To choose kitchen handles, try a physical sample on a representative cabinet front before approving the order. Look beyond the finish: check how the grip feels, whether it suits the door profile and which fixing details the supplier needs to confirm.
Try the movement, not just the appearance
Use a showroom demonstration or a supplier-approved sample arrangement. Hold the pull or knob as you would during everyday use. Notice whether your fingers fit comfortably behind it and whether the edges feel awkward in your hand. There is no single grip that suits everybody, so involve the people who will use the kitchen.
Check the proposed position on the actual style of door or drawer front. A loose handle held against a photograph cannot show how it meets a recessed panel or neighbouring cabinet. Do not drill a finished door simply to experiment: agree a temporary or demonstration arrangement with your designer or supplier.
For an integrated appliance, confirm the appliance and cabinetry requirements before choosing its handle. Do not force an unfamiliar display door or assume that hardware suitable for a small drawer is suitable elsewhere.
Record three checks before ordering
| Check | What to record |
|---|---|
| Comfort | Which sample feels comfortable to hold and use? |
| Fit | Supplier-confirmed fixing centres, compatible front thickness and required fixings. |
| Care | The manufacturer's instructions for the exact finish. |
Keep the product reference, finish name and agreed position with your cabinet drawings. For replacement handles, have the existing fixing arrangement checked before ordering. Avoid assuming that a similar-looking product will cover the old holes.
Bring the handle sample together with your cabinet finish and worktop. Our kitchen colour sample guide explains how to compare the palette at home. For the wider brief, explore bespoke kitchen services or discuss your project with Nura.
See a documented Nura palette
The published Ancona kitchen combines matt black lacquered cabinetry, terrazzo, ribbed glass and brass handles. It is an example of hardware within a coordinated palette, rather than evidence of a particular grip test. The hero and sample images in this article are concept illustrations.
Further reading
For manufacturer guidance on handle types, finishes and placement, see Armac Martin’s cabinet hardware guide. Confirm compatibility and care against the exact product documentation supplied for your order.