Walk into any kitchen and notice what you touch most frequently. It’s not the worktops, not the appliances—it’s the handles. Dozens of times daily, you grip cabinet handles and drawer pulls, making them one of the most tactile elements in your entire home.
After nearly three decades installing kitchens across the North West, we’ve learned that handles are far more important than many people realise. They’re the jewellery of your kitchen—small details that can elevate a good makeover into something truly special, or conversely, let down an otherwise beautiful design.
Let’s explore the world of kitchen hardware, from handleless contemporary systems to traditional brass knobs, and show you how we help clients choose the perfect finishing touch for their makeovers.
Why Handles Matter So Much
The Tactile Experience
You interact with handles every single day:
- Opening cupboards for breakfast cereals
- Pulling out drawers for cutlery
- Accessing pans for cooking
- Retrieving plates for serving
Quality handles feel substantial, comfortable, and satisfying. Poor handles feel cheap, awkward, or flimsy. This tactile experience affects how you feel about your kitchen every time you use it.
Visual Impact
Handles create visual rhythm across your kitchen:
- Repeated elements that catch the eye
- Lines and patterns that define your style
- Details that reward closer inspection
- Finishing touches that signal quality
The right handles can make a mid-range kitchen look premium. The wrong handles can make an expensive kitchen look cheap.
Style Definition
Handles immediately communicate style:
- Sleek bar handles say contemporary
- Cup handles say traditional or country
- Knobs say classic or cottage
- Handleless says modern minimalism
They’re style signifiers that guests notice, even if subconsciously.
Contemporary Handle Options
For modern kitchens like our recent white handleless installation, contemporary hardware creates clean, streamlined aesthetics.
Bar Handles
The most popular contemporary choice—straight bars in various lengths and finishes.
Standard Bar Handles
- Available in lengths from 96mm to 800mm+
- Typical projection: 30-40mm from door
- Mounted horizontally or vertically
- Most versatile contemporary option
Our Most Popular Bar Handle Finishes:
Brushed Stainless Steel
- Clean, modern, timeless
- Coordinates with most appliances
- Never looks dated
- Shows fewer fingerprints than polished chrome
Matt Black
- Currently very fashionable
- Dramatic against light cabinetry
- Contemporary and sophisticated
- Works beautifully with industrial styling
Brushed Brass/Gold
- Warm, luxurious feel
- Softens contemporary styling
- Trending strongly in 2025
- Pairs beautifully with whites and greys
Chrome
- Traditional contemporary choice
- Bright, reflective finish
- Coordinates with chrome taps and appliances
- Classic choice that never dates
Costs: Bar handles typically range from £3-£15 per handle depending on length, quality, and finish. For an average kitchen, expect £150-£400 for complete handleset.
D-Handles and Bow Handles
Curved variations on bar handles offering:
- Softer, more ergonomic grip
- Slightly more traditional feel whilst remaining contemporary
- Comfortable for people with arthritis or grip issues
- Available in all the same finishes as straight bars
Edge Pulls and Profile Handles
Integrated into cabinet edges rather than mounted on door fronts:
- Completely flush with door surface
- Ultra-minimalist appearance
- Often machined into door top edge
- Popular for ultra-contemporary designs
Rail Systems
Continuous horizontal rails running across multiple doors:
- Creates strong horizontal lines
- Very contemporary aesthetic
- Can be positioned at various heights
- Particularly popular in German-style kitchens
Handleless Options: The Ultimate Contemporary Choice
Our recent white kitchen showcases handleless design—the epitome of contemporary styling.
Integrated Grip Rails
The system we installed in our white kitchen features recessed grip rails (you can see them in the photos):
- Horizontal groove milled into door edge
- Fingers grip inside the groove to pull door open
- Clean, uninterrupted door surface
- No protruding handles to catch clothing
Benefits:
- Sleek, minimalist appearance
- Easy to clean (no crevices around handle fixings)
- Contemporary styling at its finest
- Never dates or looks fussy
Considerations:
- Typically adds £40-80 per door compared to standard doors
- Requires precise manufacturing
- Slightly less comfortable for people with limited grip strength
- Can be harder for young children to use
Push-to-Open Mechanisms
Alternative handleless solution using spring-loaded catches:
- Push door and it springs open
- Completely smooth door surface—no visible hardware at all
- Ultimate minimalism
Benefits:
- Absolutely clean aesthetic
- No handles to choose or pay for
- Very contemporary
Considerations:
- Requires perfect door alignment
- Can be frustrating if doors stick
- Needs regular adjustment as cabinets settle
- Not suitable for all door styles or weights
Cut-Out Handles
Shapes cut directly into cabinet doors:
- Rectangular, circular, or custom shapes
- Door material becomes the handle
- Integrated appearance
- Popular in Scandinavian designs
Traditional Handle Options
For classic kitchens, traditional hardware creates authenticity and character.
