When placing handles on shaker cabinets, a common option is to centre them on the inset panel, using a drill to affix the screws securely. Alternatively, for large or heavy base cabinet drawers, following the rule of thirds with two knobs or pulls can provide a balance in visual appeal and functionality.
Centered on the Inset Panel: This is where you place the knob or pull handle on the center of the recessed drawer panel (the inset). This is the most common hardware placement on Shaker cabinets. Center of the Top Rail: You can place the knob or pull handle on the center of the top rail portion.
When it comes to installing cabinet door handles (either knobs or pulls), they are always placed on the opposite side from the door hinges. You'll specifically want to place them anywhere between 1'' and 4'' from the top or bottom edge of the door.
All types of hardware look good on shaker cabinets. Yet, the hardware that looks best depends on the style of your kitchen space. For a modern, classic, and simple look, pulls are the best option. For a contemporary or vintage look, knobs or ornate hardware would look best.
Cons of Shaker Kitchen Cabinets
Here are a few things that might make you think twice about investing in them: Simple Design: Shaker kitchen cabinets can be a bit “plain vanilla” – classic but maybe too simple. If you want fancy, shaker cabinets are not for you. They don't have intricate designs, patterns, or styles.
Your door handle, along with any latches, pulls, or locks, should be placed at least 34 inches from the floor and no higher than 48 inches from the floor. This gives you a bit of wiggle room on where to place your handles. However, it's important to note that you'll ideally be measuring from a finished floor.
Cabinet knobs are placed opposite of door hinges. On wall cabinets, knobs are usually placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the bottom corner of the door. On base cabinets, they are placed 2-1/2” to 3” from the upper corner of the door.
The 1/3 rule in cabinet hardware is a design guideline that helps achieve balanced proportions when selecting drawer pulls and cabinet handles. According to this rule, the length of the pull should be approximately one-third the width of the drawer or cabinet door.
CUP HANDLES
' A cup handle is generally used on drawers, or cabinets that pull out such as a dishwasher, and would be placed central on the drawer and top centre on a pull out door. Should you have a wide pan drawer, you could use two cups per drawer, but usually this would be for drawers over 800 wide.
If you have a white or light-coloured kitchen, matte black or antique brass handles can create a striking contrast and add a touch of modern elegance. Conversely, if your kitchen features darker cabinetry, brushed nickel or stainless steel handles can complement the rich tones and add a contemporary flair.
The best handles for shaker style kitchen cabinets can depend on personal preference and the desired aesthetic, but popular choices include oil rubbed bronze cup pulls, tubular bar pulls, and matte black hardware. These options complement the classic look of shaker cabinets while adding a touch of modern elegance.
The shaker style is one of the most popular styles of kitchen cabinet doors, fitting almost any design style and providing a clean, fresh look.
While there is no set rule, we generally recommend that the pull length is approximately 1/3 of the cabinet or drawer width.
One great option involves mixing and matching traditional Shaker style cabinets with contemporary slab doors and drawers.
Pulls 3-7 inches in length will sit the most comfortably on doors less than 24 inches tall. Cabinet doors 24-36 inches tall are best adorned with pulls 7-12 inches long, while cabinets taller than 36 inches such as pantries, built-in appliances and pullouts should be accompanied by pulls longer than 12 inches.
For 5-piece cabinets (Like a Shaker or any style that isn't one flat slab of wood), the traditional placement is to center the knob in the corner of the face frame, so that the knob is in the center of both the vertical and horizontal frame pieces.
There are many ways to mix and match hardware! And although there's no one hard and fast rule on when to use knobs versus pulls, consistency is important. You want to make sure your hardware size is appropriate to the drawer width, but from there you can carve out a plan based on personal preference.
Similar to base cabinets, knobs are best installed 2 ½ to 3 inches from the corner of the door but on the bottom of the door instead of the top. This ensures that you don't have to don't have to reach too high to open your cabinet doors.
Pulls are generally considered more modern than knobs, especially when they are sleek and linear. Options like chrome cabinet pulls, gold bar pulls, and modern brushed brass cabinet pulls create a streamlined, contemporary look that suits modern and transitional kitchen designs.
For really wide drawers, we always recommend using two cup pulls, and then evenly space them. As a general rule of thumb, if your drawer is 30″ or wider, I like to use two cup pulls. Lastly, if you have tall drawers, you can either center them in the overall drawer, or install them on the top rail.
The 36-inch height recommendation for door handles is by established custom, not by code. Pre-bored holes on door slabs and on pre-hung doors are usually 36 inches high.
The right placement makes door handles easier to use and more accessible for everyone. It can also enhance your door's visual appeal and elegant design. Furthermore, door handle placement can also improve your door's security.
French door knobs are typically placed in the middle of a door because this is the most ergonomic location.