Kitchen handles and knobs are one of the most important details in cabinet design. We need these functional fixtures to open cabinet doors and drawers and serve as a stylish accent.
There are many different types of kitchen handles and knobs for cabinets to choose from, and the best type for your kitchen will depend on your personal style and the overall look of the space. Some of the most popular kitchen cabinet handle materials include brass, bronze, and glass.
Kitchen Handles: One Screw or Two?
Let us look at the different kitchen handles you can use for your cabinets.
Knobs
Handles that attach to your door or drawer with ONE screw are knobs. Knobs have the advantages of being easy to install and inexpensive.
Among these knobs, there are various shapes. Taken from MyKnobs.com, these are the most popular shapes for knobs but is not an exhaustive list of options:
- Round
- Square
- Rectangle
- Oval
- Hexagon
- Octagon
Pulls
Handles that attach to your door or drawer with TWO or more screws are pulls. Pulls have the advantages of being more secure to pull and being more versatile with styles and lengths. Among these pulls, there are various types:
- Bar Pulls – These are straightforward bars that attach via two screws to the panel
- Arch Pulls – Arch pulls are similar to bar pulls, but the handle length is curved.
- Ring Pulls – These are solid circular handles attached to a backplate for extra stability when attached to a panel
- Bin Pulls/Cup Pulls – These pulls form an upside-down cup when mounted and are usually on drawers. This allows the user to pull the drawer towards them with an underhand grip.
- Drop Bail Pull – These pulls dangle from the hinge and lie vertically flat. These are usually implemented on drawers rather than cabinet doors.
- Birdcage Pulls – This is a lattice pattern that forms a three-dimensional pattern across the handle. This is usually a design option found on the bar pull.
Styles or Themes
Some people are more inspired by design before they settle on the physical handle’s appearance. Here are some terms you often hear when describing handles and their meaning.
- Traditional — Traditional style is inspired by art or a popular design from the past. Most traditional furniture is full of wood, so the handles were complimentary with metals like brass. Traditional handles tend to be on the ornate or even opulent side.
- Contemporary — Contemporary styles tend toward sleek and minimalist design. Handles with this aesthetic can be simple shapes and solid colors. Examples of contemporary handles are found in Scandinavian styles, such as IKEA or industrial aesthetics.
- Transitional — Transitional is a blend of traditional and contemporary, so it is rare for handles to be classified as this genre. Those listed handles have elements of both, like a metal handle but a simple, ornate rod.
Finish
Many people look at a handle and say, “There are so many versions of silver and gold!” So how can we tell them apart? The best way is to look at the handle’s material. Each particular finish is known for certain characteristics.
- Chrome – chrome is silver, so shiny that it is reflective like a mirror. If you want polished and bright but more subtle, not as reflective, then you want “satin chrome.”
- Nickel – nickel is silver with a slightly warmer (yellowish) tint compared to chrome, which has a cool (bluish) tint. Nickel is known to tarnish, so it can look aged over time, which is a look some people want.
- Bronze – this is a yellow-brown metal that has some naturally occurring imperfections that give this finish character.
- Oil-rubbed Bronze – this bronze is chemically treated to appear dark brown, like chocolate, with some of the metal sheen showing through.
- Brass – this metal is a mixture of copper and zinc and is popular because of its resemblance to gold.
- Copper – this reddish-brown metal is more commonly found in copper cookware than in cabinets but gives the cabinet a unique accent.
- Ceramic – the decorative look of ceramic knobs comes in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and shapes. These are only knobs as they have less durability and strength than their metallic counterparts to function as drawer handles.
Solid colors are common and non-metallic in contemporary design. Solid black or white are monochrome and the most popular colors because the neutral accent accompanies anything. There are custom kitchen handles like marble and granite that can be affixed to metal bases with screw threads.
Make an Informed Decision For Your Kitchen Cabinet Hardware Choices
Get help with your dream kitchen design and make an informed decision about the best hardware for your cabinets with Best Online Cabinets. Our professional kitchen designers are on standby to provide creative solutions to your kitchen cabinet inquiries.
