Knobs or pulls. Nickel or brass. Edge pulls or face mount.
Choosing cabinet hardware requires one to consider a handful of factors, but need not be overly complicated. Cabinet hardware is kind of like the stylish belt that goes with your favorite trousers; it’s decorative but it also serves to support the function of the pant.
When choosing hardware, I have a system for narrowing down the category before I start worrying about the finish. First, we consider the style of your home, your kitchen and your cabinet faces. If you live in a 1920’s craftsman with painted shaker doors, I’m probably not going to recommend an edge pull–which is much more congruent with a modern kitchen with slab fronts. I could also consider a latch, whereas the midcentury rancher with slab drawers might feel totally incongruent with latch style door hardware. Is your new kitchen contemporary and clean? Then I’d probably lean toward an option that is more square or at least more simple with less swoops or curves. A little bit English, Tuscan, or rustic? Then I might consider a knob or pull with rounded edges and maybe even a bevel or two.
Next, what’s inside and how sturdy are your drawer glides? If you have a drawer full of cast iron pans, I’m probably not recommending a dainty knob; you want a pull you can wrap your hand around, that’s centrally placed so as not to stress one glide more than the other. You’ll also want it to have a comfortable grip. However, for lighter drawers and even doors (that aren’t anchored to any kind of pull-out insert) a knob is just fine. However, consider the strength of your hands. Are you getting a bit arthritic in your right thumb? Then we might lean away from skinny knobs and just go for pulls all the way around.
Finally, I consider the finish that is going to be both durable as well as enhance the overall design of the space. Brass has made quite a comeback, so if you have any other brass elements such as lighting or faucets, you could consider a brass knob or pull. Doing the high contrast thing? Then maybe black hardware might be for you. Nickel tones are nice and neutral, but be sure to coordinate them with another feature or they might seem like an afterthought. And finally, if you want to elevate your “mixed metals” vibe, consider a finish that’s somewhere in between but not a perfect match to lighting or plumbing fixtures, like a “white brushed bronze” or “antique unlacquered brass.”
And if you really just can’t make a decision, consider hiring a professional. That’s what we do for a living. Could I make a killer chateaubriand? Maybe, but probably not without a lot of fuss, second-guessing and TIME! It might be fun to cook outside of my box he
re and there, but for that really incredible meal, I trust the great chefs to show me something new and tantalize my tastebuds. I invite you to consider hiring a designer to do just that, for your home.