Kitchen cabinet handles: something for everyone

Having a well designed area to work in the kitchen is essential these days. To that end, new kitchen cabinets are available with built-in dividers, sliding trays and organizers, and many of these innovations are also available as add-ons to older cabinets.

But until recently, accessing these drawers full of gadgets and gadgets was pretty utilitarian. While cabinet makers began churning out tons of new designs to match just about any decor imaginable, hardware makers were falling a bit behind, churning out a lot of mediocre, one-size-fits-all kitchen cabinet handles.

That is no longer the case. Today, kitchen cabinet handles have become an extension of personal taste and even homeowners’ desire for expression. Not only are new designs arriving daily at home improvement stores across the country, but there has been an explosion of options online, where display and storage hassles are greatly simplified.

One of the best things about all of these new options is that they not only allow you to make your kitchen unique to you, but it’s a simple weekend project, one that’s kind of an instant makeover.

Not too long ago, you had to make a very simple choice: chrome, brushed metal, shiny metal, or satin metal. Today, you can go crazy with kitchen cabinet handles, from those with suede, leather or jewel accents to those that capture the essence of your personal or local interests, from vegetables and horseshoes to seahorses and lighthouses. .

One of the biggest trends is using handles that use reclaimed and recycled materials or have a more earthy feel. These can be made from embossed leather, washable suede, or even mixed media, a mix of recycled glass, pewter, and rich textures.

Ergonomics is also an important consideration these days. Kitchen cabinet handles tend to be larger than they were just a few years ago. Part of this trend is due to customer demand for handles that are more proportional to cabinets. Gone are the days (at least for now) of European-style cabinets with hidden handles: the handles and knobs are on the inside and the bigger the better, especially in kitchens with lots of cabinets or drawers and larger-than-average doors.

If you don’t want to go bigger, you can always go chic. Polished chrome and even brushed nickel give cabinets a sophisticated look. Black is also popular as it gives the home an Asian feel. It’s a good color for any cabinet style you have. If you want your handles to be big and look a little less heavy, you can go for an open weave design that infuses additional wine country influences. Think of it like Asian wine for your kitchen cabinet handles.

You’ll definitely want to stick with one finish on everything, and this includes the rest of the hardware, like hinges and drawer slides. If you want to go color over metal, you may want to match a color from your flooring or even your appliances, especially if you have a lot of countertop appliances that have the trendiest colors out there. Just look to Kitchen Aid mixers for inspiration for colors that are trending right now.

While big is in, remember it’s all about proportion. While older handles were mistaken for being too small, and often even too small, to comfortably use with larger hands, you don’t want to go crazy in terms of size. Think about scale first, then ergonomics. The larger handles also have an added advantage. They can make it easier to open drawers, especially those loaded with cookware, as they distribute the load more evenly than smaller handles.

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