Are you wondering how to choose the right furniture handle?
Which shape should I choose, which color to match the style of the interior? In addition to the visual part, it is good to pay attention to several technical aspects when choosing the right accessories. Each type of handle has its own rules and you should know about them.
- Knobs
Knobs are single point handles,mostly axially symmetrical. So it doesn’t matter if we rotate the handle horizontally or vertically. We can only choose a place for him and screw it. According to our experience, we have divided the knobs into three groups by size:
small -up to 20 mm in diameter – These knobs are delicate points that, like stick earrings, are modest but intriguing jewelry. However, if you want to place such a handle on a cabinet or drawer, think about who will use it. This size requires a smooth grip. This is the diameter of a standard lipstick. We need to grasp and pull such an element, so it is not recommended for people with problems of finger joints and small children, whose fingers and grip can get tired and bothersome.
medium – over 20 mm in diameter up to 40 mm – This is the most common range of diameter knobs. It results from ergonomics and comfort. It is comparable in size to a vodka glass. We instinctively grab with two fingers, we can support with the third, it does not require opening or squeezing the hand, so it is easier to make hand movements in this position. At the same time, it is not strange looking, still modest and punctual.
large- over 40 mm – these are knobs that, although they are point handles, are not modest. It’s a strong accent, visible, knobs over 6 cm are already an unconventional option for those who like bold accessories. They do not cause difficulties in use, sometimes they are even very comfortable.
Gałki Dalby
Some handles, however, deviate from the standards and it is difficult to clearly determine their shape and qualify for some group, so you can meet them in several places. Sometimes when we mean “knob” we think of a small handle, mounted on one screw, but not necessarily round and symmetrical. Like for example these:
Sometimes, mainly due to the weight, some knobs may have a two-bolt attachment, hence the C-C parameter, i.e. hole spacing, will be provided.
- Long handles
This is by far the most numerous group of handles. We have over 600 of them in our store. Here, it will be useful to limit the search area a bit to save time and nerves. How can you sift the sea of products in search of the right one for your needs? There are several ways to do this:
C-C – hole spacing – Searching at a specific spacing is useful when you want to insert new ones instead of old handles. Or when we have a strictly limited place to screw the handle, for example, by hinges, ornaments or decorations on the furniture. We can choose several spacing that suits us, by selecting in turn and waiting for the page to reload.
Length Y – this parameter tells us about the distance between the farthest points of the handle. May be equal to or greater than the C-C spacing.
Long handles are very comfortable and universal. In addition to pulling, pushing and supporting, they give the possibility of hanging, for example, a towel, gloves or an umbrella. Used in many places: bathroom furniture, walls, kitchen cabinets, children’s rooms , create an exhaustive range suitable for every need. They can be mounted horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
However, it should be checked whether in a cabinet with an opening door, a given handle after mounting will not hinder opening it or hookand other elements around. A common mistake in mounting such handles without a design is then the conflict of adjacent furniture: for example, a protruding, long handle prevents the door from opening by at least 90 degrees, or quickly gets damaged by opening onto the wall.
A good way to check in practice is to make a template with the dimensions of the handle and cut it out of thicker paper and stick it to the furniture with tape. This will give us a preview of the functionality as well as the actual size – we can check if the handles are a bit too long and if it matches the furniture.
- T-Bar
The most narrow group in which modernity meets the classics. T-bar handles, i.e.T-shaped are one or two point handles with longitudinal part for gripping. They combine minimalism of knobs with the functionality of long handles. An additional second screw or pin prevents slipping. They can also be mounted horizontally, vertically or diagonally, and vertical mounting adds the function of a very convenient hanger . In this category you will find both modern, polished and varnished, very decorative handles, classic Scandinavian or even heavy, with a loft character, metal with a groove on the sides.
The same should be noted in the case of horizontal handles, whether we have enough space to attach the handle so that it does not bump on anything on the sides and allows the use of the furniture.
