Julie-Ann
04-11-2011, 11:59 AM
The hardware you choose for your existing or new cabinets can make a huge difference to the finished look. Many times you can update a kitchen simply by updating the cabinet hardware. Here are some points to consider when choosing hardware:
Often it's easy to get swept up in the process of choosing the kn.ob.s and pulls for your kitchen cabinets, particularly with all the style choices available. What gets overlooked are some of the more practical considerations that go along with those choices.
Before you make any final decisions on which cabinet kn.obs and pulls to buy consider the following points. They may help you refine your ultimate choice.
Kn.obs vs. Pulls - Cabinet kn.obs are harder to grasp and pull than cabinet pulls (handles). That's because they utilize finger strength to 'clutch' the kn.ob in order to pull it. Cabinet pulls are easier to open because they allow for the hand or most of the fingers to grasp the handle. This may be important for people who have difficulty using their fingers and hands such as arthritics, disabled or elderly people.
The Feel Is Important - How a kn.ob or pull feels in your hand is important -- you'll be using some of them numerous times a day, everyday. Those interesting starfish kn.obs may look nice but they can also feel awkward. Make a point to actually feel the kn.obs and pulls you're considering. If you're ordering online, purchase some samples first. You'd be surprised by the number of kn.obs that look benign that turn out to feel uncomfortable every time you grasp them.
Kn.obs/Pulls That Catch Clothing - Cabinet kn.obs, depending on style and shape, can catch on clothing such as pockets and pleats on waist-high and lower cabinets. The same applies to handles that have extensions. Fuller, round kn.obs are less likely to snag clothing than kn.obs with flatter faces or irregular shapes.
Drop Handles - Drop handles are cabinet pulls that hang or dangle vertically from a small hook or loop. They require you to pick them up to the horizontal position in order to pull a cabinet drawer open. If you're thinking of this style, consider the finger-lift motion you'll have to do each time in order to pull them up to open the drawer. It may be annoying for some.
Size Matters - The size of the kn.ob or pull makes a difference depending on the size of the door or drawer they're attached to and how easy it is to open. The smaller the kn.ob and the larger or 'stickier' the door/drawer is to open, the harder you'll have to grasp and pull on that small kn.ob. New cabinets usually have easy-open doors and drawers but some, including older cabinets (if you're just replacing kn.obs) use mechanical or magnetic "catches" to keep the door closed. They offer more resistance to opening and require more strength when using a small kn.ob.
Short vs. Tall - "Shorter" kn.obs and pulls (the distance between the surface of the cabinet and the grasping part of the kn.ob or pull) make your fingers contact the cabinet more than taller ones. Over time that will tend to wear on the cabinet finish. Darker cabinet finishes will tend to lighten as the finish wears around the kn.ob and lighter finishes will darken from dirt. Preventing your fingers from touching the cabinet surface may not be completely unavoidable but taller kn.obs or using pulls (handles) will help.
Get Samples - Get samples, both to see how they'll look on your cabinets as well as to make sure they'll feel right. Some online sellers of kitchen cabinet kn.obs and pulls offer samples as do offline stores. You typically have to pay for the samples but you'll either be able to return them for full price or get a percentage of your cost back if you end up making a full purchase.
Buy More Than You Need - Yes, cabinet kn.obs and pulls can be expensive but it may be good insurance down the road. Styles come and go and if you ever break or damage a kn.ob or pull you'll be able to replace it. If the style line is no longer in production however, you're forced to find a close match (which is possible, depending on style), living with an odd-ball, or replacing all the kn.obs. Granted, it's not often that kn.obs and pulls break but buying one or two extras might be beneficial.
Consider 2 Pulls On Long Drawers - Using two average-sized pulls instead of one on a long drawer (for example, a drawer >30" long) may provide better visual balance even though you only need one to actually open the drawer. A pull with a 3" center-to-center dimension may look dwarfed by the drawer. You could use longer pulls, such as an 18" handle but depending on style, you might reduce cost by going with two smaller handles instead.
Crooked Kn.obs - Square, triangular or irregularly-shaped cabinet kn.obs have a tendency to 'go crooked' whereas round ones don't. If the kn.ob loosens a bit, which does happen occasionally, it can rotate slightly, putting it out of line with adjacent kn.obs. It's easily fixed but it's something to consider if you're a stickler on visual details.
Understand The Finish - Finishes on kn.obs and pulls may wear and change over time, depending on the material used. Oil rubbed bronze will wear and reveal a different color in the wear areas. Brass will tarnish if it's not protected with a lacquer or periodically polished.
Kn.obs/Pull Get Dirty - Remember that kitchen cabinet kn.obs and pulls are prone to getting dirty over time. Grease spatters, dirty hands and spilled food stuffs all contribute to a buildup over time. Kn.obs or handles with intricate designs may be difficult to clean.
