If you have cabinets in your next remodeling project, you are likely to have cabinet hardware as well. So, what choices do you have? This week, we walk you through the many questions clients have. Pulls versus knobs. Color options? Function versus aesthetic? What happens if you want to change them later? If you want a few tips on everything cabinet hardware, please keep reading and join us as we continue to demystify the remodeling process.
Cabinet hardware is the jewelry of the project. It serves an important function over the years to protect your cabinetry to be sure, but it’s a very visual item as well. It always tends to be one of the final selection details, but it is definitely not one to be overlooked. Once we arrive at cabinet hardware, there are many questions. Let’s address some of the key questions we get asked
Pulls Versus Knobs?
There is literally no right or wrong answer to this question. The answer is sometimes all of one is the choice, sometimes both in combination are used, but rarely is there a project anymore where there is no selection. I would say that we commonly end up doing a combination of pulls on drawers and knobs on doors, but my favorite approach is “all pulls” on the doors and drawers. I like the function it provides to be able to reach out and grab something of substance to open the door or drawer.
Hardware Finish Options
When choosing your hardware, the question that immediately comes to mind is what color of finish? The common options include polished chrome, satin nickel, brass, bronze and matte black, but there are more to be found. We have clients that gravitate to a pewter finish that is very nice. What you have to decide is what you want to coordinate. For instance, it is quite common for a client to want to have the finishes on their light fixtures, sink faucet and cabinet pulls all compliment one another. Having said that, it is very important that you understand the used of mixed metals is a real thing and you have many approaches to consider. The cabinet hardware manufacturers have realized this and created options that have mixed metals on one cabinet pull. Again, there is no right or wrong!
Size Matters
There are countless styles and colors of cabinet hardware available in the market today, but within a style family are many sizes to choose from. Why do they offer this? In my opinion, two very important reasons. First, think function. If you have a large drawer 36″ wide, grabbing a very small pull or knob can put stress on that cabinet drawer and negatively affect it’s use over time. The use of a longer pull can add stability while operating the drawer. The second reason is aesthetic. Putting the smallest size pull on that drawer can look out of proportion… so we tend to use a longer pull to fit the drawer visually.
You would be surprised at the increased use of larger pulls today in projects. Think about getting your fingers in the space behind the pull to easily grab it and operate the cabinet. Rarely do we use the smallest size pulls in projects these days and most commonly we will move up a size or two for that very reason. Then, on large drawers and doors we tend to move up a size or two larger yet again for easy operation and a visual that is intentional on the door or drawer.
Be Careful Of One Thing!
If there is one piece of advice we would offer, it is simply this. Cabinet hardware comes in many sizes. If you think you are the type of person that will want to change your hardware down the road, please pick something of a standard size, otherwise you will have an unwanted problem. The new pulls you choose will not fit the holes already drilled in all of your cabinets.
Obviously, if you choose a knob, this problem is eliminated, but even then we want to make sure to drill that knob in a place that could work well with a pull in the future. To be fair, most people don’t think about changing the pulls when they are selecting items for a brand new kitchen, but if you are doing a kitchen refresh and just want to change your pulls… you will know exactly what we mean in this discussion because I am certain you will remove one of your pulls and go from store to store looking for something that matches in size.
We hope this simplifies the high level thinking about the primary concerns while selecting cabinet hardware.