Most of us don’t think twice about grabbing something from a kitchen drawer. But that simple movement would be much more complicated if the drawers didn’t have handles. A simple knob in raw wood gets the job done, but it lacks the style that other options provide. You can find drawer pulls in many unusual styles and in dozens of finishes and materials.
A popular style is the bar pull. A bar, available in a variety of lengths, is attached to the drawer face with a bolt at each end. The pins lift the bar off the surface and allow you to get a firm grip on it.
You’ve likely seen a wide range of options in this popular style of cabinet hardware. Do you want rods that are round or square? Simple or elaborate? A single material or mixed materials: metal with wood, acrylic, crystal, enamel, glass, ceramic or stone? Although the drawer pulls are completely metal, you can find them in stainless steel, aluminum, bronze, copper, brass, nickel, polished or matte chrome, antique or painted, traditional or contemporary.
If you’re looking for drawer pulls for reproduction furniture or traditional cabinetry, take a look at bar pulls. When a pull is attached to the drawer, it swings off a back plate or rosette pair and sits flat on the drawer front surface. When it’s time to open the drawer, the safety drawer pulls the swings forward and then falls back flat on the drawer front when you release it.
A cup handle evokes the casual feel of a general store or country kitchen; it is a raised sphere, usually a half oval. Installs in drawer front with open side down. You slide your fingers up into the open “cup” and pull forward to open the drawer. Simple cup drawer pulls can be found in almost any metal finish. But you can also find them with details such as shells, floral and animal motifs, and even shapes other than the usual sphere. Shop around and you can also find ceramic and glass mug handles.
A toe flip is a style that lends itself to both traditional and contemporary looks. A flat back plate is attached to the front of the drawer, with a hook protruding from its top. Slide your finger under the hook to pull the drawer forward. Once again, the shape of the back plate and hook contribute to the style of these drawer pulls; it may have elaborate details, but the finger pull can also lend itself to elegant geometry. Once again, the material and finish contribute to the style of this type of hardware.
Another category of drawer pulls is a bit like a piece of jewelry. Hanging drawer pulls install on a single post in the front of a drawer; They look like a big dangling earring. Like the bail pulls, they pivot from the connecting stud (think of the stud as the earring post) and hang flat on the drawer front. Take the pendant and pull to open the drawer. When released, the pendant falls flat on the front of the drawer. Like jewelry, hanging drawer pulls can be delicate and detailed, or bold and substantial. Various finishes and materials make this a versatile and decorative option.
Another style of cabinet hardware that resembles pendant is drawer pulls. Instead of a dangling pendant, you have a dangling ring. You can also find a ring pull that can be recessed into the drawer front surface for a sleek look.
