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Knobs vs Pulls

Kendall Bankert

8 years ago

I have spent hours reading the other threads about what to do, but I am torn. I really like the pulls on the doors and the knobs on the drawers. Is that wrong? Will it appear backwards? Some threads say it's wrong - it should be pulls on drawers and knobs on cabinet doors, but I feel like my cabinets are soooo tall that it looks too minimal with just a knob. Any thoughts?

This is my "inspiration" photo:

This is my kitchen:

Featured Answer

3katz4me

8 years ago

I'd put pulls on doors and drawers and skip the knobs altogether.

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Comments (6)

amck2
8 years ago
I don't think rules are hard & fast either way. But I agree, proportionately your doors would look better with pulls.

Regarding knobs, in my remodel I stayed away from using knobs where my clothing could get caught on them. In my old kitchen my belt loops or apron were often snagged on the top base drawer knobs.

I'd consider 3katz4me's suggestion.
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5" is fine, looks good with most widths of drawers and cabinets. I always felt 3.5" were awkward, too small for grasping comfortably but might be necessary on very narrow drawers. If you can use a wider pull on larger drawers (I didn't because the larger size was so much more expensive), I would do that instead of 2 smaller -- buy one or two extra if it is an odd width in case you need to replace? Placement really is to individual taste. I put all of mine on the top frame (of the shaker drawers) and vertical on the side of doors. Not all drawer construction can take a screw evenly through the top frame, though, look at the backside of your drawers to see. I also like pulls placed just a bit under the top frame, and the same on all drawers. I don't care for having the pulls centered in the center panel so much, especially when drawers are different sizes.
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There are a lot of threads on this. In my house that I built almost seven years ago, I used almost all knobs. I am redoing a house now and will mix pulls on drawers and knobs on doors. I think pulls are more on trend right now. Cup pulls seem to be a classic. I have always wondered if they are a pain on low drawers. Do you have to bend way down to get your fingers under it? There really isn't a wrong answer on this. Perhaps find an inspiration picture?
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raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I hate knobs. But, if you like them, why not? (except I wonder if there is a mechanical/stress reason to not use a single knob on a drawer -- like it concentrates too much stress in one spot). I agree that pulls will look better on your doors.
sherri1058
8 years ago
No reason why you can't. I agree that the pulls look better on the doors and I also agree that I would prefer pulls on the drawers not only for looks (just a personal preference) but also because pulls are easier to use.
funkycamper
8 years ago
I think it depends on the knob. I actually find my knobs on my easy-glide drawers much easier to use than my pulls. And they have a built-in finger guard so the cabinets stay cleaner without build-up from grimy fingers, both on the knobs themselves and on the cabinet fronts.

Do what you like. There are no hard and fast rules.
Annie Deighnaugh
8 years ago
Absolutely entirely up to you. We used pulls on cabs and drawers, knobs on short cabs and doors.

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