It wasn’t that long ago that cabinet hardware seemed like a relic of the past. The new Euro cabinet designs not only eliminated the hinges, but also the handles and knobs. While this created a cleaner, more sophisticated look in the kitchen, it also stole a bit of its soul from the home as the personality became secondary to the clean lines and hidden features.
Thankfully, designers and builders have taken a second look at cabinets, going back to the days when cabinet hardware was not only visible, but used as a design element as well. This partially explains the huge selection of pulls, knobs, back plates, drawer sliders, and hinges on the market these days. There are literally tens of thousands of options, which can be a bit unnerving for a homeowner contemplating an easy face lift in the kitchen or even the bathroom.
Replacing cabinet hardware is one of the easiest things anyone can do to give their home a whole new look. Depending on the type of hardware you choose, it can also be one of the least expensive remodels you can do and can be completed over a weekend.
When looking for new cabinet hardware, you should start by looking at the cabinets you have now or the ones you are about to buy. All cabinets use different styles of hardware. For example, if your current cabinets have hidden hinges, you may not be able to fit them with hinges that are visible, as the cabinets themselves are not far enough apart to accommodate them.
So start by looking at the cabinets you have now and see how they can be reinstalled without having to do a lot of modifications. One of the easiest things to do is swap out the knobs with new knobs or knobs with new knobs. When working with handles, you should be aware that not all handles are the same width, so you may not be able to exactly match the bolt holes. Knobs are the easiest to replace because you are only matching one existing hole, not two like with pull handles.
Assuming a change is fairly simple, you should pay the utmost attention to the style of cabinet hardware you want. These days you can go in almost any direction you want and it’s easy to get carried away. While it can be fun to add Wild West or nautical-inspired hardware to your kitchen because you enjoy these styles, the cabinets themselves may not be compatible with the hardware. Every kitchen has an established style, be it country, provincial, modern, transitional, rustic, and it is important that the cabinet hardware you choose is compatible with the style of cabinets you have. Otherwise they will look out of place and your kitchen decor will look uneven.
If you are ordering new cabinets but haven’t signed on the dotted line yet, you may want to talk to your home improvement store, contractor, or cabinetmaker about your options. This is especially true if you’ve fallen in love with specific hardware and want to build your kitchen around a particular theme, color, trim, or material. There’s nothing worse than writing a check for a major remodel, only to find that your hardware, cabinets, and even colors don’t match.
As any designer will tell you, try twice and order once. Even if new cabinets are on the horizon, test any hardware in your home first before making a final decision, even if you have to use the old cabinets. Hardware may look perfect online or at the hardware store, but once you start using it on a daily basis, you may find that it is not exactly what you thought it would be. Sure, starfish knobs and sailboat pulls looked great for your beach hut, but do you really want to spend the next 20 years pulling a starfish to make your morning coffee? Live with your choice for a while before you finally make a change in the kitchen.
