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nancy_east_gw

I messed up hardware placement--help!

18 years ago

Hello all,

We are in the final stages of our house building process now and I have been ever so grateful to so many of you who have helped me along the way!

Long story short, I have a dilemma with my already installed cabinet hardware and was wondering if anyone could provide any insight as to how to fix it or am I stuck with what my installers did. Basically, they installed one cup pull on a bank of 30" drawers that were supposed to have TWO cup pulls per drawer. It's my mistake--I drew it all out for them on paper and failed to draw it properly, although I knew I wanted 2 pulls per each 30" drawer in my head. So I walk into the house this morning and immediately see my mistake and am so annoyed with myself. Of course, the pulls are dead center on the drawer so it's not an easy fix.

My GC says there's nothing we can do about it, but he's the king of pessimism so I wanted to check with my fellow GW'ers to see if I can prove him wrong!

These are semi-custom cabinets (Shiloh) and they came with some touch up paint. My thought was maybe I could fill the existing holes with wood putty, sand lightly, and then paint over it with the touch up paint. But is cabinetry touch up paint like car touch up paint where it doesn't match up exactly 100%? I definitely don't want the repair to be noticeable, but I have to at least do my homework to see if there is a way that it can be fixed.

DH says it's such a minor detail in the grand scheme and if this is the only screw up we have, then we're doing good. I completely agree, but he also hasn't invested the amount of research I have into this house (esp. the kitchen) to make it "just right" and it's one of those things that will bug me.

Anyway, I'm rambling and hope that some wonderful person can enlighten me as to any available options I might have!

Many thanks, as usual, in advance!

Comments (33)

  • 18 years ago

    I asked my very professional cabinet installer the same question because I was vacillating on knobs & pulls forever. Wood putty is the recommended method, and he cautioned that it won't be perfect. HTH.

    Would you consider getting one very long cup pull (RH Gilmore comes in very stretched out sizes) or bar pull?

  • 18 years ago

    There are people here who have ne drawer pull on wide drawers. Revans1, redroze and buehl come to mind. If you decide to change them, no matter how good a job you do with the wood puddy and touchup, they will still show. Personally, I would just live with it and see if it is functional and if it is something that I could live with without it bothering me. If you live with it for a while and it serves its purpose, you probably will soon not even notice that it started out as a mistake on your part. I have had pulls both ways and am getting one pull on a 30 inch drawer as I find it easier to just use one pull when my hands are full. I know people say you do not need to use two just because you have two, but my drawers always seemed to open poorly when i tried just one on the drawers that had two, so I liked the pulls centered on the large drawer.

  • 18 years ago

    I vote for a longer pull. It will look fine. No one but you and us GWs will know. We are good at keeping secrets... :)

  • 18 years ago

    footballmom and mary,

    Thanks for your response so quickly as well! This forum has been my saving grace and this is exactly why! My husband said the same thing about living with it and seeing if I like it after awhile. I think that what you say is what will happen--I'll like it just fine and forget that it was even a mistake. And I love your logic about it being easier to open one center pull--DH had the same thought. I think it was more aesthetics I liked about having 2, but I'm definitely a function over form girl with stuff like this, so it may be the "oops" wasn't such a mistake after all, if it would have driven me crazy with 2 pulls and the door opening poorly only using one side (which is definitely what I would have a tendency to do).

    So I think plan A will be to live with it once we move in and see if I like it well enough(especially since I really don't want to spend any more money at this point in the kitchen since we're ridiculously over budget!) and plan B will be to order some of the Gilmore longer pulls and see if they match up okay and use them if they do.

    You guys rock!!

  • 18 years ago

    Here's what I ended up with on a 30" stack of drawers. I sort of thought 1 cup pull at the beginning and GW'rs convinced me that I needed 2. With 6 cup pulls, it ended up looking like a dice cube. I ended up replacing just the top 2, on the shallower drawer, with bar pulls that matched.

    I'm thinking that you could do something like that with one long bar pull. Full disclosure: I'm not a big fan of the verrrry stretched Gilmore pull -- I bought one sample and didn't like it -- but it might work for your purposes.

  • 18 years ago

    Maybe you can order new drawer fronts if you can't stand it. I know whenever I make a mistake it kills me everytime I look at it! It might only be a couple hundred bucks to change out. You should ask your cabinet dealer if they could have pity on you and order them at cost...worth a shot!

    Good luck!

  • 18 years ago

    Could you go ahead and patch one set of holes to see how it looks and then if the patches look bad, just re-drill the same holes and use them? Just a thought.

