How To Choose Your ‘Home Jewelry’: A Guide to Kitchen Hardware

In the later stages of kitchen renovation planning, one of the last decisions you’ll make is choosing your cabinet handles. Often called “the jewelry of the home,” this small feature can have a big impact on the look and feel of your space. A large, stately pull handle will feel formal and traditional, while a sleek black minimalist tab will look modern and contemporary. Your choice will tie together the aesthetics of your space, and should match with your other accents (faucets, light fixtures, etc.).

Here are the three main types of cabinet handles (with a few additional options at the end).

Pulls

These pulls bring together the colour of the light wooden shelving.

Pulls are the most practical option when you need a firm, easy-to-grip handle on a large cabinet face. You can choose between straight pulls, which offer a more contemporary look, or curved pulls, which will look more traditional. You’ll generally want to avoid using pulls on higher drawers, as they can be awkward to grab a pull handle when you’re reaching upwards.

Knobs

The combination of pulls and knobs create a dynamic visual contrast.

Knobs are a practical option for smaller door faces. This adds variety to the cabinet faces while maintaining consistency across the top row of handles. Using a combination of handles can make your kitchen more visually interesting.

Bin Pulls

These bronze bin pulls contrast well against black lower cabinets.

Bin pulls are a stylish way to mix up your kitchen handles. They offer an antique-inspired, stately look that has more visual weight than a traditional pull handle. In the kitchen above, the bin pulls are centred on the cabinets, creating a contrast between the upper and lower cabinets.

Edge Pulls, Ring Pulls, Latches

Edge pulls create a sleek, minimal look in modern kitchens.

Beyond the three main handles, there are a few others that can add an extra flair to your space. Edge pulls, pictured above, are simple and modern. Ring pulls are generally placed on lesser-used cabinetry, like an antique drawer in the washroom or bedroom. Finally, latches are being used by designers to add an extra analog charm to a space.

Ready to upgrade your kitchen cabinets? Visit our Vaughan showroom today.