Installing Handles on Kitchen Cabinets (house, buyers, store)

[PDXmom]

We're in the final phase of fixing up the house to sell. I am installing hardware on my kitchen cabinets that did not have hardware before. I'm use door handles as opposed to pulls. My question is does anyone know how to make a template for installing? The handles will be vertical on cabinets and horizontal on drawers. Should they be 1.5 inches from the bottom and side of the cabinet? 3 inche apart?? I searched HGTV.com and it said to use a store bought template which I don't think will work. Should I just eyeball it to make the template??? Help! I'm over thinking drawer handles for crying out loud! But as they say they are the jewerly of the kitchen. Any suggestions are appreciated!!!!

[MikeJaquish]

The style of your doors and drawers will be a huge factor.
Are they raised panel doors with a narrow stile frame, and slab drawer fronts?
Or all slab?
Etc...

[NCHomeFinder]

I used an index card as a template when I did mine. On the verticals, the bottom of the handle should start at the same height as the lip of the panel. I just looked at pictures in magazines to decide. For the horizontal drawer pulls, I just centered them. Did I do it wrong?????????????

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by NCHomeFinder

I used an index card as a template when I did mine. On the verticals, the bottom of the handle should start at the same height as the lip of the panel. I just looked at pictures in magazines to decide. For the horizontal drawer pulls, I just centered them. Did I do it wrong?????????????

I think you did just fine.

I like the bottom of the pull just above, maybe 1/4 inch, the line where the vertical stile and the bottom stile intersect.
That puts the pull about 2" to 2 1/4" up from the bottom of the door.
It seems that keeping the pull above that line is "cleaner" when viewing along the bottom of the cabinets in a row.
Whatever.
The only reason I asked a question is because even in cookie-cutterville there are differences in cabinets.

[lisads]

I confess, we just used the templates from Lowe's. It wasn't exactly where I wanted the handles but it was good enough. The templates really made it easy.

[PDXmom]

Thank you all for your suggestions. The cabinets are a flat... very contemporary. Rest of the house is period 1916 so there is nothing cookie-cutter about this house, which is one of the reason we bought it, but it makes some projects more difficult.

I'll let you know how it turns out!

Thanks for the advice!

[gastric]

Assuming they're not grossly misplaced I doubt any potential buyers will notice anything about the hardware other than it's new and shiny. Think about how you look at a kitchen - you likely spend 2 minutes in it and don't even notice the hardware unless it's hideous.

[PDXmom]

Originally Posted by gastric

Assuming they're not grossly misplaced I doubt any potential buyers will notice anything about the hardware other than it's new and shiny. Think about how you look at a kitchen - you likely spend 2 minutes in it and don't even notice the hardware unless it's hideous.

You are sooo right. Thanks for helping me keep things in perspective! I get a bit OCD when I'm getting a house ready for the market.

[gastric]

I've been there. At first I was fixing as if I was staying in the house, I was striving for perfection. Then I realized I just needed to do the cheapest, fastest way that looked good for the 2 minutes people will actually look at it to get it sold. That's why they say paint is the easiest and cheapest upgrade when you sell. Few hours of slopping a fresh current color on the wall and viola!