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Kitchen cabinet handles: something for everyone

Having a well-designed area to work in the kitchen is essential these days. To that end, new kitchen cabinets are available with built-in dividers, slide-out trays, and organizers, and many of these innovations are also available as add-ons to older cabinets.

But until recently, accessing these drawers full of gadgets and gizmos was pretty utilitarian. While cabinet manufacturers began churning out tons of new designs to match just about any decor imaginable, hardware manufacturers were lagging a bit behind, producing many one-size-fits-all and mediocre kitchen cabinet handles.

That is no longer the case. Today, kitchen cabinet handles have become an extension of homeowners’ personal tastes and even desire for expression. Not only are new designs arriving daily at home improvement stores across the country, but there has been an explosion of options online, where display and storage issues are greatly simplified.

One of the best things about all of these new options is that not only do they allow you to make your kitchen unique to you, but it’s a simple weekend project, one that’s an instant makeover of sorts.

Not so long ago, you had to make a very simple choice: chrome, brushed metal, shiny metal, or satin metal. Today, you can go crazy with kitchen cabinet handles, from those with suede, leather or jewel accents to those that capture the essence of your personal or local interests, from vegetables and horseshoes to seahorses and lighthouses. .

One of the biggest trends is using handles that use reclaimed and recycled materials or have a more earthy feel. These can be made from embossed leather, washable suede, or even mixed media, a mix of recycled glass, pewter, and rich textures.

Ergonomics is also an important consideration these days. Kitchen cabinet handles tend to be bigger than they were just a few years ago. Part of this trend is due to customer demand for handles that are more proportional to the cabinets. Gone are the days (at least for now) of European-style cabinets with hidden handles: the handles and knobs are inside, and the bigger the better, especially in kitchens with lots of cabinets or larger-than-average drawers and doors.

If you don’t want to go bigger, you can always go chic. Polished chrome and even brushed nickel give the cabinets a sophisticated look. Black is also popular as it gives the house an Asian touch. It’s a good color for any cabinet style you have. If you want your handles to be large and a bit less heavy in appearance, you could opt for an open weave design that infuses additional wine country influences. Think of it like an Asian wine for your kitchen cabinet handles.

You’ll definitely want to stick with a single finish throughout, and this includes the rest of the hardware, like the hinges and drawer slides. If you want to go for color over metal, you may want to match a color of your flooring or even your appliances, especially if you have a lot of countertop appliances that have the trendiest colors around. Just look to Kitchen Aid mixers for inspiration for the colors that are trending right now.

While big is in, remember it’s all about proportion. While older handles failed to be too small, and often even too small to use comfortably with larger hands, you don’t want to go crazy in terms of size. Think scale first, ergonomics second. Larger handles also have an added advantage. They can make opening drawers easier, especially those loaded with cookware, as they distribute the load more evenly than smaller handles.

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