Cup Handles
The classic traditional choice, particularly popular in country cottage and Shaker-style kitchens.
Brass Cup Handles
- Traditional, warm, rich appearance
- Age beautifully (developing patina over time)
- Available in various brass finishes (polished, antique, brushed)
- Our most popular traditional handle choice
Pewter and Aged Finishes
- Softer, more muted than brass
- Suit grey or painted kitchens beautifully
- Less maintenance than brass
- Authentic period feel
Chrome and Nickel
- Brighter, more contemporary whilst still traditional in style
- Coordinates with modern appliances
- Less maintenance than brass
- Timeless choice
Ceramic Cup Handles
- Often paired with ceramic knobs
- Available in whites, creams, patterns
- Very traditional, cottage feel
- Delicate appearance
Costs: Traditional cup handles: £4-£20 per handle depending on material and finish. Complete kitchen: £200-£600.
Knobs
Simple, classic, incredibly versatile.
Ceramic Knobs
- Traditional cottage appeal
- Available in countless patterns and colours
- Affordable
- Suit country cottage and farmhouse styles
Brass and Metal Knobs
- Available in various finishes
- More substantial than ceramic
- Suit both traditional and transitional styles
- Durable and long-lasting
Wooden Knobs
- Natural, warm, characterful
- Suit country cottage kitchens
- Often used with painted cabinetry
- Affordable and charming
Costs: Knobs are generally most affordable: £2-£10 each. Complete kitchen: £100-£350.
Drop Handles and Ring Pulls
More decorative traditional options:
- Victorian and Georgian styling
- Ornate backplates with ring or drop pulls
- Very traditional, formal appearance
- Suit period properties
Transitional Handles: Bridging Styles
For kitchens that blend traditional and contemporary elements:
Slim Bar Handles
Thinner bar handles that feel:
- Less chunky than standard contemporary bars
- More refined than traditional cups
- Versatile across styles
- Safe middle-ground choice
T-Bar Handles
T-shaped pulls offering:
- Slightly traditional feel in contemporary profile
- Work with both painted and wood doors
- Clean but not ultra-modern
- Popular transitional choice
Leather Handles
Increasingly popular for adding warmth to contemporary kitchens:
- Leather straps as door pulls
- Natural material softens modern styling
- Tactile and comfortable
- Distinctive, characterful
Finish Coordination
Consistency in metal finishes throughout your kitchen creates cohesion:
Matching to Taps and Appliances
We recommend coordinating:
- Handles with taps (both brushed nickel, both brass, etc.)
- Handles with appliance finishes where visible
- Handles with light fittings in open-plan spaces
Perfect matching isn’t essential, but broadly coordinated finishes look more intentional and polished.
Mixed Metals: Can It Work?
Yes, but carefully:
- Limit to two metal finishes maximum
- Ensure clear intentionality (not just mismatched)
- Usually works best with one dominant, one accent
- Requires confident styling
Most clients prefer consistent finishes—it’s simply easier to get right.
Hardware Placement: Getting the Details Right
Standard Positioning
We position handles for optimal functionality and appearance:
Wall Cabinet Doors:
- Bottom corner for upward-opening doors
- Top corner if doors open downward (less common)
- Consistent position across all similar doors
Base Cabinet Doors:
- Top corner for optimal grip
- Typically 50-70mm from top edge
- Same position on all base doors
Drawers:
- Centred horizontally
- Positioned for comfortable grip when standing
- Bar handles typically centred; knobs can be centred or paired
Tall Cabinet Doors:
- Handle on side that opens (hinge side has no handle)
- Positioned at comfortable height for most users
Symmetry and Visual Balance
We ensure:
- Handles aligned perfectly across doors and drawers
- Consistent spacing creating visual rhythm
- Vertical and horizontal alignment creating order
- No odd, misaligned handles breaking the pattern
This attention to detail separates professional installations from DIY efforts.
Quality Considerations
Why Quality Matters
Budget handles often:
- Feel flimsy and insubstantial
- Develop loose fixings quickly
- Show wear and tarnish rapidly
- Cheapen the overall appearance
Quality handles:
- Feel solid and reassuring
- Stay tight and secure for years
- Maintain finish over time
- Reward the investment
We stock mid-range to premium handles—not the cheapest, but excellent value for the quality delivered.
What to Look For
Weight: Quality handles feel substantial—cheap handles feel hollow.
Finish: Examine closely—poor finishes show irregularities, brush marks, or thin plating.
Fixings: Quality handles include substantial screws and proper mounting hardware.
Manufacturer: Reputable brands stand behind their products—unknown budget brands often don’t.
