Katieob, I have white inset (but not beaded) cabs by Plain and Fancy. I really wanted beaded cabs but the ID argued against it. Because my kitchen has more than one focal point and several dramatic details, he pushed me to consider a more subdued, more minimalist statement in my choice of classic cabs and hardware. I am now pleased to see how right he was about that! (Funny how there were so many design choices I thought I couldn't live without at one point in my planning process. Yet, when it came time to introduce some of those same choices into the actual design mix, they just did not work as well as for me as they did in photos, in someone else's kitchen, etc.) BTW, from your posts I'm gathering we share much in common design and taste-wise. For sure, we share an appreciation for icebox/cupboard latches! Here's a tip for you and others who also like this kind of hardware: I got mine from www.meritmetal.com (See Item #9215 under "solid brass cupboard catches"). After an exhaustive search for those latches, Merit was the only manufacturer I could find who made them in satin nickel -- a finish that was critical to me as it's the finish for the rest of my hardware, faucets, etc. These latches are now installed on my (unbeaded) white inset cabs and I can't get over how beautiful they are. They are solid cast brass and very well-crafted with alot of heft. I did not purchase them directly from Merit, however, as the company is not a retailer. Instead, they referred me to a local source, The Brass Center,(another great design source in NYC and online at www.thebrasscenter.com), where I got them at a substantial discount. How do I know? Well, I note that Cliffside is selling their icebox latch online for $48.50 per latch. However, the Brass Center sold me Merit's icebox latches for only $31.50 each and then shipped them immediately! Still not cheap by any means. But, I go on at length about these latches not only were they were so darn hard to find, but also, once I finally located them, I felt I got them at a "bargain" price. Here is a link that might be useful: Merit Cupboard Latches (Item #9215)

I'd talk to the maker about something that looks like a latch, but isn't: if the hinges are sufficeint to hold the doors shut and you are just looking for something to grab, you should be able to use the old fashioned looking 2 part latch [with the latch catcher mounted to the cab frame] but disable the 'tongue' of the latch so it isn't actually necessary to press the door closed, or turn the little knob in order to open.

Hello. I had the same question. We ended up going with a custom cabinetmaker who is planning on creating a flat space in the beading for the latch to sit. Only problem is, I'm pretty much committing to latch- type hardware for the life of these cabinets....sure hope I really like the latches! Good Luck!

I prefer the flat version, but that's because I have a Craftsman kitchen where it fits right in. I will say that I believe the plain flat version actually collects more dust than the beaded -- flat edge versus rounded has a bigger "ledge" for gravity to work its magic, like settling flour when baking. I do have to wipe them weekly or more often. In terms of which is better, it's purely a matter of your taste, budget, and style preferences for your space. The beaded picture you show looks like it's beaded AND glazed, is that correct? Are you considering glazing? The trimmed shaker can look quite different depending on whether it's glazed or not. Here's an unglazed version: PS: just to follow up on Casey, I think that technically, the term "beaded inset" refers to this, where the bead is set into the opening rather than the door panel -- another interesting option: