Handled kitchen doors

Classic, practical, versatile, traditional, timeless.

Handled Kitchens

A practical, classic choice for UK homes. Decide if visible handles suit your new German kitchen.

What is a handled kitchen?

A handled kitchen uses visible knobs, bars or pulls on every door and drawer front. You grip the handle to open the cabinet. The idea is simple, clear and familiar for every age group.

In German kitchens you often see handled doors on Shaker, framed, classic modern and contemporary slab ranges. The door itself stays clean and flat. The handle provides the character, from slim modern bars to traditional knobs and cup pulls.

Handled kitchens work well in UK family homes where practicality matters. They are easy for children and older relatives to use. You also avoid extra hardware used in handleless systems such as push to open or mechanical channels.

Key point. A handled kitchen focuses on reliable everyday use. Handles take the wear and tear, so the door finish stays in better condition over time.

Main handle types used in German kitchens

1. Bar handles

Bar handles are straight pulls that fix at two points. You see them on many modern German handled kitchens.

Typical fixing centres. 128 mm, 160 mm, 192 mm and 320 mm.
Finishes. stainless steel, black, brass, nickel, pewter and colour matched options.
Suitable for wide pan drawers and tall larder doors.

2. Knobs

Knobs are single fix handles. They suit Shaker and classic German kitchen ranges.

Common shapes. round, square, mushroom and hexagon.
Materials. brass, chrome, porcelain, timber and glass.
Best on smaller doors and wall cabinets rather than very wide pan drawers.

3. Cup handles

Cup handles, sometimes called bin pulls, are half moon pulls that you grip from underneath. They give a traditional British or farmhouse feel even on German cabinetry.

Popular on in frame or Shaker kitchens for lower drawers.
Often paired with knobs on doors for a balanced look.
Finishes. antique brass, brushed nickel, polished chrome, matt black.

4. Slim edge pulls and finger pulls

Edge pulls fix to the back or top edge of the door so only a slim lip is visible from the front. This gives you a handled kitchen with a cleaner, more minimal appearance.

Useful if you like simple lines but still want a defined grip.
Often powder coated to match the door or supplied in black or aluminium.
Best on slab doors. rarely used on framed doors.

Expert tip. Choose handle type together with door style. A slim bar on a very traditional in frame German kitchen looks out of place. Cup handles on a flat ultra modern lacquer door usually feel wrong as well.

Handled kitchens. benefits and drawbacks

Benefits of handled kitchens

Easy to use. Clear grip point on every door and drawer. Helpful for children, older users and guests.
Strong leverage. Long handles make heavy pan drawers and integrated fridge doors easier to open.
Lower hardware cost. Fewer special runners, profiles and touch latches than handleless systems.
Design flexibility. You refresh the look in future by swapping handles only.
Wear on the handle. Oils and marks sit on the handle instead of the painted or lacquered door edge.
Accessible. Handles often suit people with reduced grip strength more than concealed channels.

Drawbacks to think about

Visual clutter. In a small or very minimal space a large number of handles often looks busy.
Snag risk. Protruding handles catch clothing or bags in narrow walkways.
More to clean. Handles collect grease and fingerprints. Stainless and black finishes show marks quickly.
Style ageing. Certain shapes and finishes feel linked to a period. A chrome bow handle often reads as early 2000s.
Child impact. Young children sometimes use handles as climbing points on drawers.

Quick sense check. If you want a kitchen that is easy to live with, rented out, or used by a wide age range, handled doors usually offer the safest, most forgiving route.

Handled kitchen design tips

Handle size and proportion

Handle length needs to feel in proportion to the door or drawer. If handles are too small the kitchen looks bitty. If they are too large the handles dominate the design.

Small doors up to 300 mm wide. use 96 to 128 mm bar handles or knobs.
Medium doors 300 to 450 mm wide. use 128 to 192 mm handles.
Large doors above 450 mm wide. use 192 to 320 mm handles or two knobs.
Pan drawers. aim for a handle about two thirds of the drawer width.

Visual rule of thumb. Handles that cover roughly one third to one half of the drawer width usually look balanced on German slab and Shaker fronts.

Finishes that work in UK homes

Handle finish should tie in with taps, lighting, sockets and appliances.

Brushed stainless steel. A safe choice with most German kitchens and appliances.
Matt black. Strong contrast on white and light doors. Works well with black glass appliances.
Brass and brushed gold. Good with warm neutrals, taupe and green Shaker doors.
Nickel and chrome. Suits classic and transitional layouts.