Handle Quantities and Costs
Calculating What You Need
Typical kitchen requirements:
- Wall cabinet doors: 1 handle each
- Base cabinet doors: 1 handle each
- Drawers: 1-2 handles (depending on width)
- Pan drawers: Often 2 handles for larger drawers
- Tall cabinet doors: 1-2 handles depending on height
Average kitchen: 25-40 handles total
Budget Planning
Entry-Level Quality: £100-£200 (simple knobs or basic bar handles) Mid-Range Quality: £200-£400 (quality bar handles or traditional hardware) Premium Quality: £400-£800 (designer handles, brass, or handleless systems)
Handles are a relatively small portion of overall makeover cost, but the impact is disproportionately large—worth investing appropriately.
Special Hardware Considerations
Large Pan Drawers
Wider drawers benefit from:
- Two handles for balanced pulling
- Longer bar handles (300mm+)
- Sturdy, substantial hardware
Glass-Fronted Cabinets
These often look best with:
- More delicate, refined handles
- Knobs rather than bars (less visual weight)
- Finishes that don’t compete with displayed contents
Islands and Peninsulas
Visible from multiple angles, island hardware should:
- Coordinate with main kitchen
- Consider all viewing angles
- Sometimes differ slightly for visual interest
In our recent white kitchen, the peninsula hardware matches the main kitchen perfectly, creating visual harmony.
Appliance Handles
Built-in appliances with visible handles should ideally:
- Coordinate with cabinet hardware
- At minimum, share similar finish (all steel, all black)
- Sometimes appliances can be integrated behind cabinet doors
Our Handle Selection Process
When helping clients choose handles:
1. Style Discussion Understanding overall kitchen style guides handle category (contemporary vs traditional).
2. Physical Samples We provide actual handles to hold and feel—photos don’t convey weight and quality.
3. Door Mounting Whenever possible, we mount sample handles on actual door samples so you see exactly how they’ll look.
4. Finish Coordination We consider tap choice, appliance finishes, and overall colour scheme.
5. Budget Guidance We show options at various price points, explaining quality differences honestly.
6. Quantity Calculation Precise count of handles needed with itemised costs.
Installation Excellence
Quality handles require precise installation:
Drilling Accuracy
We use:
- Professional jigs for perfect positioning
- Consistent measurements across all doors
- Pre-drilling to prevent splitting
- Proper depth drilling for secure fixing
Secure Mounting
We ensure:
- Handles tightened appropriately (not over-tightened)
- Proper washers and backing plates used
- Fixings appropriate for door thickness
- Everything checked before handover
Alignment
We guarantee:
- Perfect vertical alignment of handles
- Consistent horizontal spacing
- Visual balance across the entire kitchen
- Professional finish throughout
Changing Handles in Future
One benefit of handles: they’re relatively easy to change.
If you tire of your handles in 5-10 years:
- New handles can completely refresh appearance (£150-£400)
- Much cheaper than replacing doors
- DIY-friendly for confident homeowners
- Or we can replace them professionally
This flexibility means you can be slightly braver with handle choices—they’re not permanent like cabinet carcasses.
Handleless vs Handles: Making the Choice
Choose Handleless If You:
- Love ultra-contemporary styling
- Want minimum visual clutter
- Appreciate clean, streamlined aesthetics
- Don’t mind slightly less comfortable grip
Choose Handles If You:
- Want maximum comfort and ease of use
- Appreciate traditional or transitional styling
- Enjoy detail and hardware as design elements
- Have household members who might struggle with handleless
There’s no right or wrong—just what suits your style and practical needs.
Our Recent White Kitchen: Handleless Done Right
The contemporary white kitchen we recently installed showcases handleless design perfectly. The integrated grip rails create those clean, uninterrupted lines that define modern minimalism. No protruding handles to catch clothing, no fussy details to clean around—just sleek, beautiful cabinetry that looks expensive and contemporary.
This approach suited the overall contemporary aesthetic perfectly, complementing the high-gloss white worktops, integrated appliances, and clean-lined peninsula.
Making Your Hardware Decision
The right handles for you depend on:
Style: Contemporary, traditional, or transitional? Comfort: How important is ease of grip? Budget: Where can funds be best allocated? Coordination: What finishes tie your kitchen together? Personal Taste: What do you genuinely love?
We’ll guide you through these considerations, show you physical samples, and help you choose hardware that completes your kitchen makeover perfectly.
The Final Touch
Handles are indeed the finishing touch—the detail that completes your kitchen transformation. After investing in quality doors, excellent storage, and beautiful worktops, choosing the right hardware ensures every detail works together harmoniously.
After nearly 30 years, we’ve fitted thousands of handles in hundreds of kitchens. We know what works, what lasts, and what makes the difference between good and exceptional.
Let us help you choose the perfect finishing touch for your kitchen makeover.
Ready to discuss handle options for your kitchen? Contact Gordon’s Makeovers for a free consultation where we’ll show you our extensive hardware ranges, help you coordinate with your overall design, and ensure every detail is perfect. Serving the North West for nearly 30 years. Get in touch today.