Modern Matter
Modern Matter is a Norfolk, Virginia-based DTC e-commerce brand designing handcrafted solid brass cabinet, bath, and door hardware with semi-precious gemstone accents, serving luxury homeowners, interior designers, and select hospitality clients via its website, a Trade & Dealer Program, and a flagship Benjamin Moore retail partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersVirginia Beach, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Modern Matter does
Modern Matter (Modern Matter LLC) is a Norfolk, Virginia-based design company that designs and sells handcrafted solid brass decorative and architectural hardware, including cabinet knobs, pulls, appliance pulls, backplates, bathroom accessories, and door hardware, with optional semi-precious gemstone accents (Amazonite, Labradorite, Lapis, Malachite, Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Tigers Eye, White Quartz, Prehnite). The product line spans hundreds of SKUs across cabinet (~403 items), bathroom (~219), bar (~137), and archive categories, produced made-to-order with hand-applied artisan finishes (Polished Brass, Polished Nickel, Burnished Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Antique Brass, Antique Pewter, Dark Bronze, Satin Brass Matte, Stainless Steel, Verdigris, Patina, and living/unlacquered brass) using recycled brass and jeweler-grade techniques inherited from the founders' original jewelry atelier (founded 2010 per firmographics; hardware pivot formally capitalized with a $1.2M seed round in November 2021 led by 757 Angels powered by VentureSouth).
The company monetizes through a direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront at modern-matter.com, a Trade & Dealer Program for interior designers and architects (application-gated, with member benefits and discounts), a showroom locator network, and partner websites including the Benjamin Moore retail network (Color Trends 2026 collaboration shipped to Canada). Pricing is unit-based and tiered by product, finish, and customization: cabinet knobs from ~$49 to $119+, pulls from ~$89 to $169+, bathroom towel bars from $379 to $699, with an Archive sale channel at 75% off. Eleven named designer collaborations (Mark D. Sikes, Pierce & Ward, Sarah Bartholomew, Barrie Benson, Eddie Ross, Michelle Nussbaumer, Doug Meyer, Ajiri Aki, Young Huh, Float Studio, Pure Salt) plus the flagship Benjamin Moore partnership function as the brand's primary content and co-development engine.
The customer base is centered on luxury homeowners and interior designers, with a secondary hospitality tail and showcase placements in Kips Bay Showhouse NYC 2025 and Flower Magazine 2025 Designer Showhouse Nashville. Editorial coverage spans Architectural Digest, Veranda, House Beautiful, Luxe, Flower Magazine, Traditional Home, Coastal Virginia Magazine, and the New York Post Luxury Gift Guide, and the company exhibited at KBIS and IBS 2026 in Orlando. The operating team is small (1–10 employees per firmographics) with co-founders Lee and Kat leading the business; an additional "Leadership & People" reference lists Rishap Malhotra as Chief Executive Officer & founder and Katherine Mulford as Chief Creative Officer, which appears to map to the same founding pair under alternative names but is not reconciled in the source data.
Modern Matter firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Modern Matter
- Legal name
- Modern Matter LLC
- Website
- https://modern-matter.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Modern Matter is a Norfolk, Virginia-based DTC e-commerce brand designing handcrafted solid brass cabinet, bath, and door hardware with semi-precious gemstone accents, serving luxury homeowners, interior designers, and select hospitality clients via its website, a Trade & Dealer Program, and a flagship Benjamin Moore retail partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Modern Matter industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Decorative Hardware
- NAICS
- Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232)
- SIC
- Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Decorative Hardware & Home Accents Retail (House Numbers, Hooks, Knobs/Pulls, Mailboxes) (CRAIACAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Decorative Accessories Retail (Vases, Bowls, Sculptures, Figurines, Trays) (CRAIACAB)
Keywords
Where Modern Matter is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Virginia Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Modern Matter business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Product Sales: One-time purchase of premium cabinet hardware products including knobs, pulls, backplates, bathroom accessories, and door hardware. Products are made-to-order with customization options. The company sells directly through its e-commerce platform and through trade/dealer channels.
