Cabinet handles are often the last decision to be made when designing a kitchen or bathroom. However, these small accessories play a significant role in functionality, aesthetics, and the overall user experience. Selecting the right handles requires consideration of several factors, including style, practicality, scale and positioning.
Style
There are no official rules to be broken when it comes to cabinet handles, but there are a few basic style guides to keep in mind.
Contemporary kitchen designs are often free of handles. When hardware is necessary or requested by clients, the flat-fronted, minimalist aesthetics of contemporary kitchens are complemented by streamlined or geometric knobs and pulls.
Traditional kitchens, on the other hand, lend themselves to more decorative or detailed hardware. Consider the finish on these handles and embrace the opportunity to incorporate antique brass, pewter, or natural iron accents into your kitchen design.
Transitional kitchens—those between contemporary and traditional—offer all kinds of opportunities for play. Look for replication in shape and finish in your tapware, light fittings, etc.
Practicality
If your clients have limited strength or dexterity, selecting the appropriate hardware can greatly enhance usability. Consider using D-pull handles on cupboards and drawers for an easier grip or push-to-open mechanisms for a handle-free appearance.
If a burly teenager or thick-fingered chef is using the kitchen, a delicate D-handle or petite knob might not be the best option. Provide your clients with sample materials to give them a hands-on experience of your hardware selections.
If your corner cabinets have bi-fold doors, be wary of the impact a handle may have if or when it ‘folds back’ on itself.
Of course, the material composition of the selected door hardware–and its suitability for the on-site environment–should be carefully considered. This is especially important if your client’s home is near the water. Seek advice from the handle manufacturer regarding suitability for challenging environments, and always inform your clients about maintenance preferences for specific products.
Scale
Don’t be afraid to vary the hardware sizes to ensure that each door or drawer front has a proportionately sized handle or knob. For instance, select longer handles for tall cupboards, medium-sized handles for under-bench openings, and knobs for overhead cabinets.
Positioning
Again, there are no hard-set rules around handles, but consider the following guidelines:
Base Cabinets (Under Bench)
Handles (Pulls)
Cabinets
The top screw of a pull handle is usually positioned 60 to 75 mm below the top of the door.
The horizontal positioning depends on the door type. If you’re using a traditional framed profile, the handle is generally positioned at the centre of the frame or stile. In contrast, if you’re using a more contemporary styled door with delicate bolection moulding, the handle will naturally be placed in the recessed centre panel.
Drawers
For drawers, handles can be placed towards the top or aligned vertically in the centre. All elevations should specify handle placement to ensure all parties are on the same page.
Knobs
Cabinets
Cabinet knobs are installed on the opening side of a door opposite the hinges, typically positioned between 60 and 75 mm from the top and at a similar distance from the edge of the door.
On shaker-style cabinets (with stiles, rails and a centre panel), knobs should be centred to the rail/stile corner.
Drawers
On flush or slab panels, drawer knobs should be positioned between 60 and 75 mm from the top of the drawer or vertically centred. The knob must be practical and proportionate to the size (width and height) of the drawer – two knobs are often required for wider units.
Wall Cabinets (Upper Cupboards)
Handles (Pulls)
Use the dimensions from the underbench cupboards in reverse. For example, place the bottom screw of the handle between 60 and 75 mm above the bottom of the door. Discuss this with your client in detail to ensure the height is accessible.
Knobs
Knobs are usually positioned 60 to 75 mm from the bottom of the door. This should also be discussed with the client.
Tall Pantry Cabinets
Handle heights should range from 900 to 1100 mm from the floor.
In all instances, designers should clearly indicate the positions of handles and knobs on elevations and pictorial views to ensure that the client understands and agrees with your recommendations.
Adding Character with Handles and Knobs
Entrants in the KBDi Design Awards had plenty of fun playing with handles in the following kitchens. Here’s what we love about their selections.
Sarah Katsaros | SpaceCraft Joinery
Sarah’s clients sought a kitchen with a mid-century flavour and a nod to their Barossa Valley location. The designer delivered, using materials like natural Blackwood timber, mustard yellow and burnt ochre melamine, and earthy green tiles to evoke the landscape's colours. A fabulous terrazzo bench ties all of these elements together, but the round flush pull blackwood timber handles really caught our eye. The made-to-order handles offer a unique yet practical finish to this beautiful family kitchen.
Tania Kloester CKD Au | TK Design | KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | INTERIORS
This striking black and white beauty was planned to perfection by Certified Kitchen Designer, Tania Kloester. A combination of white joinery and blonde timber accents was essential to the Scandi-inspired scheme, and the dynamic solid half-moon, matt black pull handles add just the right amount of drama.
Olivia Cirocco | GIA Bathrooms & Kitchens
Melbourne designer, Olivia Cirocco, made a bold decision to mix up her doorknob selections in this rich and retro space–with great success! We love the solid Rosso Marble spherical knobs with their beautiful, honed finish; their natural irregularity is balanced by the meticulously engineered bronzed brass knobs and striking solid brass pull handles.
Leighton Ward | Wood Marble & White
Gold Coast designer, Leighton Ward, created this beautiful, bold kitchen design with a clever combination of robust and natural materials. The solid oak benchtops and wood grain cabinetry are emboldened by the striking black walls and ceilings, and the sturdy, solid brass pull handles look right at home.
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