Lots of people treat handles as an after-thought, yet they make so much difference to the overall look of your kitchen. When choosing handles on cabinetry, you need to decide on size and location of the handles on the doors and drawers, as well as the style and finish of handle. Yes, you need to be 100% sold on the handle you choose. You need to get a couple of samples and see what they look like in situ. Don't just buy them all and get them home and find they are the wrong size or finish. I think the big doors on the right need handles, otherwise they are too hard to open with push catches. The ones in the pic on the doors could be a little smaller if you don't want them to stand out too much. If the doors and drawers in the pic are the new cabinets, then your handle positions are fixed. Because the are positioned quite close to the top edge, you shouldn't get a thick handle like the one you proposed, otherwise they will appear too close too the edge. If you want something less noticeable and modern and still a bow handle, I would go for a handle like this: http://www.furnwaredorset.com.au/Handles-Knobs/Breda-Bow-Handle It is thinner and simpler than the one you chose, so these will stand out less. Choosing handles is a balance between practicality, appearance and good positioning. I wouldn't let $4 or $10 get in the way of handle choice. The kitchen is a large investment, so to skimp on the price of the handles would be a false economy.

Hi iggs85 as it is an older kitchen I would not spend a huge amount of money on a revamp. It is definitely possible to paint laminate but good preparation is vital to ensure the paint 'sticks'. However a quality painter is going to charge you about the same as your resurfacing quote. Using either a painter or a resurfacing company does let you choose any colour though. The biggest disadvantage of the current benchtop is the bullnose which is very dated. From your photo, the colour and pattern look OK but you could get a stone 'overlay' put on it. They square off the bullnose so it looks more contemporary. An acrylic feature panel on the return is another alternative to vinyl planks. It looks like glass, comes in a good range of colours and is relatively inexpensive compared to glass. See http://zenolite.com/range as an example. You can buy acrylic sheets from Bunnings. You could also use pressed metal panels as a feature eg. http://www.wunderlite.com.au/catalogue/details/1/79/pressed-metal-crystal?start=25 Add some new handles on doors and drawers too.

Hi, Bronwyn - love your kitchen :) We are planning a complete kitchen renovation and love the two choices that you have for the cabinets fronts. Seeing you did your kitchen about 4 years ago my first question will be of durability :) How do both finishes feel - plasticky or more like real wood? For the Voxtorp I will have only wall cabinets (no drawers) of it and wonder with the integrated handle - does it align well (I tend to have OCD and if there are no even will drive me crazy :) ). Thanks :)

Amar, can you measure the rooms again in Meters , marking doors and windows You could sell your old kitchen and appliances which would also be removed at no cost to you. Would you reconsider using the existing free standing cooker and Range hood this would save a lot of money, the cooker could be replaced at a later date? Once you have the measurements you could take them to a Bunnings for them to quote and do a floor plan at no cost to you, once you have this you can ask others to quote. Keep in mind that drawers cost more than a simply cabinet, and your choice of door profile/style will effect the price.