Placement and alignment

Consistent handle positions make a handled kitchen look calm rather than busy.

Place wall unit handles toward the bottom corner so they are easy to reach.
Place base unit handles toward the top corner.
Centre handles on drawers. For very wide pan drawers use either one long handle or two smaller handles spaced evenly.
Run handle centres in straight horizontal lines wherever possible.

Showroom tip. Ask your designer to print an elevation with handle positions marked, then stand back three or four metres. You spot awkward alignments before the fitter drills the doors.

Installation considerations

Planning the drill holes

Once a handle hole is drilled you will not move it without replacing the front, especially on lacquered or foil wrapped German doors. Careful planning matters.

Confirm handle centre to centre size before doors are ordered.
Use a drilling jig for accuracy and repeatable positions.
Agree positions with your fitter or supplier in writing.

DIY or professional fitting?

DIY

Lower labour cost if you already own the tools.
You work at your own pace.
Suited to simple replacement kitchens where perfection matters less.

Professional fitting

Better for high gloss and expensive doors where slip marks show.
Handle positions match the kitchen CAD drawings.
The fitter carries liability if a door is damaged when drilling.

Accuracy note. A one to two millimetre misalignment is visible when handles sit side by side on pan drawers. Professional drilling is worth budgeting for on premium German kitchens.

Maintenance and everyday care

Daily cleaning

Handled kitchens work hard in family homes. Regular cleaning keeps handles hygienic and prevents finishes from dulling.

Wipe handles with a damp microfibre cloth and mild washing up liquid.
Dry straight away to avoid water marks on stainless and black finishes.
For brushed metals wipe in the direction of the grain.

Material specific care

Stainless steel. Use a non abrasive stainless cleaner from time to time to remove fingerprints.
Brass and bronze. Choose either lacquered low maintenance finishes or living finishes that patinate. Follow manufacturer guidance.
Painted or timber handles. Avoid harsh chemicals. Use a soft cloth and gentle cleaner.

Simple check. Once or twice a year go round the kitchen with a screwdriver and tighten any loose handle screws. This prevents unnecessary movement and wear in the door material.

Handle and installation costs in the UK

Typical handle price ranges

Prices below are typical retail figures per handle in the UK. German branded hardware and designer ranges sit at the higher end.

Handle type	Budget	Mid range	Premium
Basic knobs	£2 to £5	£5 to £15	£15 to £40+
Bar handles 128 to 192 mm	£3 to £10	£10 to £25	£25 to £70+
Long bars 320 mm and above	£6 to £15	£15 to £40	£40 to £100+
Cup handles	£4 to £10	£10 to £30	£30 to £70+
Designer or branded	£15 to £30	£30 to £80	£80 to £200+

Whole kitchen budgets

A typical UK kitchen uses around 20 to 30 handles. As a rough guide.

Budget handled kitchen. around £120 to £300 on handles.
Mid range German kitchen. around £300 to £800 on handles.
Premium or designer scheme. £800 to £2,000+ on handles.

Fitting costs

Often included when your German kitchen is supplied and installed as a package.
Independent fitter or handyman. often £150 to £300 for drilling and fitting a typical set.
Higher where doors are very high gloss or need on site jigs.

Value point. Handles sit among the lowest cost items to upgrade later. If the budget feels tight, choose a solid mid range handle now and plan a premium swap in a few years.

Is a handled kitchen right for you?

Handled kitchens suit most UK homes. They are practical, forgiving and easy for all family members to live with. The decision is usually about look and lifestyle rather than basic usability.

Choose a handled kitchen if you.

Want straightforward, intuitive operation with clear grip points.
Have a busy family kitchen with children, guests or elderly relatives.
Like classic Shaker, in frame or modern slab doors with visible hardware.
Prefer to spend more budget on appliances, worktops or internal storage rather than handleless hardware.
Want the option to refresh the look later by changing handles only.

Think twice if you.

Aim for a very minimal or gallery style space with uninterrupted lines.
Have very narrow walkways where protruding handles sit in the way.
Know you are sensitive to visual clutter and prefer everything hidden.

Practical test. In the showroom, open and close a handled display with a shopping bag over your shoulder or a child’s buggy nearby. If it feels comfortable, you will appreciate handled doors in daily life.

A well designed handled German kitchen gives long term reliability, strong ergonomics and a wide range of style options. If you like the look of visible hardware and want a kitchen that works hard day after day, handled doors remain a very strong choice.