Thank you all for posting this question and answering it - I have the same question :) So, can I just use a "kitchen" cabinet pull for a handle - I am thinking of using the one in my link - as I am looking for a handle with clean contemporary lines and I too don't think I want to use the traditional type of pocket door finger pull and have been wondering if it is possible to install a cabinet pull vertically on the door (like you would on a upper kitchen cabinet) instead. If you think it would work, what size pull do you think is the best - 8" maybe??? We do not need the door to go all the way into it's "pocket" either and they do not need to lock. I guess I am concerned that cabinet hardware would not be strong enough to use. If you can recommend a company that sells contemporary, clean lines door pulls for this purpose I would appreciate any help. Thanks Piaa Here is a link that might be useful: Cabinet Pull

Thanks, everyone. I'm still a little nervous about them. We have Restoration Hardware latches on our medicine cabinets, and while they turn fine, I do have to "make an effort" to open them. Not an arthritic effort or anything, it's just not a simple pull as you know. My husband is so dead set on them, and you guys are really making his case for him! I really like the marine latches, too, but boy are they expensive! How exactly do they work? Do you have to flip the lever up to get the cabinet to open, and then close the cabinet and push the lever back down? I really think those are neat and distinctive looking but I'm not sure that even if they're easy to use that I could stomach the price tag on them at this point. And we do have kids-- but all but one of our base cabinets are drawers (the one door is actually for vertical tray storage, so not a big deal if they get in there). And they're too little to reach the uppers (they're only 3.5, 2, and a new one due in two days). So childproofing isn't really an issue at this point. I'll check out the Horton Brass site a little more. How do you know which size to get? I noticed they tend to run in the 1'' + side, and a 2''+ size. K

hey there, Just checking in to see how your knob project went? The retrofit kit I got from the eBay seller (Rousso Designs) is still going strong. They make all sorts of retrofit parts, like rosettes that fit over the modern boreholes, glass knobs with privacy buttons etc. And they also sell some gorgeous reproduction hardware for a very reasonable price compared to others I've seen. This sounds like a shill, but actually I'm a long-term Gardenwebber & antique doorknob addict and just very pleased with the quality items and service I got from these guys. If you contact them they'll tell you exactly which doorknob parts you need. Here is a link that might be useful: Rousso Reproduction Designs

Sorry that no one with latches and double doors has jumped in to answer the elbow catch question. Did they mean the magnetic catches on the interior of the cabinet? Those are pretty much standard on exposed hinges and inset doors. The thing to keep in mind about latches is that from my limited research the only ones that had a fully rounded knob were the expensive ones from Rejuvenation. I ordered some from Van Dykes Restorers and the top of the knob was rounded, but the back was flat (imagine cutting an almond lengthwise and mounting it to a post). The ones from Rejuvenation had the full rounded part. The ones from RH also only had the half knob thing on them and because mine could be seen from the side (you can see my dish pantry from the FR/Breakfast area I wanted to be able to see the whole knob, plus it just felt better for gripping. I called several companies, because theirs *looked* like whole knobs online but each of them pulled one of their inventory and explained that it was only a half knob, except for Rejuvenation. I tried like crazy to find cheaper ones that were rounded but couldn't so my husband and window/trim guy got to listen to me complain for several days about the price of the latches and the shipping! Rejuvenation latch with fully rounded knob Van Dykes latch with flat knob *sorry the pic is so lousy* Kat :)