Push and Pull: Kitchen Hardware That's as Practical as It Is Pretty
Handles, knobs and drawer pulls may be small but they can make or break a kitchen both in style and function. So, what are your options?
Every cupboard door and drawer needs one, and not always to do the same job … pot drawers are heavy, while lazy Susan corners are tricky, and slide-out pantries can get the wobbles; then there are the heavy doors of integrated fridges and dishwashers calling for a different kind of door hardware all together.
It is a good idea to consider how your kitchen hardware will be employed: Will drawers and cupboards be opened by little, or wet, hands? Will the handles mark easily and require constant wiping and cleaning? Do you want them to be a feature of the space, or would you prefer that they blend in allowing your kitchen cabinetry to maintain clean, uninterrupted lines.
Below, you’ll find a range of knobs, handles and pulls to consider. Some aim to be practical and purposeful with form following function. Others might be considered ‘statement hardware’, employed to draw the eye, they become a firm feature of the space, and, in some cases, a talking point.
It is a good idea to consider how your kitchen hardware will be employed: Will drawers and cupboards be opened by little, or wet, hands? Will the handles mark easily and require constant wiping and cleaning? Do you want them to be a feature of the space, or would you prefer that they blend in allowing your kitchen cabinetry to maintain clean, uninterrupted lines.
Below, you’ll find a range of knobs, handles and pulls to consider. Some aim to be practical and purposeful with form following function. Others might be considered ‘statement hardware’, employed to draw the eye, they become a firm feature of the space, and, in some cases, a talking point.
Nordic inspired. The clean lines of this kitchen are further accentuated by the blonde wood joinery, which lines the cabinetry, with the theme continued through to the handles. Only an option if you are installing a new kitchen, this means of opening and closing doors and drawers is contemporary and timeless.
Eclectic. Changing your knobs is an inexpensive way to alter the look and feel of your kitchen. In this kitchen, distressed cabinetry is paired with mismatched vintage ceramic, glass and filigree handles and pulls, which further add character to the small space. Trawl second-hand stores and markets for individual handles like these, or try Etsy or Tradco.
Robust cast iron. The matte black cast-iron handles in this small kitchen contrast against the high-gloss cupboards and doors, and complement the dark grout of the tiled splashback. Robust and easy to grab, they won’t show fingerprints or cooking splatters, and are easy to wipe clean. A range of cast-iron handles can be found at Furnware.
Slimline stainless. Long, slimline stainless-stell door-pulls further elongate the clean lines of this pantry and integrated fridge. The length and height of these timeless pulls are particularly useful in balancing pull-out pantries, which can be wobbly, or taking the weight of fridge and freezer doors. Shorter handles in the same style have been used on smaller cupboards, their line mirroring the stainless shelving above the bench. You can find similar stainless-steel handles at Handle House.
Handles for tricky spaces. Kitchen corners are the bane of every kitchen designer, but this clever dual drawer configuration has overcome the issue, working effectively to maximise the use of ‘dead’ space. Hardy stainless, or brushed nickel, handles are practical and attractive, helping to create an interesting, highly functional corner that otherwise may have remained useless. Bunnings stores nationally have a range of drawer-pulls similar to these.
Bespoke and hand-carved. This kitchen uses a themed (and very novel) approach to drawer openers, having asked the cabinetmaker to cut bone-shaped drawer pulls into the cabinetry. A conversation-starter, and easy to use, even the littlest hands can open and close these drawers without the risk of jamming fingers, meaning the kids can add, ‘feed the dogs’, to their list of pocket-money chores. If you like this individual approach, and are designing a new kitchen, talk to your cabinetmaker about designing and carving eye-catching drawer-pulls or handles that might work in your home.
No handles. The clean lines of this kitchen remain uninterrupted – not a handle or knob in sight. Italian and German kitchen designers and manufacturers are particularly keen on this look. Doors are opened by pressing the corner to disengage a hidden magnet fixed to the back of the door, while draw-grabs are concealed, integrated into the cabinet joinery. Drawers close seamlessly thanks to easy-glide, self-closing mechanisms.
A range of handle styles. This large family kitchen makes use of a range of pewter hardware, from horizontal pulls used on the integrated dishwasher, fridge and freezer, to smaller ‘cup’ pulls, complete with burnished accents, on the drawers, and tiny knobs on the lighter, easier-to-open, wall-mounted cabinetry. Mother of Pearl and Sons stocks a range of similar hardware, including cup pulls, knobs and handles in corresponding styles and finishes.
Chic Shaker. The wooden handles used in this Shaker-style kitchen impart a hand-crafted, organic feel, accentuating the hand-turned bench and dovetail drawers. Made from light-coloured wood and finished with clean-lined stainless steel brackets, they are timeless and chic. Their length means that two hands can easily pull out the lower, larger drawers that hold the weight of dinner plates, platters and cast-iron pots and pans. Melbourne designers Designer Doorware have a range of similar handles carved from Victorian Ash.
Intricate handles. This very intricate Tuscan-style drawer-pull matches the beaded shadow lines of the kitchen’s hand-carved cabinetry. This style of pull could have some drawbacks. It is potentially tricky to clean, and the beautiful facia of the drawer could wind up with scratches from the impact of the moving parts (particularly if little hands are doing a lot of the opening and closing). This is a pull perhaps best suited to the kitchens of elegant empty nesters. Sydney’s Keeler Hardware has a range of similar, intricate drawer-pulls and handles.
Handles with ID tags. The drawer-pulls used in this kitchen are modelled on those of old-fashioned library card catalogues. Above the easy-to-grab pull sits a small panel that holds a strip of cardboard which can be written on to announce what’s inside the drawer. Try Chippendale Restorations for these, and other interesting reproduction handles and pulls.
DIY handles. If you are creative, consider making your own handles. Rope drawer pulls can be fashioned from a roll of rope purchased at the hardware store. An inexpensive and on-trend means of updating old cabinetry or accenting new. Sydney-based interiors stylist Sibella Court stocks a range of rope-finished handles and knobs at her Paddington, Sydney store The Society Inc.
Barely-there handles. Small, brushed stainless-steel drawer-pulls and cupboard handles have been fixed to the inside lip of drawers and doors adding to the contemporary aesthetic of this kitchen. Lip handles like these, as well as a huge range of vintage and other stainless and brushed-nickel drawer-pulls can be found at Lock and Handle.
TELL US
What style of kitchen hardware are you thinking of choosing for your kitchen? What are some of your considerations before making your final choice?
TELL US
What style of kitchen hardware are you thinking of choosing for your kitchen? What are some of your considerations before making your final choice?