The Pros and Cons of Choosing a Handleless Kitchen

The handleless kitchen is a trend that has been on the rise over the past few years, offering homeowners the opportunity to introduce smooth, clean lines within their kitchen without the need for “pesky” handles.

A Winning Contemporary Look

It’s a winning contemporary look that works equally well in a high gloss or a matt finish. There are also a wide range of colour choices to take your pick from.

Sounds good… but it’s always worth asking the question:

Are Handleless Kitchen Units Right for your Home?

Of course, it depends on what you want and need. Every element of your kitchen should be chosen according to how you like to use and enjoy the space.

And, of course, there are some handleless kitchens pros and cons to consider.

Are Handleless Kitchen Doors on Trend?

Most definitely!

One of the most popular kitchen trends that we have seen in recent years has been a shift to handleless kitchen doors.

However, handleless kitchen cabinets are actually nothing new.

Handleless Kitchens are Nothing New

In fact, the handleless design has been incorporated as part of minimalist kitchen looks for many years.

But it is only relatively recently that we have noticed a big demand for handleless kitchens and handleless doors in a high gloss or matt finish.

Embrace Contemporary Living

So, why the resurgence? Why are handleless kitchens suddenly so popular?

Well, styles and tastes naturally evolve over time and as interior design has shifted to favour open-plan living, the handleless design has emerged as the natural best fit in many homeowners’ eyes.

An Intrinsically Modern Feel

Handleless doors have an intrinsically modern feel to them and that’s one reason why handleless kitchens look so good in an open-plan kitchen design.

Bring Innovative Modern Design Into Your Home

More people are now embracing contemporary living and indulging in innovative modern design.

What was once a stagnant style of kitchen door has been reborn into handleless kitchen doors.

Are Handleless Kitchens a Good Idea?

It’s no surprise to see that so many people are blown away with the look of a handleless kitchen and a handleless slab door.

The door style and handleless cabinetry truly catch the eye. Therefore, it’s easy to see why the flat slab door and smooth painted finish of a handleless kitchen have become so on trend.

A Cornerstone of Modern Kitchen Design

Handleless kitchen ideas have become the cornerstone of modern kitchens.

However, you need to think with your head and your heart.

it is vital that you weigh up the pros and cons of handleless kitchens before going ahead and choosing one for your home.

Does a Handleless Kitchen Provide Extra Room?

Talk to any homeowner and they’ll tell you that space can be at a premium at the best of times!

This is true across the home but it is especially true in the kitchen space.

So, when looking for that extra bit of wiggle room in a busy area, does a handleless kitchen stack up?

Valuable Extra Room

As there is no overhang on modern handleless drawer fronts and slab doors, it does give you valuable extra room.

Of course, it’s important not to over-egg this. It doesn’t create that much extra space. Conventional door handles don’t exactly protrude massively, after all.

 

contemporary handleless style

Sleek and Streamlined Style

However, it’s more to do with the overall effect and feel that a run of doors with a handleless style creates.

And, overall, handleless kitchens definitely make everywhere feel more streamlined.

A handleless kitchen design creates more of a design statement than traditional handles or protruding handles on a kitchen unit.

Choose Your Personal Preference For Your Sleek Design Dream Kitchen

If it’s a modern look you desire for your new kitchen, a true handleless kitchen has to be a definite contender.

With the absence of external handles, true handleless kitchens are aesthetically pleasing in a range of colours.

Are Handleless Kitchens Good for Open Plan Living?

As mentioned above, in many ways, a handleless kitchen is the natural bedfellow for an open plan design.

Handleless kitchens can be extremely useful if you are considering an open-plan design for the home.

Create the Illusion of Space

Not only does it help to create a light and airy feel, but there are also no handles to disrupt the fluidity of the design, either.

The overall effect creates the illusion of even more space.

 

high gloss handleless

Are there Handleless Appliances to Match?

If you want to create a totally handleless look, you can! The idea of a handleless kitchen now extends beyond the cabinetry and doors of standard kitchen design.

Great Appliances to Match Your Handleless Kitchen

To this end, you will now find more appliance manufacturers who are producing built-in appliances with great features that fit flush with kitchen cabinetry.

Some have glass finishes, and the ‘touch to open’ mechanism is certainly becoming more popular in integrated appliance design.

 

light handleless design

What Kind of Cabinet Fronts are Best for Handleless Kitchens?

Kitchens with a lower sheen tend to show fewer marks on a flat. slab door. Similarly, lighter colours on a handleless kitchen don’t tend to show marks and fingerprints as much as darker colours.

For this reason, incorporating natural wood and steel into a design can create a superb and durable finish.

Steel or Wood? What’s the Best Look for Handleless Kitchens?

Steel – with its streamlined modern kitchen, sounds right on the money – but you’d be surprised just how good painted wood units can look in a handleless setting.

Easy to Maintain

Not only do they look good, but handleless kitchens are also easier to maintain and keep clean. Additionally, any wear that occurs over time only adds to the character and charm of the finish.

What Handleless Kitchen Colour Do I Choose?

You can get caught up with your choice of slab door, integrated handles, a sleek and smooth finish and so on and so forth – and all of which is important when choosing your kitchen.

However, a kitchen is about more than just styles and features. Creating the perfect, striking handleless kitchen is also about the colours you choose.

 

green handleless kitchen

A Range of Colours

The absence of handles creates a smooth and uninterrupted surface. This minimalist design allows the colour of the unit to take centre stage.

A high-gloss finish reflects light, making your kitchen appear brighter.

Tones such as light grey or dust grey ensure a luxurious feel because of the reflective surface.

What Different Handleless Styles are There?

A handleless kitchen is basically any design where the doors and drawers do not have a separate handle. But there are a couple of different handleless styles to consider.

What are True Handleless Kitchens?

One of the most frequently asked questions that we hear is: What are true handleless kitchens?

There are two main ways to achieve the handleless design.

The first is a rail system that has become known as a true handleless kitchen.

What is the Rail System?

The rail system that can be found in true handleless kitchens is a continuous rail situated above the door or unit. This allows enough room for the top edge of the door or drawer to be gripped.

 

How does a J-Pull Work?

The alternative to the rail system found in a true handleless kitchen is a J-Pull handle.

A J-Pull is an integrated handle that is built into the door or drawer’s top. The main difference between a true handleless or J-Pull design is that the J-Pull handle creates a recess to allow your fingers to grip and pull the door open.

Which Style is Better?

There isn’t a great deal of difference between a J-Pull and a true handleless door or drawer. It really comes down to your personal preference.

A J-Pull has a similar look to a true handleless style but, typically, it adds an integrated handle to the top of the door on base units and the bottom of the door on upper wall cabinets.

Choose From a Great Range of Colours for Handleless Kitchens

To this end, it’s reassuring that not only are there a wide selection of handleless styles in the Kitchen Warehouse showroom, but there are also a wide choice of colour options.

Why not order a sample of any of our handleless kitchen doors?

Try Before You Buy

This gives you the opportunity to see if the handleless kitchen style of the door fits in with what you want for your kitchen. It can also allow you to see how our doors work in person, and to decide if they are a practical option for your home.

We are happy to assist you every step of the way with your choice of new kitchen.

You can get in contact with us through a variety of channels, including visiting our showroom located in Ripon.

If you have any other questions about our handleless kitchen doors, be sure to let us know!