Get a Grip On Handles and Knobs from Classy to Brassy
See how you can give your furniture the finishing touch of a beautifully designed handle or knob to make it uniquely yours
Sally Hart
28 October 2014
I love spatial planning with unique problems to solve. With decades of designing spaces, a qualification in nursing, a parent of two wonderful grown kids, managing a rural property and business I understand the requirements, joys, and realities of family/professional life.
I love the fact that my years of experience are an asset to my clients in discerning what they need and what they don't. I love the practical, and I want it to be beautiful.
I genuinely love working with our wonderful clients who come to us with trust and respect in asking us to beautify their homes.
I love spatial planning with unique problems to solve. With decades of designing... More
The recent trend of elegant and sleek minimalist furniture can leave cabinetry looking quite homogenous and, dare I say, a bit boring? Handles and knobs have been an integral feature of cabinetry and furniture as long as they’ve been in existence, but new styles have silenced them. The likes of touch-release catches have all but eliminated handles and knobs in rooms including the kitchen and bathroom. But whether the subtle punctuation in the sentence, or a grand statement, handles and knobs speak for themselves, and will definitely not become extinct. Let’s have a look at some of these stars and see if you can honestly live without them.
Matter of harmony
I love the semicircular handles in this elegantly designed bathroom. They harmonise with and continue the circular pattern and theme throughout the bathroom. Sourcing such unique handles shows absolute commitment to the overall theme and design. They complete the bathroom. Imagine the room without these classy handles – still sleek and classy, but way less original.
I love the semicircular handles in this elegantly designed bathroom. They harmonise with and continue the circular pattern and theme throughout the bathroom. Sourcing such unique handles shows absolute commitment to the overall theme and design. They complete the bathroom. Imagine the room without these classy handles – still sleek and classy, but way less original.
Keeping it quiet
Making a statement doesn’t have to be loud. In this striking kitchen by Scott Weston Architecture Design, the subtlety of the handles is beautifully balanced with the drama created by the contrasting colours and textures of the cabinetry. The handles serve as a functional element while also tying the foreground bench to the background cabinetry via continuity of line and finish.
Making a statement doesn’t have to be loud. In this striking kitchen by Scott Weston Architecture Design, the subtlety of the handles is beautifully balanced with the drama created by the contrasting colours and textures of the cabinetry. The handles serve as a functional element while also tying the foreground bench to the background cabinetry via continuity of line and finish.
Accentuating design
This contemporary cabinet by interior designer Greg Natale features geometric shapes, repeated in the mirror, chair and diamond drawer patterning. The circular handles complete the story set against the diamond pattern. Centred on the drawer face, the handles are a focal point. Additionally, the handles bring dimension to this lovely piece of furniture by projecting forward onto another plane. This projection and the repetition of the circular shape carries our eye from the round mirror in the background, across the top of the cabinet and down to complete the picture at the centre of the drawer face. Again, imagine the cabinet without the handles –nowhere near as much personality.
This contemporary cabinet by interior designer Greg Natale features geometric shapes, repeated in the mirror, chair and diamond drawer patterning. The circular handles complete the story set against the diamond pattern. Centred on the drawer face, the handles are a focal point. Additionally, the handles bring dimension to this lovely piece of furniture by projecting forward onto another plane. This projection and the repetition of the circular shape carries our eye from the round mirror in the background, across the top of the cabinet and down to complete the picture at the centre of the drawer face. Again, imagine the cabinet without the handles –nowhere near as much personality.
Time to function
The part of the cabinetry you will touch the most is the handle.
It is a really good idea to invest the time in testing your handle selections before purchasing. Make sure your handle projects far enough out from the cabinetry so that you can get a good grip on it, not just hold it in your fingertips. The more of your finger or hand you can get into or around the handle, the easier the door or drawer will be to open. Note that the heavier or larger the door or drawer, the more of a grip you will need.
BONUS TIP: People with limited mobility or dexterity generally find a well-constructed ‘D’ handle works best.
The part of the cabinetry you will touch the most is the handle.
It is a really good idea to invest the time in testing your handle selections before purchasing. Make sure your handle projects far enough out from the cabinetry so that you can get a good grip on it, not just hold it in your fingertips. The more of your finger or hand you can get into or around the handle, the easier the door or drawer will be to open. Note that the heavier or larger the door or drawer, the more of a grip you will need.
BONUS TIP: People with limited mobility or dexterity generally find a well-constructed ‘D’ handle works best.
Partner up
Unless you are going for an eclectic mix, handles should relate to the style of furniture and other fittings in the room. This retro kitchen features the hinges, so in this instance it is a good idea to match the handles to the same finish as the hinge.
You don’t have to be a slave to a period – you might even have a modern handle on a period-style piece – but try to give a nod to the era by using the typical style, shape or finish.
