Short answer: Cabinet hardware installation means measuring, marking, drilling, and mounting pulls or knobs on every door and drawer so they sit at identical positions. I recently did this for a homeowner in Erie’s Parkdale neighborhood, installing matte black bar pulls on a kitchen of white shaker-style cabinets with no hardware at all.
I’m Jeremy, owner of Old Town Handyman & Home Solutions. I handle small jobs like this across Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont, Superior, and Broomfield, and I’ll tell you now: this is one of the best “small job, big payoff” upgrades in a kitchen.
What was the project?
A Parkdale homeowner had a kitchen with white shaker-style cabinets, a clean quartz countertop, and stainless appliances. The cabinets had no pulls or handles, so the room looked unfinished.
I installed matte black bar pulls on every cabinet door and drawer front. The black against the white gives the kitchen a crisp, modern, high-contrast look.
How do you install cabinet pulls so they line up perfectly?
Precision is the whole job. A drilled hole is permanent, and a misaligned pull is visible from across the room. My process:
Close-up of white shaker kitchen cabinets with matte black bar pulls
Measure and decide placement. I set a consistent position for doors and drawers based on the cabinet style.
Build or set a drilling jig. A wood template with pre-drilled holes means every door gets the same hole spacing and position.
Mark and drill. I use the jig on each door and drawer front and drill with care to avoid chipping the finish.
Mount the pulls. I test-fit, tighten, and confirm every handle is level.
Clean up. I vacuum the shavings and wipe the surfaces.
What size cabinet pulls do I need?
Pulls are sized by the distance between the screw holes (center-to-center). Common sizes are 3", 3-3/4", 5", and 6-5/16". If you’re replacing existing hardware, match the existing hole spacing. If your cabinets have no hardware, you can choose any size, though larger drawers usually look best with longer pulls.
Should I hire a handyman to install cabinet hardware?
You can do it yourself, but the risk is in the drilling. If you have a handful of cabinets and a good jig, it’s a reasonable DIY project. If you have a full kitchen’s worth of doors and drawers, or you want a flawless result on the first try, hiring a pro saves time and prevents costly mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does cabinet hardware installation take?
It depends on how many doors and drawers there are. A typical kitchen is usually a short job, much of it spent on layout and the first-door setup.
Can you install hardware I already bought?
Yes. Most homeowners buy their own pulls online or at a hardware store, and I install them.
Can you replace old handles with a different size?
Yes, but different hole spacing means filling and refinishing the old holes. I’ll tell you upfront what’s involved.
What areas do you serve?
Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont, Superior, Broomfield, and greater Boulder County.
Ready to finish your kitchen?
Hardware is the small detail that makes a kitchen feel complete. If your cabinets are waiting on handles, I’ll take it from here. At Old Town Handyman & Home Solutions, we’re all about making your TO-DO list a DONE list.
👉 Request your free estimate at oldtownfixit.com
Old Town Handyman & Home Solutions, serving Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Longmont, Superior, Broomfield & Boulder County, CO
