Handles and knobs are the elements of a kitchen that you touch dozens of times a day, so they deserve more thought than they often get. Get them right and the cabinetry looks finished, but get them wrong and even expensive finishes can feel slightly off.

Knobs, pulls or a bit of both

There’s no rule saying you must pick only one. A widely used approach is to put knobs on doors, pull handles on drawers, and longer appliance pulls on integrated fridges. Handles generally sit vertically on doors and horizontally on drawers. Cup pulls suit framed, Shaker style fronts. Edge and flush pulls belong in more architectural schemes where you want the line uninterrupted. If you’re comparing durability claims, check independent testing reports.

Finish is the decision that lingers

Solid brass comes in three broad camps; living finishes such as aged or unlacquered brass will patinate, so no two installations age the same way, and that’s really the point. Lacquered options hold their colour far longer, whilst plated nickel or chrome resists tarnishing, which makes it appropriate in utility rooms and bathrooms. It’s best to order samples rather than comparing tones on a screen. Bespoke wardrobe doors and kitchen fronts similarly benefit from that approach.

You can complement the finish elsewhere: taps, lighting, shelf brackets, door furniture. Consistency does far more for a room than one showpiece. The same thinking applies upstairs, where Bespoke wardrobe doors makers supply fronts drilled to take your fittings.

With a little thought, hardware can genuinely elevate the overall impression in any room.