  • 18 years ago

    Be a trend-setter; go with three pulls!
    Casey

  • 18 years ago

    Along Casey's line, you could stick a decorative doodad over the hole. Fake lock?

    I think one is probably going to be fine. Pictures please!

  • 18 years ago

    A heart felt thanks to ALL of you who have been so kind to respond. I am always touched by everyone's generosity with their advice and wisdom on this board.

    I went back up to the house this evening and I think my decision (for now) is to move in and live with the pulls as they are. I had 2 friends of mine come over and asked her to figure out what looked funny in the kitchen and they didn't guess it. When I told them, they thought I was crazy to lose a wink of sleep over it, so that made me feel better too!

    Per fori's request, I've posted some pics of the work in progress! The bank of drawers with the 'problem' is to the left of the cooktop. If anyone thinks it's just begging for a fix, definitely voice your opinion. And if you think it looks okay, voice that too!

    Well, I can't figure out how to post the actual pics, so hopefully this link will work to photobucket.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Photos

  • 18 years ago

    Nancy, I'm wondering if the main reason you don't like them is because they're not what you had pictured or if you think they're out of scale. I think they look fine.

    In my last kitchen, after agonizing for weeks, I chose single pulls . . . even on large drawers. I knew that I'd never use both hands to open a drawer, and reasoned that it would be much better to use a single pull in the center than one of a pair. After 6 years they were still working fine -- even the large P&P drawer with my heavy stoneware. I never regretted it, and will do the same in my new kitchen.

    BTW, we've just decided today to go with Shiloh . . . hope we're both happy with our choices!!

  • 18 years ago

    hostagrams,

    I think you're right--they weren't what I had pictured in my mind, especially after collecting the gazillions of inspiration pictures over the last year that always seem to have 2 pieces of hardware on a drawer that width. But after seeing them a second time tonight, I realized it's a little over the top to stress out about something this minor. I'm so fortunate to have been able to build a house in such a nice area, and that's what really counts during this process. But I really do appreciate everyone's great ideas and will keep them for reference if I'm not happy when I'm using them!

    Yes, I've been happy with Shiloh. I shopped around extensively and found that they were definitely the best deal for their quality. I obviously haven't put them to any use yet, but my GC was impressed with them and he isn't an easy one to impress! We're having a bit of an issue with the refrigerator cabinet being too short by about 1/2" and the fridge I have won't fit (too tall) but they are correcting the problem ASAP (something about sending new drawers that go above the fridge that will make the height what it should have been--I wasn't there when it was all hashed out and haven't heard the full story yet). Anyway, I think you'll be very happy with Shiloh too!

  • 18 years ago

    I think they look great! As a general rule, I think 30" drawers can use one pull or two while smaller drawers need one and larger two. I think redoing them would stress you out more than just getting used to them as is. I would give it a couple days to get used to the new look before deciding to re-do.

  • 18 years ago

    Nancy...I think this is a serendipitous mistake! Why? B/c now that I see the "big picture," I think the one cup pull/drawer will look more balanced with the cabinet to the right of the cooktop that also has only 1/drawer. The cabinet to the right looks slightly smaller (24" or 27"?) and one looks right on that one.

    Even if you have 2/drawer under the cooktop, I think this will be better!

  • 18 years ago

    I vote for living with it for a while. It will cost nothing to wait it out and decide if it is important enough later to go to the trouble. It's not like something HAS to be done, right.

  • 18 years ago

    I also vote to live with it for a while. I was going to do single pulls on all my drawers, but my cabinet guy suggested double pulls since many of my drawers are over 30". I ended up doing single pulls on all the drawers except for the ones under the cooktop, which are 36" long drawers. I did use doubles for that. Throughout this build, I have learned that just because something is not exactly as you envisioned it from the beginning, that doesn't mean there is anything wrong with it, just adjust your vision a little bit. I really do think you will love it.

    But if you really don't like it and want to fix it, try removing one pull and see if you can patch the hole to your satisifaction. If you can, problem solved. If not, simply re-drill the repair and reinstall the hardware where it was.

  • 18 years ago

    I took a look at the pictures (beautiful kitchen BTW) and tried to see what you were talking about. Then I realized those were the drawers you were talking about. I LIKE the one pull! I think two pulls would be way too busy. If you think the pull scale is too small for the drawer, go with a bigger size pull (same make and model) if they make one. However, I think it looks great the way it is!

