Just like all things home-improvement or a simple kitchen renovation, knobs and pulls can be some of the trickiest aspects of design. Do you have a dining room that adjoins your kitchen with a lighting system that has a different finish than your appliances? Better yet, are you just completely clueless on what to dress your kitchen cabinets with? No matter what the circumstances are, there are several things that you can do that will not only make it an easy remodeling task, but a fun one as well!

Let’s start with a blank slate, shall we? If your holes have yet to be drilled on new kitchen cabinets, this tends to open your world up to a few more opportunities. There are a few things to consider here. Are you wanting all knobs? All pulls? A combination of both? Are you wanting to match your countertops? Appliances? How about both?

The first thing to look at would be your hinges. If your hinges are a certain finish and they show, you’ll want to make sure your other hardware corresponds. The second thing to look at would be your appliances. If you have all stainless steel appliances, you’re in for a much better selection on hardware. Mixed finished appliances? Don’t worry! There are an array of mixed finished knobs and pulls. Lastly, the third thing to look at would be your countertops. Granite countertops have a mixture of many different colors, which also leads to more open options!

Now that you’ve narrowed down the finish, let’s discuss the type of hardware you’ll want. We get so many inquiries from customers who want to know what the “typical” kitchen cabinet and drawer contains. The answer is simple. There isn’t one! Take this beautiful kitchen, designed by Jeffery Hilburer, for example:

Knobs on upper cabinet doors, pulls on bottom cabinet doors, and even a few pulls on the drawers! The design is completely up to you and your creative abilities.

Now, let’s discuss revamping of older kitchen cabinets and drawers. If your holes are already drilled, you’re more than likely going to want to want to use the same type of hardware to avoid having to refinish and drill new holes. For example; if you had pulls, stick with pulls. If you had knobs, stick with knobs. Some cabinetry is so aged that there might not be many options available for smaller sized drill centers. A drill center is the measurement from the middle of one drill hole to the other. In these instances, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can fill the existing holes by refinishing and then drill new holes to match the hardware that you would like. Another great and easier solution is to purchase a backplate to cover the existing holes. You can then switch it up using knobs or pulls! Some of these options can take a little more time and effort, but the final result will be something that you can be proud of.

Whatever your project might be, keep it fun! We have a fantastic application that will allow you to see your finished product before spending a dime. Check out our VisualizerApp and find out just what it’s all about and order samples to see them in person. For any and all hardware questions, feel free to contact our amazing design concierge team at 800-530-8245 between the hours of 9AM-6PM EST Monday through Friday. If you happen to catch us during our off hours, feel free to send us a message here: Design Consultations. We will return your call or email within 24-48 business hours.