The Greatest Drawer Pulls of All Time
So I read a home decorating article that described drawer pulls and knobs as the “jewelry” of the kitchen. Isn’t that a pretty way of thinking about it? We’ve chosen very plain doors and counters for our kitchen-to-be because I like that clean, austere look. But the right knob could change everything.
The article made me want to have the greatest drawer pulls of all time. The only problem was that I had no idea where to find such drawer pulls.
Googling commenced.
My first dream drawer pull was in the shape of a racing broom. I’m using the term “dream drawer pull” because it turns out that no one makes a drawer pull in the shape of a Harry Potter broom. I could get small broom charms and super glue them to a plain handle, but no one makes handles in the shape of brooms. Why not? Someone, get on this.
I thought the handles would compliment the golden snitch I’m planning on hanging from the ceiling along with the Deathly Hallows over the kitchen table.
But fine, I could let go of the idea of the racing broom drawer pulls. (And instead hang a six-foot broom over the door, right, Josh?)
I then moved onto steampunk gear knobs. I’ve been considering turning the pantry doors into a Tardis, so this would go with that look. (Oh, Josh, I may have failed to tell you about that plan.) These knobs existed, but I need about 55 of them, and you could only purchase one or two from each seller on Etsy. I want everything to match, so that didn’t work.
Finally, I moved onto octopus drawer pulls. These also exist. I know that I have never expressed a great love of octopuses, but octopus knobs feel right. Unfortunately, the octopuses I found were really expensive. I mean, considering they’re octopuses and not racing brooms.
Which brought me back to square one.
There is this place that will custom make ceramic drawer pulls and knobs, and you can place any image on the handle. (Racing brooms!) The only issue is that I really love the look of silver metal, and I don’t really love the look of ceramic.
So… uh… any whimsical silver metal drawer pulls or knobs you can suggest? Maybe going with a book theme. Or a Harry Potter theme. Or sea creatures. And not that expensive considering we need 55 of them…
24 comments
When we got rid of the green gingham wallpaper in the kitchen, I looked into replacing all the matching green gingham drawer pulls, preferably something with a nice cobalt blue to match the line of tile accenting the backsplash. Given the number of drawers needing pulls in the kitchen that soon proved to be prohibitively expensive. They are jewels indeed! Luckily the gingham pulls aren’t so bad in a white kitchen as they were with the matching wallpaper. (There’s a reason that the best-selling drawer pull at home depot is a multi-pack!)
55?? Fifty five drawers/doors!? How enormous is your kitchen? or do you have tiny drawers??
I thought our kitchen was big, but we only needed 12 knobs on a 5 meter stretch of kitchen.
I would seriously consider the spring loaded system where you push gently on a drawer and it pops open. And then maybe 1 handcrafted broom.
Or it was a typo and you really meant just five.
sorry, commenting from work and used the wrong email address…
Valery
When we moved into our house, the woman who lived there before us had these knobs shaped like maple leaves on the cabinets in the kitchen. Though they looked nice, they HURT to open because they had edges. I finally went to Lowe’s and got plain shiny knobs. Which aren’t nearly as cool, but they don’t hurt to open them, at least.
I know you said you wanted them all to match, but I’m going to ask anyway. Is there a way you can do BOTH? That is, get 40 or so plain ones for most of the kitchen in the same finish as the cool ones you want, and intersperse all of them – brooms, octopus, AND steampunk – to tie into the kitchen literary theme. It’s much more funky, but then you don’t have to deal with ordering 55 expensive pulls.
Um. I once saw drawer pulls that were a guinea pig in Harry Potter glasses in a low budget magazine my University sponsored (so, like 8 years ago). I feel that is exactly what you’re looking for…although I have no idea where they came from and couldn’t find any when I googled them.
So I realize I am completely unhelpful but maybe you could have them made if you liked the idea?
I agree, I prefer the metal look to the white ceramic look. I just have plain boring bronze knobs, but if I were to change them, I would get bronze sunflowers.
I don’t have an original idea, but I really like Karen’s idea of mixing then up. Sounds cool!
