Handles or Handleless Kitchens?

19 March 2023

Handles or no handles? Choosing between a kitchen with or without handles is usually a matter of personal preference.

If you’re undecided, it can help to consider the size and style of your space, your budget and the pros and cons during the early design stage. Especially if you want to make the jump from handles to no handles, as many of our clients do!

There are some clear advantages to going handleless, which include:

  • Style: Handleless helps to create a sleek, clean and modern look if you’ve opted for a contemporary style kitchen.
  • Function: In a smaller kitchen, going handleless can create more space and provide smart, easy-open solutions for drawers.
  • Cleanliness: Cabinets can be easier to keep clean without an obstructing handle.

However handles are still a great option, especially for traditional kitchens. It all comes down to the overall look and feel that you want for your home. To help illustrate both styles in action, we have compiled some questions and examples from kitchens designed and installed by us in St Albans, Watford, Harpenden and Welwyn Garden City.

Do you prefer a traditional style kitchen?

A traditional kitchen with bespoke, handmade furniture generally includes handles. Whereas a contemporary kitchen is often handleless (not that there can’t be exceptions to the rule…)

In this elegant kitchen in St Albans (right), the subtle silver handles blend effortlessly into the surrounding accessories such as the hinges, seats and pendants. Similarly in these two white, shaker-style kitchens from Welwyn Garden City (below, left) and St Albans (below, right) the straight, steel bar handles complement the squared lines and panelling of the furniture.

Do you prefer a contemporary style kitchen?

The absence of handles attached to the front of furniture doors and drawers leaves a flat and smooth surface on kitchen cabinetry. If you like clean space, less clutter and a modern look, then a handleless kitchen may be the natural choice.

Watch the difference it can make going from handles to no handles in this transformation video for our client in St Albans (left), which also involved a complete change in colour scheme. Another stunning, handleless kitchen we completed recently was in Watford (below), just in time for the late winter snow.

Worried about getting rid of handles?

Having a handleless kitchen doesn’t necessarily mean no handles at all. For example, channel handles are simply handles that are embedded & concealed within the furniture so there is something to ‘grip’ onto, whilst also maintaining the smooth and easy-to-clean exterior.

This was a specific request from our client in Camp Road, St Albans (right) who wanted “no shaker doors, no handles, no wooden surfaces” in their new kitchen. In this modern kitchen in Seymour Road, St Albans (below) the soft white channel handles nicely match the soft white and summer oak matt lacquer wall units.

Another idea is tab edge pulls as seen in this Scandinavian-style kitchen in Langdale Avenue, Harpenden (left) which is a compromise between handles and no handles. Simple lines, light open space and natural materials: this look was created by combining furniture in white satin matt lacquer & light vintage oak veneer.

If you haven’t experienced a handleless kitchen before, we recommend that you pop into our St Albans showroom to try out some working displays during our open hours Monday to Friday, or by appointment only on Saturday.

For more kitchen design inspiration, browse our Gallery of recently completed kitchens in St Albans, Harpenden, Radlett and beyond to see these ideas in action.

If you’d like to view and try some handled and handleless kitchens as mentioned above, pop into our Brampton Interiors showroom at 2 Cambridge Road, St Albans to view a wide range of traditional and modern working displays or give us a call on 01727 810 007.

See also: Why choose a Quooker tap?