Handles are the jewellery of a kitchen. They are the part you touch dozens of times a day, and they can quietly shift a room from classic to contemporary without changing a single door. Yet they're often the last thing chosen, sometimes in a rush at the end of a project. At Creo Interiors we treat hardware as a design decision in its own right, because the right handle ties together the cabinetry, worktop, tap and lighting into one coherent scheme for your modern or traditional kitchen.
Metal Finishes: Brass, Black, Nickel or Chrome?
The finish you choose sets the tone for the whole room, so it pays to decide early and carry it through consistently.
- Brushed or antique brass adds warmth and works on both painted Shaker doors and deep contemporary colours. It softens over time, developing a gentle patina.
- Matt black gives a crisp, graphic edge. It's striking against pale greys, sage greens and natural oak, and it hides fingerprints well.
- Brushed nickel and stainless steel remain the safest neutral, especially where the appliances and sink are already in a steel finish.
- Polished chrome feels bright and classic, suiting cream and white traditional kitchens with a lighter character.
A simple rule we share with clients: match your handles to your tap and, where possible, to your lighting. The charcoal kitchen pictured above pairs slim brass bar handles with brass pendants over the island, and that repetition is what makes the room feel considered rather than assembled.
Handles for Traditional and Shaker Kitchens
A framed Shaker or in-frame door gives you plenty of choice, and mixing two shapes is a long-standing tradition rather than a trend.
Cup handles on drawers and small knobs on doors is the classic pairing. It balances the proportions of a wide drawer front against a tall cupboard, and it reads as authentically traditional. For a slightly updated look, swap the cup pulls for slim T-bars or bow handles, which keep the painted character but feel lighter and more current.
Kasia and Tomek often recommend a contrasting handle on the island or dresser unit, so the furniture pieces of the kitchen stand apart from the fitted runs.
Contemporary Options: Bar Handles, Edge Pulls and True Handleless
Modern kitchens tend to pursue a cleaner line, and there are three main ways to achieve it:
- Long bar handles run horizontally along drawers and vertically on tall units. Choosing extra-long bars that span most of a drawer creates a strong architectural rhythm.
- Edge pulls and J-profiles are built into the top of the door, leaving a near-flat surface while still giving you something to grip.
- True handleless (Gola) systems use a recessed aluminium channel behind the doors, so there is nothing to catch on sleeves or hip-height little ones. The channel itself can be finished in anodised bronze, black or brass to add a subtle accent line.
Push-to-open mechanisms are also available, though we usually suggest them for upper cabinets and the occasional larder rather than for a busy drawer stack, where a physical grip is simply more practical.
Practical Details That Make a Difference
A few considerations we go through on every project:
- Projection and comfort – a handle that looks sleek on screen can feel sharp in the hand. Try it on a sample door first.
- Heavy drawers – deep pan drawers benefit from a wider or double handle to spread the pull.
- Durability – solid brass and stainless hardware will outlast plated zinc alloys, especially near a sink or hob.
- Ergonomics – vertical handles on tall units should sit at a comfortable height for everyone using the kitchen, not just the tallest person in the house.
Try Them in Your Hand Before You Decide
Hardware is tactile, and a sample board tells you far more than a catalogue. Our Celbridge showroom has handles in every finish fitted to real painted, lacquered and timber doors, so homeowners from across Kildare and Dublin can compare them against worktops and taps in natural light.
Contact Creo Interiors today to book your design consultation, and let's choose the handles that give your modern or traditional kitchen its finishing touch.