Best drawer pulls ever were the punctuation signs in Winona Ryder’s nightstand in Heathers.
I’ve seen pretty ones at Anthropologie and Restoration Hardware.
I wonder if you could find a DIY article on Pinterest about turning old silverware into pulls. I feel like I’ve seen this.
My husband collects, repairs, and sells pocket watches. If I never see another gear in my life, it will be too soon.
For a number of years, we didn’t have any drawer pulls because they were too expensive and I couldn’t find any I liked. Then we got some, but they’re plain and boring. Anything that isn’t plain and boring is expensive. 🙁
what about 75-80% plain silver pulls with 20-25% (or whatever, you get the idea) ACCENT drawer pulls—whatever you like. like, maybe all the cabinets on one side or in one nook (I am imagining a HUGE kitchen with 55 pulls!!!) or every other, or completely random? we have the kind that have a notch under the cabinet or drawer to open, so no pulls/handles. We have 5 drawers and 15 cabinets and I thought we had a decent-sized kitchen!
Our kitchen needs to be redone…but right now there’s only about 5 drawers and none have pulls. They’re the kind you have to pull the top with your fingers…
But I remember when our first child’s Target baby chest of drawers lost one knob. I seem to recall great difficulty in finding much of anything and anything remotely fancy was very expensive. We went with a plain white Home Depot knob…close enough to the original.
When I remodeled my kitchen in my home in Atlanta, I had a Pillsbury Dough Boy theme. The pulls were mostly forks and spoons. Then with the drawers it worked they were in groups of three, so I used a knife, fork and spoon. I had a lot of fun with that kitchen. It reminded me of my grandma.
Can you find a foundry and have metal ones made? I know of a small foundry (i.e., 1-2 artisans) that does custom stuff, and I don’t think it is very expensive. Although, 55 is a lot. I was picturing your kitchen as small and cozy.
I need to add that I misread the scrawled handwriting. We need 35, not 55 drawer pulls. But it’s not a large kitchen. It’s actually a pretty small kitchen. But there are 35 drawers and cabinets.
We also need to do this quickly. As in, I need the pieces here… like this week. I know. I may have to reconsider my pull situation.
Oh, I really like Karen’s idea of mostly plain knobs with some “accent” knobs thrown in there. That way you could have some really cool knobs without costing a fortune.
I love the kitchen pantry Tardis idea. Seriously. Love it.
We currently have red tomatoes on the cupboards and black spoon drawer pulls. On white painted cupboards. I love whimsical drawer dressings!
check out these grapes, starfish and nautical themes!
http://www.homedepot.com/p/compare/?errorURL=ProductAttributeErrorView&langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&prodComp_0=202023404&prodComp_1=205347993&prodComp_2=203953208&prodComp_3=202276032&N=5yc1vZc296
sorry. last link, but this elephant is my favorite!
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Siro-Designs-1-3-4-in-Ivory-Elephant-Head-Cabinet-Knob-HD-100-140/202035550?N=5yc1vZc296
I would do owls, probably like these, but then I would paint them to look like the Potter owls. http://www.handmadespark.com/myspark/theshabbyshak/112583828/on-sale-owl-knob-decorative-knob-dresser-knob-drawer-knob-whimsical-nursery-metal-drawer-pull-shabby-chic-knob-shabby-chic-deco
Remember Coco Chanel’s advice about jewellery. Turn around, and take something off.
Sorry, that’s probably not very helpful! Happy selections. (You could always buy the cheapest options possible, to tide you over until you find the perfect knobs/pulls.)
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/collections/bucksnort-nautical.php
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/collections/atlas-garden_gate_cabinet.php
Apparently, those are rakes, but they look a lot like brooms to me… (second link)
Totally late on this post. Ido t know where you can find said drawer pulls, but a golden snitch and Deathly Hallows? I need to see pics when you’re done!
Did you ever find a website for company that would make the broomstick knobs? I’m working on redoing a dresser for my baby’s nursery and it’s Harry Potter themed and I cannot find any broomstick knobs anywhere!