Remember walking through the neighborhood hardware store with your dad when you were a kid? The place was full of mysterious things. Some you recognized but didn't have a name for. Other things - who knew what they were and what you'd do with them if you had them? It was a much less enticing place than a toy store.
Walk through your typical home improvement center or hardware store, and you might recall those days. But there's a corner you can turn, and it's like walking into a jewelry store. For nearly as far as the eye can see, cabinet handles and drawer knobs stand displayed for your inspection, their tiny bins filled like the dispensers at the candy store in the mall.
Wood Toy Bins
A kitchen renovation often involves refinishing or replacing the cabinets. This design decision represents a big investment in your home, and you're likely to follow through with careful consideration. After you make your choices here, you've got a fun one to play with-which cabinet handles will you choose? But you might find that it's not unlike when your dad said to you in the candy store, "Which piece of candy do you want?" And choose wisely. Your selection could be as expensive as something you buy in a jewelry store.
With all this cabinet jewelry to pick from, what should your base your decision on? Style is one of the biggest considerations. Thousands of cabinet handles and knobs are available from scores of hardware manufacturers. Look at your cabinets-what color are you working with? A rich wood stain? A light and natural finish with a visible grain? Painted white? Do you think the cabinets would look better with drawer handles that stand out and make a design statement of their own, or would you prefer ones that blend in with the surface color? Do you want a style that coordinates with the overall décor of your home, or do you want to incorporate a little contrast and surprise here?
Another consideration is cost. Before you start shopping for cabinet hardware, count your cabinets and drawers carefully. Don't be surprised if a small kitchen requires a dozen pieces of hardware. And in a well-appointed suburban kitchen, you may find that you need upwards of fifty cabinet handles. Be sure to include a sufficient amount in your budget to finish this project properly.
Of course, it may be difficult to decide on a single style, finish, or material for your cabinets. If you find it just too tough to choose, think again. You can choose cabinet knobs for doors, and install cabinet handles on the drawers. It's your look and your style. Do what you like.
Function plays a role in your choice of cabinet handles. A knob requires you have finger dexterity to open a door or a drawer; that's fine for most of us. But some cabinet handles let you grab from above or below the hardware and not require a grip. Cabinet handles can be a better choice if little hands or arthritic fingers are at work here.
After your cabinets are in place and you bring your hardware home, plan to take some time to get this project finished. Take great care when installing the cabinet handles. Use a template to properly position the screw holes for the cabinet hardware. The last thing you want to do is to ruin cabinet doors and drawers by placing drill holes incorrectly.
If you don't take care here, this final part of the project can be an unpleasant reminder of a job that you rushed through just to say, "It's finished." Take the time you need to make your kitchen the jewel box you know it can be.