- Trade & Dealer Program: B2B sales channel targeting interior designers, architects, and dealers with exclusive member benefits and discounts through the Trade & Dealer Program.
- Design Collaborations: Revenue generated through designer collaboration collections, including branded collections with interior designers and strategic partnerships with paint/color brands.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cabinet Knobs - Price range by style and finish |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cabinet Pulls - Price range by style and size |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bathroom Hardware - Towel bars, rings, and accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Archive Sale - Discounted retiring styles |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Modern Matter product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Modern Matter designs, manufactures, and sells premium handcrafted solid brass decorative hardware including cabinet knobs, cabinet and appliance pulls, bathroom hardware, door hardware, and backplates. The brand offers artisan-applied finishes and customization options such as semi-precious gemstone inlays, selling primarily direct-to-consumer online while operating a dedicated Trade & Dealer Program for design professionals.
Product overview
Modern Matter is a Norfolk-based design company specializing in premium decorative and architectural hardware. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of solid brass cabinet hardware including knobs, pulls, appliance pulls, backplates, bathroom accessories (towel bars, towel rings, hooks), and door hardware. The product line features artisan-crafted finishes (Polished Brass, Polished Nickel, Burnished Brass, Oil Rubbed Bronze, Dark Bronze, Verdigris) and distinctive semi-precious gemstone accents (Amazonite, Labradorite, Lapis, Malachite, Moonstone, Rose Quartz, Tigers Eye, White Quartz, Prehnite). The collection spans multiple design styles (Classic, Modern, Vintage, Ornate, Industrial) and includes designer collaborations such as the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2026 partnership. Modern Matter also offers a Trade & Dealer Program for interior designers and a bespoke custom hardware service. Products are made-to-order with hand-applied finishes by skilled artisans, using sustainable recycled brass.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cabinet Knobs
- Cabinet and Drawer Pulls
- Appliance Pulls
- Bathroom Hardware
- Door Hardware
- Cabinet Backplates
- Gemstone Hardware Collection
- Benjamin Moore Color of the Year Collection
- Trade & Dealer Program
- Bespoke Custom Hardware
Quantifiable outcome
- Small details completely change an interior - transforming ordinary design into showstoppers
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Modern Matter
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Modern Matter technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Modern Matter partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and secondary.
- Benjamin MooreflagshipStrategic design partnership to extend Benjamin Moore's Color Trends 2026 palette into home goods. Modern Matter created an exclusive cabinet hardware collection featuring powder-coated solid brass pieces in Silhouette AF-655 (Color of the Year 2026), Southwest Pottery 048, and Sherwood Tan 1054. The collaboration marks Benjamin Moore's color vision extending beyond paint into coordinated home décor, available through both partner websites and Benjamin Moore's retail network with shipping to Canada.
- Ajiri AkicoreInterior designer collaboration creating exclusive hardware collections. Ajiri Aki x Modern Matter collection featured in the product catalog and highlighted in blog content.
- Barrie BensoncoreDesigner Barrie Benson collaboration with The Workhorse collection and other exclusive pieces. Products featured across cabinet and bathroom hardware categories.
- Doug MeyercoreDoug Meyer collection featured in product catalog including exclusive hardware designs. American Rhapsody collection tear sheet available.
- Eddie RosscoreEddie Ross collaboration including Bamboo and Edgewood Hall collections. Tear sheet available for the Eddie Ross collection.
- Float StudiosecondaryFloat Studio collaboration creating exclusive hardware designs featured in the product catalog.
- Mark D. SikescoreMark D. Sikes collaboration featuring multiple collections including Clementine, Pixie, and Smith River. Featured in AD100 coverage and extensive product lines.
- Michelle NussbaumercoreMichelle Nussbaumer collection featured in product catalog with exclusive hardware designs inspired by her design aesthetic.
- Pierce & WardcorePierce & Ward collaboration featuring bathroom and cabinet hardware collections. Used in Emma Roberts' home and featured across multiple room categories.
