Tell him you're not using knobs or pulls and to go ahead and just finish the project. You can then go back and add knobs and pulls.

I don't understand his issue, and the rush. Personally I wouldn't go for it...and frankly, given that I have some 40 different knobs and pulls in my cabinets (three rooms) he'd be crazy to adjust the build on each cabinet to go with the particular piece I was adding.

I'd not rush this. I'm a knob freak, but still, even a non nob freak wouldn't want an hour to choose. You can always add knobs to a cabinet. (I've added them to finished cabinets 20 years old) so don't worry about that. Tell him to finish as if there is no knob or pull...and then take your time!!!

I agree. I chose my hardware well after the cabs were fully installed; but it was my GC and not the cab guy who drilled the holes and installed the hardware after the fact; if the cab guy won't come back to install the hardware you may be stuck--does it say in your contract who would be installing the hardware?

If it helps...I took "installing the hardware" out of the contract because I wanted it specific to MY design. It's not hard to do...I'll loan you a drill :)

I called a friend last night who had used this cabinet guy before. Her cabinets were done before she even started looking for knobs, then he came back and installed them. I think what he's telling me is that he needs to temporarily attach the drawer front to the box by drilling a hole where the hardware screw would go, so that he can trim any fronts, if necessary. That's why he wants to know whether I'm using knobs or pulls (1 hole or 2) and, if 2, the space between the screws.

Then there's the distinct possibility that because he has a huge job starting the day after he finishes mine, he wants to drill all the holes, then send a worker back to just screw in the hardware.

I don't like him pushing for an instant answer on something as expensive as hardware so this morning I'm going to push back. For those of you with custom cabinets, did your fronts have to be trimmed/adjusted on site? When were the knob/pull holes drilled?

My cabinets were fully stained, finished, put together and installed before I even showed my cabinet guy what I had. Throughout my agonizing weeks of knobs vs pulls vs cups decisions, he advised me to pick one collection so that all will match, then stay within certain sizes based on the size of the drawer FOR LOOKS ONLY. He advised against getting pulls larger than 3 or 4 inches for the samller drawers because it wouldn't look good. He advised me to get 5 or 7 inch pulls for the pots and pans drawers for better funcionality. None of this would have a bearing on how he finished the front of the cabinets or drawers. He wasn't interested in what I had purchased until then end of the installation. It was the absolute last step.

I ended up with knobs for the cabinets and pulls for the drawers. Keep in mind, when measuring your DH's fist, we only actually use the first two fingers to grab the pull and open the drawer!

Our cabinet installer just put on our hardware last week, when all the cabs were finally in. For the record, we ordered two entirely different sets to use in our kitchen, as the cabs are in two different stains. I wanted each to have it's own look. I think your cab guy just wants to make things easy for himself. Stick to your guns.

We are being asked to decide before the cabinet order goes in. But the real issue is warning. Your guy should not have told you on such short notice. In our case we were told it was better to do it before the order so they cabs coudl be predrilled for whatever we needed, rather than done on site.

I also took out the addition of hardware for my cabinet installer. I knew that I wanted pulls on drawers and knobs on doors, but I had no idea what sizes for the pulls. I found a style of pull on eBay that I liked (and was cheap and fast) and saw what lengths were offered. I then cut dowel rods down to the available lengths and clear taped them on the drawers. This helped me to decide on the two different lengths that I used for my drawers.

So what happens if you don't make a decision? You'll have no drawer fronts installed? I'm sure he has a way around this, it would just be easier for HIM if you rushed into a decision. Don't give into the pressure unless you are really close to making a decision.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I told him that although I had tried to accomodate him, with all the choices available I just wasn't able to . I did decide to put knobs on all but 6 of the drawers and he said he would do his best when attaching the rest of the fronts. He gave me the name of a specialty store with an extensive selection of knobs and pulls and I'm off to check it out. Who knows? Maybe I'll find something great and this will all be moot.

Gosh, our cabinets were in for AWHILE before we brought home the pulls we finally decided on. The only thing the GC grumbled a little about was that the screws that came with our pulls weren't long enough to use on our drawers and cabinets. Our woodwork was too thick! Fortunately, he scrimmaged around in his truck and found enough that were the same size that would work,and were actually perfect.

DonnaR/CA