmentally conscious, Cliffside has undertaken some measures to “get green.” Every Cliffside catalog that is printed contains fiber from well-managed and responsibly harvested forests that meet strict environmental standards. We are proud to be among the first catalogers in the country to make this commitment, and are certified as such by the Forest Stewardship Council. In addition, Cliffside uses a paperless billing system that cuts down on waste, and reuses paper in house to reduce our usage even further. Read more »