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Kitchen knobs vs pulls

last year

What is in? Knobs or pulls in a kitchen
Is it in to have knobs on the cabinents in kitchen and pulls on the drawers? Or all pulls?

Featured Answer

Miranda33

last year

last modified: last year

Some high-end kitchen designers are combining pulls and knobs in their kitchens. They either do pulls on the base cabinets and knobs on the uppers, or do pulls on the drawers and knobs on the doors. Some just mix it up according to how their eye thinks it looks good. Having both is aesthetically interesting with some creativity, and it also makes choosing sizes a little easier. For drawers, the rough rule of thumb cited on this Houzz page is that the pull should be about 1/3 the width of the drawer, so that's a good guideline. But for doors and upper cabinets, you have to do it by eye, so a knob would be easier in that way.

Full disclosure, I currently have pulls on all my cabinets - they came that way, and in a previous kitchen in a previous home, I had all knobs. So I've had experience with both. But for my next kitchen I am doing the combo of pulls and knobs.

I do not agree with the criticisms in this thread about knobs and find them a bit of a stretch, but that's what this forum is about, is differing aesthetic choices. As to catching on clothing, the style of pulls with ends that stick out on each side are the clothes and pocket catchers, not knobs in my experience. In any case, if you put knobs on uppers, that is not a problem (though I don't see it as a problem on base cabinets either).

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Comments (10)

darbuka
last year
Actually, the trend is all pulls, for a more uniform look. Pulls are more ergonomic, and do a much better job of keeping fingers away from the door and drawer fronts.

On the otherhand…what does it matter what’s ”in” or not. Get what appeals to you. It’s your kitchen.
kculbers
last year
I like pulls in lieu of knobs. Lots of relatives talked me out of knobs, saying they can get caught on clothing. Look at lots of photos on Houzz to see what hardware appeals to you. Kitchen hardware is like jewery for your cabinetry.
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Bah, humbug. It's your kitchen, if you want the functionality of a single pull in the middle, go for it. I have various sized drawers from 24 to 39 inches wide. I did NOT want two of anything on any of the drawers, and thought I wanted cup pulls. Unfortunately, one cup pull of any size on the larger drawers looked lost, and I wasn't sure I'd like the functionality of it. Then the folks here told me that Restoration Hardware makes their hardware in various sizes. Bingo! I chose the Quincy style pull. There is a 4 inch pull on the 18 inch garbage pullout under the prep sink, 6 inch pulls on anything smaller than 36 inches, and 8 inch pulls on everything 36 inches and up. They went in yesterday, and I snapped some pictures before even putting things back into the drawers--so I'm posting a link, but please ignore the clutter on the counters. I know I shoulda cleaned first and snapped photos later, but oh well... :-) Drawer with garbage pullout, 24 inches wide. The 6 inch Quincy pull is actually almost 7 inches long. (6 inches hole to hole): Drawers flanking the cooktop are 23 inches wide, pot drawers under cooktop are 39 inches wide. The 8" Quincy pull is actually almost 9 inches long:
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Comments (4)
Hi Beekeeperswife, I went with pulls on my drawers and knobs on my doors. I also went with a larger pull (5 inch ) so it fits my two "young men" boys and my DH's hands. They are very comfortable. I stressed and put off the decision like you wouldn't believe (well maybe you would :)I went through websites, catalogs, stores etc and could not decide so I understand your pain. One decorator I used liked to use Pulls for everything and said it helped elongate the doors but another decorator said you need to break things up a bit and use both. In the end I went with both. I did want a bit of variety.I just kept consistent with Pulls on the drawers and knobs on all the doors. Also I picked knobs that were somewhat elongated so it gave you a bit more to hold onto. I really do like that. My vote without seeing them is for the pulls on your drawers. Hope that helps a bit. Here is a copy of my cabs with both, we are still under construction so please excuse the dust.
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Comments (30)
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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Comments (4)
I have to agree with ACM--swinging up is bad. Why not hinged to the side? Regardless, cup pulls would be nicer than other pulls since they won't snag the seated people. If you get good quality hinges, you can still stick them more in the middle instead of at the bottom. Also look into recessed pulls which are designed for just this sort of thing. They don't need to be the same as on the cabinets, but the same metal would be nice. (And you can put them down low!) https://www.vandykes.com/recessed-finger-pulls/c/1777/
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Jen K (7b, 8a)
last year
I hate knobs because they look like little dots on everything, especially since most people don't get them to blend in. I opted for a pulls that matched my cabinets.
functionthenlook
last year
Knobs or pulls, it's your preference. I have had both and prefer knobs.
darbuka
last year
Have had both. Much prefer the simplicity, less cluttered look…and, ergonomics, of all pulls.
wiscokid
last year
last modified: last year
We have both in our kitchen - knobs on doors and pulls on drawers, similar to the photos Miranda33 posted. We do have a more transitional leaning on the traditional side kitchen in style. I think it's a matter of taste, but would probably go more pulls if you are more in the contemporary/modern style.
snappity
last year
I am doing all pulls. A must for me was that they have closed ends vs 'stubs' as I find my pockets catch on knobs or stubs of lower cabs in other kitchens, and it bugs me to get caught like that! :)
Abigail Y
Original Author
last year
I appreciate all this feedback. Thank you
Steph H
last year
I have pulls everywhere except for the small cabinets at the very top.

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