The glamorous topic of kitchen cupboard handles

[Ketzele]

My kitchen has champagne gloss cabinets - absolutely not my choice but I can't afford to change them. Actually, I don't absolutely hate them, they work quite well in my very dark kitchen, so I have opted not to repaint. But the handles are aging badly - the chrome finish is bubbling and flaking and they're looking very cheap and nasty. So, time to change them.

Only I can't find replacements that fit with the existing screw holes. If the cupboards were wood I'd fill in the holes and make new ones, but how can I do that invisibly on gloss cabinets?

Needless to say my budget is teeny - why is hardware so expensive?!

A photo would help.

I just tried, it told me the image was too large. Will try again!

Agree, can you post a picture?

you def can’t fill screw holes in a gloss cabinet, although you could maybe hide them with a flush running handle like this: https://goldenwarm.co.uk/products/big-size-aluminum-alloy-colorful-drawer-handles?currency=GBP&variant=45569093894381&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=b60c1bb616be&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23408383842&gbraid=0AAAAAomB0MY_JeH_2Qs2JYNgrKs2cJjFP&gclid=CjwKCAiAmePKBhAfEiwAU3Ko3AY1h6pkfdG0KULW698BQyKMbsUbQZuHCPkCPjl3hoCgrzjKQn0G1BoCMxgQAvD_BwE

might also be worth looking on Ikea at their very basic kitchen doors. You can replace just the door, not the whole carcass. These 60cm wide ones are on sale at the moment for £14 each and would look great with Matt black hardware (can also be bought from Ikea): https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/stensund-door-beige-40453179/

or go for ikeas cheapest fronts which are a Matt white and a really good base to show off any style of hardware https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vallstena-door-white-70541684/

depends what style you are into but here are ikeas offerings. I’ve used many of them and even the cheap ones are actually really good quality and feel solid when installed well. Just stay away from plastic, go for metal https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?q=door%20handles

Here’s the smaller size of the long handles from the first link:
https://goldenwarm.co.uk/products/aluminum-alloy-colorful-drawer-handles
Black could look good with gloss champagne?

Brilliantly helpful, thanks so much! I really like those handles - have searched and searched but didn't find anything like these.

Those ikea doors are incredibly good value, and presumably could also be painted.

Ooh plank hardware have a sale on atm and their handles are beautiful and v high quality. These would work to cover screw holes:

Blake https://plankhardware.com/collections/handles/products/blake-minimalist-handle-antique-brass?_gl=13eybwo_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAmePKBhAfEiwAU3Ko3PA-5vTBZxHnjoVoFO0elFts9ticGdnRCQJYKFHyo-aBzEg3S8titxoCk7YQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAC10Z6QfYuPqoXqJ19EjrTUc5ARY3

Fold
https://plankhardware.com/collections/handles/products/fold-long-d-shape-front-mounted-pull-handle-brass?_gl=1jjn6v7_upMQ.._gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAmePKBhAfEiwAU3Ko3PA-5vTBZxHnjoVoFO0elFts9ticGdnRCQJYKFHyo-aBzEg3S8titxoCk7YQAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAAC10Z6QfYuPqoXqJ19EjrTUc5ARY3

Yes although they will have a melamine type coating I imagine so you would have to use the type of primer that sticks topcoats to melamine. Sand, use this primer https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinsser-ZINBIN1L-Primer-Sealer-Killer/dp/B00A4975FU/ref=asc_df_B00A4975FU?mcid=a935894b930c3b7687857dac0716828b&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697304978552&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8865345531188340362&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045831&hvtargid=pla-425807914452&psc=1&hvocijid=8865345531188340362-B00A4975FU-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1
then paint topcoat

Thanks so much

The best and widest range of kitchen handles (and much else) I know is at

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/browse/cabinet-and-shelf-hardware/cabinet-handles-and-knobs

Here are a few to get you started.

If you look carefully you will recognise some that high street kitchen fitters sell, but at a different price.

Some of them (I was looking at bar handles) state the distance between screw holes.

I recently bought new kitchen handles. Went to B&Q, Wickes, ordered loads of samples from Amazon and Temu.

Temu had the nicest handles - I was so surprised! Look at reviews where the users have posted photos. I had to make new holes and fill the old as couldn’t find handles in the old size to match.

Amazon and Temu offer free returns. I ordered about 5 sample handle packs from each, sent back the 4 I didn’t like and ordered the full quantity of my final choice.

If you want more of a bar handle then you could look at bar handles with a back plate - lots around . Personally I would find this more comfortable to use than a handle like the ones above, though they look nice

Resurrecting this as I search for kitchen pulls and knobs for our kitchen. We are replacing IKEA fronts with other IKEA fronts.

Some great choices upthread but can someone please tell me what @minipie means by bar handles with back plates being more comfortable? Thanks

A backplate handle looks like this, nice looking although chunky:

goo ki set two 5 inch center center vintage cabinet pulls - Temu United Kingdom

And won't it be the case that a handle with a backplate would cover old screw holes if you just bought a slightly bigger handle than the old one - so no need to try to fill the empty screw holes?

Hardware is not always expensive if you go where the trade goes.

Here are a thousand to get you started.

See also knobs.

https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/browse/cabinet-and-furniture-hardware/cabinet-hardware/cabinet-handles