install NEW HARDWARE

Hardware is the finishing touch. Swapping it out can make a big difference. The easiest swap is to find new hardware that matches the existing drill holes. (Measure center to center, meaning the space between the center of two screw holes; most pulls are between 3" and 5" on center.)

If you choose hardware of a different size or configuration, fill in the old holes in Step 3. After refinishing is complete, mark and drill the new holes. Use a template to ensure the placement is straight and consistent across the cabinetry. You can make a cardboard template, but inexpensive plastic ones are available at most hardware stores. On a pre-made template, mark which hole you’ll use, with a Sharpie or a bit of painter’s tape (so that you don’t accidentally use the wrong hole guide as you move to the next door). Mark the drill spot with a pencil, and work on adjacent doors at the same time. Do this process through the entire kitchen. Check that marks are level across the doors and positioned where you want them. Then check again—before you drill! Hold the template in place over the pencil mark and tap an awl or a finishing nail through the hole. This indentation is a guide for the hole. Use the smallest drill bit possible to prevent splintering. (Using masking tape over the indentation avoids damage but may hide the mark.) Knob screws are usually 3/16" in diameter. Test the bit on a piece of scrap wood. Keep the door or drawer open as you drill to avoid going into the face frame. Check that holes are level. Insert the screw and attach the pull or knob, and tighten it by hand with a screwdriver. Overtightening can can damage the door. Placement of knobs and pulls takes into account both appearance and function. For cabinet doors, knobs or pulls are usually placed 2 ½ " to 3" up from the corner, centered left to right on the stile. For stileand-rail doors, align the center point of the bottom screw with the top of the rail. For plain-faced doors, measure up from the bottom edge of the door. Pulls or knobs are typically centered in the middle of drawers. Mixing pulls and knobs gives a traditional look.