- EDGE
The edge handles fit perfectly with minimalist interiors. They emphasize the linearity of the furniture, emphasize its line and are not conspicuous. This is a wide group in which we can find handles attached to the front edge . From above or from the side . They are usually mounted from the rear, applying to the door . In this case, you should consider the Q parameter , which determines the thickness of the material. For metal profiles it is usually 2-3 mm. In that respect, the opening between the front and cabinets or between the doors must be enlarged so that the handles can fit. Another way is to prepare a milling for this thickness.
We also have edge handles mounted on the edge of the door. Then, every parameter is important to match them nicely with the door. Installation of such handles and preparation of furniture under them should be carried out by experienced people with precision equipment.
- BOWL
Bowl handles is the least understood name, under which there are very classic, characteristic handles in the Scandinavian style.
They are usually mounted in three, sometimes two points. They have a special recess, making them comfortable to catch, pull and push . They combine the convenience of edge grips with the aesthetics of knobs and traditional longitudinal ones. Mounted on furniture, without leaving any space between the fronts or the front and the countertop. They need less space than the longitudinal handles, because our fingers only grip a thin piece of metal or plastic, which is 2-4 mm. The use of bowl handles in the kitchen or furniture set gives them a very Swedish look, even on smooth fronts, because it was this northern country that widened their use. The gold or silver shell handles used on the navy front match the marine style, resemble portholes on the ship, are simple but intriguing and decorative.
- RECESSED
Recessed handles consist of an element stuck into the furniture and a decorative mark on the front. They require making a hole , for example by milling, in which part of the handle will be hidden. The biggest advantage of this type of handles is the practically flat front surface , left without protruding elements. Thanks to this, they are ideal handles for sliding doors sideways or upwards, as well as in places where we cannot mount anything on the front.
Each recessed handle is suitable for sliding doors in a wardrobe or cupboard, but not all are suitable for hinged doors. Then we need the handle to have an additional edge, inlets, which we can grab and pull, forcing our fingers. Otherwise it is not possible or very difficult.
To make a hole for a recessed handle, check the dimensions of the part that must be in the furniture and add a small supply of glue. We recommend that the assembly be done by professionals with appropriate, detailed equipment.
- OTHERS and TIP-ON
In the other category, we’ve also placed handles that have an ambiguous shape that is difficult to identify quickly. For example, our super product – Loop Strap. It can be a hanger, a knob, and it really has a very original unique shape.
We’ve also included our lock handles, plates and handles accessories.
TIP-ON is a system that allows you to open the door of a cabinet or drawer by pressing . It can be an additional assortment for a cabinet with or without a handle.
To make it easier to imagine and understand the dimensions of the handles, we’ve changed the way you name specific dimensions on the handles. With other manufacturers and on other sites, you can see that the use of words: height, depth, length, width is often ambiguous and inconsistent. This is particularly confusing when we want to mount, for example, a vertical longitudinal or shell handle. We present our way of describing products:
Length Y – We assume that we are talking placing the handle not on the front but on the countertop. Holes down. The length is therefore a parallel, usually the longest side, along the building.
Height X – If we have already put all the handles on the countertop, we look at how much they protrude upwards. Mounted on the front, they go along the depth of the building.
Width Z – This is usually just the width of the material or the thickness of the profile. A numerical value indicating the size of the handle when installed on the front, between the top and floor or just the short side.
Thickness Q – an important parameter for edge handles, talking about the thickness of the material used, which means how much gap we need to leave between the doors or how deep the cut is in the furniture to mount the handle.
Base size P – Sometimes the handles have a base, or their legs have a significant extension. Then we give the additional parameter of the part in direct contact with the furniture.
SMALL FREAKS
When choosing C-C in search filters, we may encounter somewhat incomprehensible entries, for example:
2 x 80 – it means that a given handle has three points, three screws, and 80 mm from the middle to the right and to the left
80/160- here we are dealing with a handle that can be mounted on a width of 80 and 160 mm.
If we have left something incomprehensible – we are always happy to answer all your questions, we will help. Please contact us.
