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.
Cabinet knobs should be installed on the stile opposite the hinges. The general rule is to place a knob 2 1/2″ – 3″ from the corner of the door. For upper cabinets, install knobs in the bottom corners of the door. For lower cabinets, place them in the upper corners.
What usually looks best is a pull length that is about 1/3 the height of the cabinet door and 1/3 the width of the cabinet drawer. Your eyes follow the length of the pull up the height of the door or across the width of the drawer. Pulls don't have to all be the same length as long as the pull design is the same.
For slab drawers it is most common to center your hardware on shallow drawers and near the top of deeper drawers. This installation is both attractive and functional. For modern cabinetry, installing all of your knobs or pulls towards the top gives a sleek and streamlined aesthetic.
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.
Centered on the Inset Panel: This is the most common hardware placement for Shaker cabinets. The knob or pull handle is placed on the center of the recessed drawer panel (the inset). Center of the Top Rail: Place the knob or pull handle on the center of the top rail portion.
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.
It's much easier and safer to mix different shapes of knobs and pulls in one matching finish. Think about the number of drawers and doors. It can be easier to make multiple styles of hardware work in a larger kitchen with many doors and drawers. Use one style for upper cabinets and a different style for lower cabinets.
A simple, subtle arch or bend in a cabinet pull provides some interest to the overall design without being too bold. The extra space created by the arch pull also allows for easier gripping. The Cosmas 2363 series of cabinet pullsperfectly blend modern and traditional.
For standard size cabinetry (dimensions of 12″ – 36″) the most common pull sizes are 3”, 4”, 96mm, and 128mm center to center (from one screw hole to another).
Most experts suggest that a kitchen should include at least one stacked drawer cabinet for every double-door cabinet.
Hardware Placement on Cabinet Doors
Both knobs and pulls are almost always centered horizontally on the door stile (the frame piece that runs vertically). Some companies place knobs a little higher or lower on the stile than others, with the range typically between 2″ and 4″ from the bottom or top edge of the door.
Knobs are a great choice when looking for a classic, more ornate look, but they can also be designed to be more minimalist and modern. Cabinet knob placement is best when the knobs are placed near the corners of the doors at an equal distance, about an inch to two inches away, from each side.
There are two ways to go about incorporating knobs and pulls seamlessly in one kitchen. The first route is to put knobs on all the upper cabinets and pulls on all the lower cabinets for visual balance. The second option is to put knobs on all the doors and pulls on all the drawers, prioritizing function.
Sleek Modern Pulls. Slim and sleek pulls are still the most popular cabinet hardware style. Modern bar pulls, whether tubular or square are top sellers, and for good reason. They look great on most cabinets, come in many finishes, and are a flexible design choice.
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. On drawers and pull-out cabinets, drawer pulls and knobs are typically centered on the drawer front.
'Think of your cabinet hardware and kitchen faucet like jewelry,' says Xander Shreenan of Dowsing & Reynolds. 'One should complement the other; creating a beautiful and decorative kitchen that has been tailored to perfection. ' However, bear in mind that anything too matchy-matchy can look contrived.
Don't underestimate the power of black hardware. "Black and white is a classic and timeless combination, so black hardware in a white kitchen will never go out of style," says Laura Roberts of Laura Roberts Interiors.
Cabinet pulls and handles have certainly taken a more subtle track in recent years, but today's trends are even more forgiving. “After years of matte black hardware, we're starting to see a softer, edgier take on the shade: think charcoal, gunmetal, and nickel grays,” says DeRose.
Because of the lack of fussy design elements, shaker style cabinets fit every kitchen style from traditional to modern – they're truly timeless. Solid wood shaker cabinet doors will never go out of style!
Nickel knobs or pulls are a classic look that pairs well with white shaker kitchen cabinets. The clean look of the nickel pairs well with the shaker cabinet's simple design, giving your kitchen a smooth, clean, bright look.