    I too agree with the poster above, one pull is much easier to use in the kitchen. You will pull out the drawer evenly each time. I too try to minimumize my "trips across the kitchen" (not that I have a big kitchen) and am usually have things in the other hand/arm. One is better for me.

    Again, I think it looks wonderful! Can't wait to see more pictures!

  • 18 years ago

    I've heard that if you have two pulls on a drawer, but typically only use one of them because your other hand is loaded down with stuff, then your drawer will eventually get all wonky from constantly being tugged open on just side. I had the same thing happen to me, I wanted two pulls on my sink tip out but wasn't paying attention and the guy ended up doing just the one. Now I'm glad for this mistake because I can't imagine ever using two hands to actually open the thing, opening it with one hand is so much easier! And BTW, it looks just fine, too. Your kitchen is lovely!

  • 18 years ago

    I know I'm getting in a little late, but I sold Shiloh for awhile(4.5 years) and they're pretty soft on replacement parts. If you've only replaced a couple doors/drawers thusfar, it probably won't cost the dealer anything to get you more drawer heads, but it's refreshing that you haven't already made it your KD's fault, or lied that the product was damaged. Starting the "give me free drawer heads just because..." conversation might be tough.

  • 18 years ago

    I'm with Buehl on this--the handle symmetry is nice. The whole project is looking great and if you try not to hate those single pulls, you're gonna love them. I don't think bigger pulls will look good there--not paired with the other side of the range pulls. The guys who installed the hardware had good instincts on this one!

    I like it.

  • 18 years ago

    I feel so much better after all these comments! The one pull has definitely grown on me enough to live with it and almost certain I'll stick with it. My neighbor even thought it would look too busy with 2 pulls since it just meets the minimum for needing 2 pulls (30" width). And I like it that it's balanced with the bank of drawers to the right of the cooktop as well.

    Many, many thanks to everyone again (and for your nice compliments on the kitchen as well--that means so much to me!). I'd say 99% of my ideas/inspiration came from this board and I look forward to posting finished pictures, hopefully sooner than later! I'm definitely ready to be enjoying my new kitchen rather than the oh so dated one I'm living in now!

    THANKS AGAIN :)

  • 18 years ago

    Casey---LOL!

    I like the single pull too! I find one pull easier to work than 2. I recently switched a 2-pull drawer down to one, and I prefer it.

    To post photos directly, just copy the html link from photobucket:

  • 18 years ago

    I think it looks great as is. My opinion is that double sets of pulls end up looking really cluttered.

  • 18 years ago

    I would have thought I'd like 2 better but after looking at your pics I really like the simple single look. I may change my mind on mine. I think you'll notice the touchup more if it isn't perfect. I think other are right that 1 will also be more functional. Sometimes mistakes turn out to be the better option...hope that is the case for you after you live with it for a while!

  • 18 years ago

    I agree with buehl's comments.
    Your cabinets look great. Leave your hardware as is : )

  • 18 years ago

    Wow, it looks just beautiful. I think the "one pull" issue only looks odd to you because you've had the image of two in your head. Definitely live with it for a couple of months and then see what you think.

  • 18 years ago

    If the drawer hardware is good you can likely get away with just one pull.

    Live with it awhile and see how hard the drawers are to open and close.

    If you find the drawers to hard to open and close after they are loaded up, you can try better drawer hardware if you have decided the appearance is acceptable with a single pull.

    Older houses often had no real drawer hardware, just wooden drawers on wooden rails.
    Large drawers often needed two pulls to even get them open.

  • 18 years ago

    So glad you posted pictures so we could see. I think it looks great and would not have known that was not the way you intended. By the way I have 2 on mine and usually just use one to open the drawer any way. I agree with those who said live with it for a while. Then see how you feel.

  • 18 years ago

    Leave it! ;-) I prefer it. Same as others said, the symmetry with the other drawers looks good.

  • 18 years ago

    Last week, MrsPandy wanted two on our 30" drawers, but I really prefer the look of one and told her that it seemed like we would usually be pulling with just one hand. She agreed, really likes the way they came out now that she sees them, and now I read here that it's bad to pull just one of a two-handled drawer! We got lucky this time.

    And I think your kitchen looks great, especially with one pull on each drawer. :)

  • 4 years ago

    Looks good. Another way to change it would be to buy a pull with backplate. It would go right over existing. I made the opposite hardware “mistake” in our mudroom which is how I came across your post!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    I agree that longer pulls would look great. This company Hapny Home offers 12" inch long Cabinet Pulls in a wide array of finishes.