Choosing the right handles for your bespoke kitchen

So you have approved your bespoke kitchens design in terms of layout and space planning, appliances and storage. But what about the handles ? Handles complete the final details of your kitchen. Different styles of handles create different visual effects, so don’t leave choosing the handles to the last minute when thinking about designing your kitchen. A handle can change the overall style of your kitchen, so think about the look you want to acheive for the interior as a whole.

For a  minimalist modern looking kitchen, you can opt for a “handleless” style kitchen door.  Instead of handles or knobs on the doors, the kitchen doors have recessed grooves  for you to grip. This design also makes cleaning the doors very easy. The look is for a very contemporary fitted kitchen.  Alternatively you can create a handleless kitchen by using touch catches/ push openers behind cupboard doors. A simple push by your hand or elbow is all you need to open the doors, perfect when your hands are occupied. This method also eliminates having grooves on the doors, creating a totally flush design. Its is a look for a modern kitchen, and works well with flush fitting appliances and plain coloured stone worktops.

Also popular in this modern fitted look for a ktichen handles  which are mounted along the cupboard door edges.  Apart from the door’s  easy-to-clean surface, another advantage of this type of handle is that there  is no drilled hole on the front of the doors. This means you can update your kitchen by replacing the handles easily in a few years time without worrying about matching the exact  size of the old handles. The only consideration when designing your bespoke kitchen will be the size of the doors as many of these handles are made in set sizes. But the finished look is sleek and timeless.

As well as the overall look and style of the kitchen. Think  about the weight of the door when choosing handles. For example a wide deep drawer full of  pots and pans can be heavy and difficult to pull with a single knob. A long easy-to-grip handle or two  handles can solve this problem. Handles need to be durable, easy to clean and easy to use.

Don’t be  afraid to mix and match different handles and knobs in your kitchen. For example, knobs for drawers and long handles for doors. Inglish Design often use this look for kitchen design and can work very well.

Glass knobs and handles for kitchens, particularly hand painted kitchens is another favourite with our kitchen design clients and also with many of our bespoke bedroom designs. A cut glass knob can add a feeling of luxury and add a bit of sparkle to the room.

Timber knobs may be viewed as something for the more traditional kitchen, or most suited to a painted shaker kitchen. However the beauty of a timber knob in for example oak or walnut is the warmth they add to a piece of furniture or kitchen.  On timber furniture such as oak wardrobes the handles provide a durable ergonomic solution, while not presenting any statements in terms of style or look. In fact the eye does not read the handle straight away as it would with say a bar handle or chunky steel handle. So it is a soft look, but also one that will not move in and out of interior trends.

Bar handles in brushed steel, aluminium or chrome have been used in modern kitchens for many years. The advantage of them being that they come in many sizes so suit drawers and doors. They are functional and durable. Metal knobs handles work well in kitchens also.

So there are many options available. Watch our Inglish Design Living pages as we will soon be including handles for kitchens and furniture on these pages.