Unless you are going for an eclectic mix, handles should relate to the style of furniture and other fittings in the room. This retro kitchen features the hinges, so in this instance it is a good idea to match the handles to the same finish as the hinge.
You don’t have to be a slave to a period – you might even have a modern handle on a period-style piece – but try to give a nod to the era by using the typical style, shape or finish.
Don’t screw up!
If you choose rectangular knobs make sure they have a pin to stop the knob from turning. Otherwise your feature will be misaligned and the streamlined look ruined.
Stand clear
When positioning knobs or handles in doors, check the clearance to ensure that when adjacent doors are opened back to back, the knobs/handles won’t hit against each other.
If you choose rectangular knobs make sure they have a pin to stop the knob from turning. Otherwise your feature will be misaligned and the streamlined look ruined.
Stand clear
When positioning knobs or handles in doors, check the clearance to ensure that when adjacent doors are opened back to back, the knobs/handles won’t hit against each other.
Safety second?
Beware of handles and knobs that can ‘catch’ on clothing, knees etc as you walk past. Those that also have a protrusion beyond the end, as those in this photograph do, might be problematic in this regard. But I wouldn’t rule them out. In fact, the handles in my own kitchen have this feature and I love them. However, if safety, children and high traffic are an issue, or the kitchen or bathroom space is small, then it’s probably best to avoid this style. We have had a few catches on aprons and tears of clothing over the years.
Beware of handles and knobs that can ‘catch’ on clothing, knees etc as you walk past. Those that also have a protrusion beyond the end, as those in this photograph do, might be problematic in this regard. But I wouldn’t rule them out. In fact, the handles in my own kitchen have this feature and I love them. However, if safety, children and high traffic are an issue, or the kitchen or bathroom space is small, then it’s probably best to avoid this style. We have had a few catches on aprons and tears of clothing over the years.
Have fun!
Whether they are a lifetime partner or fun-filled fling, handles and knobs (just look at the gorgeous ones on this dresser!) are one of the easiest things in your decor to update. So have your way with them.
SHOW US
We’d love to see pictures of your handles and door knobs in the comments section, and why you chose them for your home.
MORE
Push and Pull: Kitchen Hardware That’s as Practical as It Is Pretty
Clever Design Ideas for Your Bathroom Vanity
15 Easy (and Wonderfully Creative) Bathroom Updates
Whether they are a lifetime partner or fun-filled fling, handles and knobs (just look at the gorgeous ones on this dresser!) are one of the easiest things in your decor to update. So have your way with them.
SHOW US
We’d love to see pictures of your handles and door knobs in the comments section, and why you chose them for your home.
MORE
Push and Pull: Kitchen Hardware That’s as Practical as It Is Pretty
Clever Design Ideas for Your Bathroom Vanity
15 Easy (and Wonderfully Creative) Bathroom Updates
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Anyone looking for an amazing range of cabinet handles, please visit: Castella or give us a call on 1300 71 71 20, and we're sure to have something that would suit your need! Our great customer service team will help you choose the perfect handles for your kitchen!
Thanks sharp85
It's best to see the handles as a finishing accessory that complete the story
of your kitchen. And your kitchen as a chapter in the book of your home.
I like
to have a uniting reference for these accents, so look to other door furniture
in the home (unless these are to be changed) such as living room cabinetry,
passage door handles and bathroom cabinetry. Relating the door furniture throughout the home to each other so they feel like they belong to the same
family. You can relate by period, finish, style, colour or material.
Even though you have
chosen flat panel cabinetry, there are other components of your kitchen that
you can relate to such as appliances, splash back, flooring, sink, bench material, all of these tell the story.They add colour, texture and character. Traditional knobs and handles work
perfectly well on plain doors, so look for one of these elements to tie them to and it will be fine. You can usually buy a couple in advance and have a look at them in your home before hand too if that helps.
I've gathered some images to give you some inspiration, some are plain doors and some are shaker but use your imagination and have a little fun. As I mentioned in the article, they can be replaced fairly easily-- you just need to find a replacement with the same drill hole spacing to keep it simple.
Hope this helps:)
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/1218876/beach-style-kitchen-beach-style-kitchen-other
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/40456/omega-kitchens-contemporary-kitchen-london
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/4851591/shack-attack-midcentury-kitchen-other
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/52570627/kitchen-transitional-kitchen-baltimore
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/4713964/my-houzz-iris-dankner-traditional-kitchen-new-york
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/470873/through-the-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-portland
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/7146587/novenstein-transitional-kitchen-other
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/1545060/black-white-and-red-kitchen-eclectic-kitchen-atlanta
http://www.houzz.com.au/photos/7205910/residential-snapshot-midcentury-kitchen-adelaide