Cabinet Hardware Styles For A Fixer Upper-Inspired Look

It's been over eight years since Chip and Joanna Gaines announced their exclusive collaboration with Hearth & Hand for Target. The partnership made the modern farmhouse style the "Fixer Upper" stars are known for more easily accessible for fans who can't make a trip to the couple's market in Waco. From waffled cotton dish towels to framed wall art, the moderately priced collection of items is ever expanding. "There's no other way to say it, this stuff is gorgeous," Chip wrote on the Magnolia blog. Earlier this year, Joanna told fans the collection was expanding to include light fixtures and hardware, and today, there are a few drawer pulls and knobs available at Target. But if you're a serious fan who is enthralled with the Gaines' new projects, like The Lakehouse, The Castle, or even Joanna's personal Rose Cottage, you'll have to dig a little deeper to find cabinet hardware that gives a truly Fixer Upper-inspired look to your kitchen or bathroom.

It can be tricky to find unique cabinets that fit your room's style and budget. Whether you're updating existing cabinets or you've opted for freestanding storage, picking the right cabinet hardware can make or break the entire look. Knobs, hand pulls, bin pulls, drop pulls, and even bolts, are available in a wide range of styles, sizes, colors, and finishes. The Hearth & Hand with Magnolia cabinet hardware is available in matte black or brass. But in addition to those tones, the Gaines' also use aged brass, polished nickel, antique pewter, and even wood finishes to complement each space they design.

The first thing you need to do is choose the right size kitchen cabinet hardware. "For a simple replacement, like switching out handles, you can measure the length of the existing handle and shop around for new ones that match that size," Joanna Gaines wrote in her book, "Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave." "If you want to change up the size and look of your handles completely, apply wood filler to the existing holes, and sand it down evenly once dry. Then, drill holes to your new measurements and lightly sand."

Knobs are the simplest cabinet hardware switch, which you can accomplish in just minutes. Joanna Gaines frequently uses them on upper cabinets. It's a practical approach, since knobs may be more likely to catch on your clothes. She often pairs them with bin pulls in a matching color. In "Fixer Upper" Season 3, Episode 9, she used antique copper knobs and drawer pulls like the Harpoon Kitchen Cabinet Pulls that contrasted with teal cabinets. Since knobs are small, they will make a bigger statement when paired with larger coordinating hardware in a finish that contrasts with your cabinet color. 

The Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Traditional Drawer Pulls pair well with gray. Gaines took that approach in her Hillcrest Estate project. She wrote about the color combo in her book. "I wanted [the kitchen] to feel classic and warm ... to give it a modern edge within a more traditional setting."

In her latest projects, Joanna Gaines has been using bolder cabinet hardware to make a bigger statement. In 'The Lakehouse', she captured mid-century modern vibes throughout the property by using uniform wooden drawer pulls that matched the cherry wood stain used on built-in features in the kitchen and laundry room. You can achieve the look by installing unfinished cabinet hardware like the Weichaun Wooden Pull Handles or Tsnamay Beech Wood Solid Paintable Handles before staining them yourself. The best place to install drawer pulls depends on the type of cabinet fronts you have. 

If you prefer something that stands out even more, opt for drawer pulls in a contrasting color or modern shape. In another kitchen featured in "Homebody," Gaines paired wood tones with clean-lined black hardware. You can get the look with pulls like the Ravinte 12-3/5 Inch Kitchen Square Cabinet Handles. She explained the design choice, writing, "I'm a fan of open shelving but also have an appreciation for closed cabinets. This [choice] shows how to blend the best of both worlds." 

In one of her own spaces, Gaines used an entirely different style that added visual interest and drama. In a tour of her rose cottage on the Magnolia blog, she shared an image of an antique storage piece with unique hardware, somewhere between shabby chic and vintage English apothecary, like the Tieca.Hw Antique Brass Bail Drop Cabinet Pulls. There are countless drop pulls available that are closer in size to a knob than a modern drawer pull, but that capture a more "Fixer Upper"-inspired look.