Are you happy with the hardware you have on your cabinets? Are there any issues you are not happy with?
Often it's easy to get swept up in the process of choosing the kn.ob.s and pulls for your kitchen cabinets, particularly with all the style choices available. What gets overlooked are some of the more practical considerations that go along with those choices.
Before you make any final decisions on which cabinet kn.obs and pulls to buy consider the following points. They may help you refine your ultimate choice.
Kn.obs vs. Pulls - Cabinet kn.obs are harder to grasp and pull than cabinet pulls (handles). That's because they utilize finger strength to 'clutch' the kn.ob in order to pull it. Cabinet pulls are easier to open because they allow for the hand or most of the fingers to grasp the handle. This may be important for people who have difficulty using their fingers and hands such as arthritics, disabled or elderly people.
The Feel Is Important - How a kn.ob or pull feels in your hand is important -- you'll be using some of them numerous times a day, everyday. Those interesting starfish kn.obs may look nice but they can also feel awkward. Make a point to actually feel the kn.obs and pulls you're considering. If you're ordering online, purchase some samples first. You'd be surprised by the number of kn.obs that look benign that turn out to feel uncomfortable every time you grasp them.
Kn.obs/Pulls That Catch Clothing - Cabinet kn.obs, depending on style and shape, can catch on clothing such as pockets and pleats on waist-high and lower cabinets. The same applies to handles that have extensions. Fuller, round kn.obs are less likely to snag clothing than kn.obs with flatter faces or irregular shapes.
Drop Handles - Drop handles are cabinet pulls that hang or dangle vertically from a small hook or loop. They require you to pick them up to the horizontal position in order to pull a cabinet drawer open. If you're thinking of this style, consider the finger-lift motion you'll have to do each time in order to pull them up to open the drawer. It may be annoying for some.
Size Matters - The size of the kn.ob or pull makes a difference depending on the size of the door or drawer they're attached to and how easy it is to open. The smaller the kn.ob and the larger or 'stickier' the door/drawer is to open, the harder you'll have to grasp and pull on that small kn.ob. New cabinets usually have easy-open doors and drawers but some, including older cabinets (if you're just replacing kn.obs) use mechanical or magnetic "catches" to keep the door closed. They offer more resistance to opening and require more strength when using a small kn.ob.
Short vs. Tall - "Shorter" kn.obs and pulls (the distance between the surface of the cabinet and the grasping part of the kn.ob or pull) make your fingers contact the cabinet more than taller ones. Over time that will tend to wear on the cabinet finish. Darker cabinet finishes will tend to lighten as the finish wears around the kn.ob and lighter finishes will darken from dirt. Preventing your fingers from touching the cabinet surface may not be completely unavoidable but taller kn.obs or using pulls (handles) will help.
Get Samples - Get samples, both to see how they'll look on your cabinets as well as to make sure they'll feel right. Some online sellers of kitchen cabinet kn.obs and pulls offer samples as do offline stores. You typically have to pay for the samples but you'll either be able to return them for full price or get a percentage of your cost back if you end up making a full purchase.
Buy More Than You Need - Yes, cabinet kn.obs and pulls can be expensive but it may be good insurance down the road. Styles come and go and if you ever break or damage a kn.ob or pull you'll be able to replace it. If the style line is no longer in production however, you're forced to find a close match (which is possible, depending on style), living with an odd-ball, or replacing all the kn.obs. Granted, it's not often that kn.obs and pulls break but buying one or two extras might be beneficial.
Consider 2 Pulls On Long Drawers - Using two average-sized pulls instead of one on a long drawer (for example, a drawer >30" long) may provide better visual balance even though you only need one to actually open the drawer. A pull with a 3" center-to-center dimension may look dwarfed by the drawer. You could use longer pulls, such as an 18" handle but depending on style, you might reduce cost by going with two smaller handles instead.
Crooked Kn.obs - Square, triangular or irregularly-shaped cabinet kn.obs have a tendency to 'go crooked' whereas round ones don't. If the kn.ob loosens a bit, which does happen occasionally, it can rotate slightly, putting it out of line with adjacent kn.obs. It's easily fixed but it's something to consider if you're a stickler on visual details.
Understand The Finish - Finishes on kn.obs and pulls may wear and change over time, depending on the material used. Oil rubbed bronze will wear and reveal a different color in the wear areas. Brass will tarnish if it's not protected with a lacquer or periodically polished.
Kn.obs/Pull Get Dirty - Remember that kitchen cabinet kn.obs and pulls are prone to getting dirty over time. Grease spatters, dirty hands and spilled food stuffs all contribute to a buildup over time. Kn.obs or handles with intricate designs may be difficult to clean.
Are you happy with the hardware you have on your cabinets? Are there any issues you are not happy with?