Only one hole would need to be filled as you could utilize one existing. Don't shy away from the backplate idea. It might look better than you think and give you added protection from paint abrasion where the hand fits underneath the pulls. I agree they look small. This is a big enough change that I might want to wait until I saw it in person to assess the issue. Sometimes holding a pull in your hand and seeing it close up can help with decisions like that.

You might also consider cup/bin pulls for the drawers that have a built-in coverage of prior holes. Those come in a variety of widths. Horton Brasses is currently having a sale on bin pulls: https://www.horton-brasses.com/furniture-handles-pulls-bin.asp

No experience in filling holes. However, Belaria raises a good point about having only one hole to fill (for doors). Plus, regardless of door or drawers the filled holes will be behind the handle so even more inconspicuous if you ask me. I say go for the larger handles, long-term hole filling maintenance or not.

The idea of using cup pulls is good but note you will need to drill new holes as using just one of the existing will mean the pulls will be off center on the drawers. On doors you could get bigger pulls and just need to fill in one of the holes provided you keep them in the same area. Since you are far away consider doing to a store and try how a 3” vs 6” feel. You might find you can live with them for now and say in 5+ years when you want a minor update you change the pulls then. FYI make sure you purchase touch up paint now so that you have it when you do change out the pulls. Good luck

Sorry, as @Toni Hamlett and @User pointed out, you can use an existing hole on the doors, not on the drawers as new holes would need to be centered.

I think the handles only look a bit small on the upper cabinets. On the drawers and lower cabinets they look fine. He used longer handles for the the tall doors next to the refrigerator space so it all looks intentional. I'd be inclined to leave it alone as you'll notice them a lot less once the countertops are installed and the appliances are in place.

-- amateur

Melanie Hooksfor the win!

@User: "Melanie Hooks for the win!"

I don't agree. The drawer handles could be replaced with these but I think the current, vertical handles are installed too high on the lower doors and too low on the upper doors for these longer handles to look right.

-- amateur

Thanks for the suggestions everyone- I really appreciate it! I did find these pulls that I like with backplates but agree with @Aglitter that I should wait until I get back to make the ultimate decision.

https://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/collections/patton-drawer-pull/products/5a78ca9616b7e21e0b693b2b

@Angelina B.Those are beautiful pulls, and they come up to 8" in length so should be good for you.

@wdccruise I hate to hijack this thread, but I'm about to install my own cabinetry hardware and am puzzled by your assessment, "I think the current, vertical handles are installed too high on the lower doors and too low on the upper doors for these longer handles to look right."

They look good to me, but I'm no expert. Where should the handles go? They're currently lined up with the inside edges of the door rails, lower and upper, which took some thought by someone, at the very least. If they aren't lined up with the beginning of the interior door panel on a 5-piece door, how would I know where to place them?

@Aglitter: "I hate to hijack this thread, but I'm about to install my own cabinetry hardware and am puzzled by your assessment..."

I think the current 3" handles look fine. Melanie Hooks suggested substituting longer handles, such as these 5" handles, whose hole centers were still 3". I think that longer handles such as these would be incorrectly positioned -- too high or too low -- if they were attached to the cabinet doors using the existing holes.

-- amateur

OK, I see now. Thank you @wdccruise!

Count me among those that think your currenct 3" handles look fine. In another thread (https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5889483/april-2020-building-a-home#n=24), NewEnglandgal posted something she learned after being in her new build for 5 months that I think puts things in to perspective. Here's an excerpt:

"Now that I have been in my home for 5 months I can tell you the one biggest thing I learned.

While I do love my house and I do love almost every choice I made, if I had not been able to get what I wanted and had to go with something else, countertops, flooring, etc ....unless it was something I really hated..... I realize I would probably be just as happy with many other choices out there and that each thing I thought I just HAD TO HAVE? I didn't. I realized that none of these things I thought would make me the happiest dont. Again, I love my house and am so happy to be here but If I could look back I would not have driven myself so crazy, stressed out so much and worried so much about my choices.

I hope this helps any of you out there now feeling stressed or like you just have to have a certain purchase or choice. Once you move in you realize you are just happy to be there. Maybe others will not agree with me but I find these "things" we long for and feel we have to have are not that important once you move in."

@missenigma thank you for this.... so true

Part of selecting handles and pulls is testing the size of the space the handle allows for your particular fingers. Different handles fit different hands. I try out various handles and knobs to make sure I can grab it quickly and release it quickly without pinching my fingers. I also give some consideration to the size of my husband’s fingers. My current kitchen has all knobs, no handles, even on the wide drawers in the island. I can pull them with one or two fingers from either side, and the neck of the knob is long enough that I never get pinched. I specified self-closing drawers on full-extension heavy-duty brackets. The wide drawers have two knobs so I can open the drawer from either side with just one finger. A slight push has them closing easily on the glides from either side.