- Sarah BartholomewcoreSarah Bartholomew collection featured in product catalog including Washington and Alexandria collections with tear sheet available.
- Young HuhsecondaryYoung Huh collaboration creating exclusive hardware designs featured in the product catalog.
- Pure SaltcorePure Salt collaboration featuring exclusive hardware collection. Featured in Leigh Lincoln's home and multiple design inspirations.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Modern Matter competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- RH (Restoration Hardware): Luxury home furnishings brand with a growing cabinet hardware assortment and galleries. Competes for the same luxury homeowner and interior designer spend but as part of a much broader and better-capitalized portfolio.
- Hickory Hardware: Large legacy US cabinet hardware brand (Belwith Products) offering decorative knobs, pulls, and accessories. Directly overlapping in product but at lower price tiers and broader mass-market distribution than Modern Matter.
- Rejuvenation: Williams-Sonoma-owned premium home brand selling cabinet hardware, lighting, and home furnishings. Comparable on premium price-point positioning and trade/designer customers, with broader category reach and substantially larger assortment and budget.
Direct peers
- Buster + Punch: Design-forward UK-based luxury hardware brand selling solid metal cabinet pulls, door hardware, and lighting with a DTC-led premium positioning. Directly competes with Modern Matter for design-savvy luxury homeowners and interior designers.
- Waterworks: Luxury kitchen, bath, and decorative hardware brand with deep designer trade program and showrooms. Comparable on premium cabinet/bath hardware, designer-customer focus, and coordinated room collections.
- Alno: Premium decorative cabinet hardware brand known for designer-driven collections and finishes. Directly competes in the same luxury kitchen/bath cabinet hardware category with overlapping designer collaboration playbooks.
- House of Antique Hardware: Specialty retailer of vintage-inspired and artisan cabinet hardware, including solid brass and bronze knobs/pulls. Comparable on material authenticity, artisan positioning, and customization for high-end residential renovation.
- Top Knobs: One of the largest US specialty cabinet hardware brands, focused on premium knobs, pulls, and accessories for kitchens and baths. Directly comparable assortment and trade-pro dealer model, though at a slightly more mass-premium tier than Modern Matter.
- Emtek: Established US premium decorative cabinet and door hardware brand (part of Fortune Brands) selling designer-grade brass hardware through a strong trade/pro dealer channel. Comparable on product category, finish breadth, and trade-program distribution.
- Rocky Mountain Hardware: Premium handcrafted solid bronze and brass architectural hardware with artisan finishes and specialty makers. Closest analog to Modern Matter on material, craft positioning, and made-to-order customization for luxury residential projects.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Modern Matter social profiles
Digital presenceModern Matter financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Modern Matter leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Modern Matter funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Modern Matter M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Modern Matter
What does Modern Matter do?
Modern Matter designs, manufactures, and sells premium handcrafted solid brass decorative hardware including cabinet knobs, cabinet and appliance pulls, bathroom hardware, door hardware, and backplates. The brand offers artisan-applied finishes and customization options such as semi-precious gemstone inlays, selling primarily direct-to-consumer online while operating a dedicated Trade & Dealer Program for design professionals.
Is Modern Matter a public or private company?
Modern Matter is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Modern Matter founded?
Modern Matter was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Modern Matter based?
Modern Matter is headquartered in Virginia Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Modern Matter make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are trade & Dealer Program and design Collaborations.
Who are Modern Matter's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are RH (Restoration Hardware), Hickory Hardware and Rejuvenation. Direct peers are Buster + Punch, Waterworks, Alno, House of Antique Hardware, Top Knobs, Emtek and Rocky Mountain Hardware.
Does Modern Matter have an API?
No public API is recorded for Modern Matter.
What industry is Modern Matter in?
Modern Matter's product category is Decorative Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIACAJ, Decorative Hardware & Home Accents Retail (House Numbers, Hooks, Knobs/Pulls, Mailboxes), with a secondary code of CRAIACAB, Decorative Accessories Retail (Vases, Bowls, Sculptures, Figurines, Trays). Its NAICS code is 33991 and its SIC code is 3420.