There are probably tens of thousands of knobs and pulls to choose from. So how do you begin? You will need to consider size, material, shape, combinations, and symmetry. Think of these items as jewelry. Is your kitchen a "plain black dress or conservative business suit" in need of some pizzazz? Or is  it handsomely detailed outfit needing only a small additional statement?  Here is your chance to accessorize with taste. So where do you begin? Material: Your appliance material is a color in your room palette. So if it is stainless steel, then brushed nickel or stainless steel knobs and pulls generally tie things nicely together. A second popular choice is chrome or polished nickel. If possible, select your faucet to match. These silver-color metals are available for any period motif. If your appliances are not stainless steel, then bronze and antique brass hardware are charming, especially for traditional or transitional cabinetry. Polished brass is generally not a favorite. Its shine and dominant yellow color overwhelms the eye and detracts from the cabinetry. If choosing warm metal colors, tying in the same material through the lighting or countertop accessories such as the paper towel holder, helps to pull things together. Then there are a myriad of other choices, including stone, crystal, glass, wood, and acrylics. Just make sure these will not stain or need constant care and most of all that you will not tire of the idea. Size Matters. You and your significant other should be sure to test the hand grip on your selection to make sure it is comfortable.  If your doors are tall, make sure your handles are in scale by having someone hold them up in place while you view them from several yards away. Keep in mind that with cabinets 24" wide or more, there will be two handles side by side. So it is wise to buy two of any candidates you are considering. Pulls that come in a variety of sizes will help a lot where cabinet widths and door heights vary considerably.  Horizontal or Vertical Placement: For modern applications, consider the horizontal placement of your pulls matching the doors and drawers to provide an attractive linear appearance. I like to place pulls in the very center of the drawer front, regardless of drawer size. It always creates a harmonious appearance. When door handles are placed vertically, line up the bottom of the pull with some feature of the door or find the center of the lower square where the rail and stile meet as your bottom point. All Pulls or a Combo. Knobs on the doors, pulls on the drawers sometimes provides the right solution. For wider drawers, a double knob instead of a pull can be charming. Again, the only way to be sure is to test the appearance on the site. Your answer should be obvious. A Little Whimsy. Here and there think about breaking the symmetry. The drawer on the sink base, very wide drawers, tall cabinet doors on pantries. a hutch, featured glass doors, are candidates for a creative turn. Check out novelty handles and see if they would add a bit of uniqueness to the kitchen. A cabinet set aside to display crystal stemware could depart with crystal knobs, for example. Don't be afraid to make it your own. Most important tip!  Wait until the cabinets are partially installed before you purchase your decorative hardware. Most sources only require a day or two to ship.

Tip: Factories Don’t Pre-Drill

Think about it. How would a factory know what hardware you picked or where you prefer its placement? But don’t let the contractor guess either. Show the position that you want and have it marked with painter’s tape. Some installers will make a little template to move along quickly. Best tip is to put each size pull or knob inside the cabinet or drawer it will go on. This step saves mistakes that are hard to correct.

© Malorie Currier, Page1Design, Inc., 2018

© Malorie Currier, Page1Design, Inc., 2018