Change Your Cabinet Knobs, Change Your Life | The Strategist

This article explores the significant impact that simply changing cabinet knobs can have on a home's aesthetic and functionality, offering a detailed guide to selecting the best options. Unlike doorknobs, cabinet knobs are easy to install, often requiring only a screwdriver, unless the location is being moved or a knob is being replaced with a handle, which necessitates drilling. Experts emphasize the role of cabinet knobs as hard-working, expressive elements that withstand daily use. Key considerations when choosing cabinet knobs include ensuring they are easy to grasp, as recommended by Monica Khemsurov, co-founder of Sight Unseen and Petra hardware store. She advises against knobs that require pinching, advocating for designs that allow a full grip. Khemsurov also suggests opting for unlacquered materials with a “living finish.” These materials, such as certain metals and woods, develop a natural patina over time as they are frequently touched, which is preferable to lacquered or coated surfaces that can wear off unevenly and unpredictably with high use. The article categorizes recommendations into metal and other materials, drawing insights from eight experts including designers and home DIY enthusiasts. In the metal category, the Amerock Edona Cabinet Knob is highlighted as an inexpensive yet durable brass option, favored by DIY renovators Sarah Leon and Teddy Wolff for its weighty feel and resemblance to higher-end alternatives. The Rejuvenation Oval Cabinet Knob, made of unlacquered brass, is praised by Strategist senior editor Crystal Martin for its beautiful patina that develops over time. Vintage knobs, such as those from Olde Good Things, are recommended by designer Ana Claudia Schultz for matching the era of a home and offering unique styles like sleek, modernist chrome-plated designs. For a more budget-friendly approach, Elise McMahon of LikeMindedObjects suggests sourcing brass spheres from lighting supply stores like Grand Brass, noting they can be easily bolted onto cabinets if paired with standard 8/32 machine screws. In the category of other materials, writer and designer Talia Mayden recommends iron knobs for their texture and weight, advising to match hardware tones with wood tones – warmer metals for warm-toned woods and cooler metals for cool-toned woods. The Perfect Nothing Catalog Square Drawer Pulls, designed by Frank Traynor and available through Petra, are highlighted for their artistic, soldered, and stone-encrusted aesthetic. The Block Shop Block Knob, also from Petra, is noted for being cast in brass from a hand-shaped clay mold. The author personally recommends vintage ceramic knobs with an irregular speckled pattern, similar to those found on eBay or at Westwood Cabinet Hardware, for adding a unique touch. Hannah Black, co-founder of Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, via McMahon, recommends colorful resin pulls from Etsy's Handles Design Studio for a vibrant, DIY kitchen upgrade. Amazing Hardware Store from Thailand is featured for its wide array of crisp, well-made pieces in rich colors, including blue powder-coated aluminum handles, colorful edge pulls, and rounded beech handles. Finally, Melanie Masarin, founder of Ghia, points to Hafele’s Hewi line of nylon drawer pulls, available in various colors and shapes, as a versatile option. Knobco’s hand-painted ceramic pulls are also endorsed by Masarin and Mayden, available through Etsy and sometimes at lower prices from Neerja, although potential tariffs due to changing trade regulations are mentioned. To facilitate installation, the article suggests essential tools: a four-in-one screwdriver for basic needs, EHC 8-32 Machine Screws as the standard for cabinet hardware, and a BLACK+DECKER LDX120C 20V MAX Lithium Ion Drill / Driver for converting knobs to handles or drilling new holes. The collective expert advice underscores that updating cabinet knobs is a simple yet impactful home decoration project that can significantly enhance a space's style and functionality. #CabinetKnobs #HomeImprovement #HomeDecor #DIYHome #InteriorDesign #Hardware #KitchenDesign #FurnitureHardware #PatinaFinish #CabinetKnobs #HomeImprovement #HomeDecor #DIYHome #InteriorDesign #Hardware #KitchenDesign #FurnitureHardware #PatinaFinish