No Plain Janes

There's no excuse for boring cabinets, drawers and doors - join the party with distinctive pulls and knobs

By Genevieve Knapp
CTW Features

Image courtesy Restoration Hardware

Need to spice up a room? It's the little things that count. Start with knobs and pulls to highlight your space. Handmade and creatively decorated pulls and knobs are making a comeback because they add personality to a home.

"There are a lot of beautiful decorative handles out there," says Marianne Buckman, an interior designer who owns CocoBello Interiors in Hudson, Wis.

Possibilities come anywhere from Schaub and Company's Maitland-Smith line of wax-cast knobs with geckos and peacocks, to sleek sculptural shapes from Liberty Hardware. Clear and multicolored crystal that look like jewelry can make a kitchen classy, and Notting Hill Knobs uses Celtic knots and Navajo patterns for a more rustic look.

"Pick one unusual oversized or overscale piece of hardware and make one cabinet a real statement," suggests Terri Ulisse, an interior designer at Richmond, Va.-based firm Custom Kitchens. That way you can create a personalized, unique look without going overboard. Once you've decided on your glamour piece and your brand-new staples, Ulisse says it's better to hand over a little cash and buy just one in advance. Hold it up and see if it'll work; it's better to be sure before investing in a handle and knob revolution.

Buckman offers a dose of reality, too - ornate knobs may be beautiful, "But they might not be the easiest thing to use if your hands are full of cookie dough, so you are looking for what looks good in your space AND how you utilize the cabinetry."

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