Kitchen cabinets have become extremely popular these days because of the beauty they add to any kitchen. They also provide an excellent storage option to organize the regular kitchen mess. These cabinets are available in numerous patterns and colors and have some elegant and stylish features. These include the cabinet knobs and pulls. Not only are they attractive but also helpful in opening and closing of the cabinets without making the cabinet surface dirty. Here are five things you should keep in mind while selecting the cabinet knobs and pulls.
Choosing between a knob and a pull:
Although there are no specific rules to choose a knob or a pull, some people prefer knobs for all the doors and pulls for drawers. For cabinets with large doors like the pantry, it is better to use a pull because it is more comfortable. On the other hand, for kitchens with a contemporary interior, pulls are a perfect match. Before you select, you must also consider the mounting of the knobs and pulls. You can do horizontal and vertical mounting for horizontal and vertical cabinets respectively.
The shape:
You can choose square or curved pulls and knobs depending on the style of your kitchen cabinets, countertop edge, lighting fixtures and other design aspects. The type of lines that your cabinets bear can greatly influence your choice of knobs and pulls. While shaker, flat panel are types of square cabinet styles, traditional raised panel doors, pillow-top doors and recessed panel doors are included amongst curved cabinet styles. Hence, it becomes important to choose a hardware that perfectly complements your kitchen cabinet type.
Finish:
Another important aspect while choosing the knobs or pulls is the finish of the cabinets. While chrome and brushed nickel are the popular finishing styles, there are many other finishing options too. You should choose the knob or pull finish in a way that it complements the finishing of other design elements. For brushed nickel or stainless steel faucet, you should use antique pewter, bronze, satin brass, oil-rubbed bronze, aluminum, black matte and rust. On the contrary, white, black, dark bronze, pewter or clear glass finishes go well with chrome faucets.
Comfort:
Always check the working of the knobs and pulls before making your final choice. Try to feel the pull and check if you can insert your hand inside it or not. The fingers should not feel crammed and sharp anywhere in the middle or near the edges of the pull. Many attractive pulls can accommodate not more than just two fingers and this can be troublesome in the long run.
Cost:
Cost is a big determinant of how you choose the accessories for your kitchen. Companies that claim to provide quality hardware at cheaper rates might likely be fooling you with cheap, low standard products. For people with a limited budget, it is better that you prefer going to a local hardware store, as they can offer you a larger variety of items with trained salesperson to help you out. The price of knobs and pulls depends on their style, finish and design. You can generally buy knobs and pulls at a price range of $6-$10 and $7-$12 respectively. However, if you are looking for steel and bronze finishes, they might cost you a bit higher.
Summary:
Cabinet Knobs and Pulls work as ornaments of your kitchen; therefore, you must keep certain aspects in mind before finally purchasing them for your kitchen. Whatever you choose must be synonymous to style and comfort. Do not forget to get some extra pieces, as these are likely to break or rub off their finish.
