HARDWARE HEAVEN

Handleless cabinets, such as the overhead cupboards in this Plantation Homes design (right), complete the streamlined scheme of a contemporary kitchen. But handles, if you choose to use them, can be a fantastic way to add an injection of character into a design. “I’m a fan of mixing the two together,” says Carmel. “I’ll usually have two or three feature handles, something large and custom-made, and then recessed handles or push releases on the base cabinets and overheads.”

Handles are also a cost-effective way to refresh a tired kitchen scheme – knobs are simple to replace, but make sure the holes for any new door hardware are in the same position as the old ones.