As design principles go, “Less is more” has held true for modern design, and the modern kitchens are a testament to that. Sleek handleless kitchen cupboards built to maximise space and reduce the appearance of clutter and crowding are the future of kitchen design.
Minimalist principles have found their way into every aspect of our lifestyles, contributing to other design styles and showing in modern homes everywhere. The kitchen is traditionally a hard room to streamline, between the display of appliances, the convenience of having items on-hand cluttering the kitchen has largely been normalised. But now that we live in increasingly open-plan spaces, clutter in one room is clutter in the entire living space. Letting go of your cupboard handles is just the next step in simple elegant living.
The purpose of cupboard handles is to make them easy to open, close and access your cabinets, their decorative function being a secondary concern after their functional necessity.
With this functionality come a few drawbacks; a cluttered appearance, extra surfaces for dirt and grime to cling to and while they can give your cupboards a bit of personality, they also make your kitchen look smaller.
Going handleless gives your kitchen a sleek, sophisticated and modern look, gives you one less thing to clean and creates the appearance of a larger, more open and clean space.
With modern mechanisms making it possible to open your cupboards without handles it is not hard to see why so many people are choosing to go without.
One of the main principles of minimalism is doing away with anything that doesn’t that doesn’t serve a purpose or make you happy. Rarely does a person form an emotional attachment to the handles of their kitchen cupboards and drawers, especially when looking to remodel their kitchen. Let your new kitchen be a style upgrade and a move from clunky and dated cupboard design.
Without knobs and handles the cupboard faces are more sleek, simple and minimalist bringing the beauty of all its other features to the fore.
Capitalise on smooth cabinetry and elegant finishes which could otherwise be lost with too many eye-catching elements. In open spaces, this has a calm and organised effect not only on your kitchen but on your entire living space from where your kitchen is clearly visible.
Handles are invariably the most “handled” part of your kitchen. Reaching for a spoon with grubby and sticky hands, dust, drippings, germs and bacteria all collect on the handles of your cupboards and while your kitchen may generally be clean, keeping up with wiping everything down especially intricately engraved handles with small crevices, dirt is usually missed. The area underneath the handles and the tiny gap where the handle meets the cupboard are also rarely cleaned and can collect years of dirt creating a fertile breeding ground for germs.
Without handles, you have less to clean and can easily see and clean dirt and grime off smooth surfaces. A clean kitchen is a good kitchen and can count towards a healthier home with less contact with disease-causing dirt. White and grey handleless kitchens are particularly trending these days for their clean, minimalistic looks.
The kitchens in contemporary homes are usually small, but still well-used and high-traffic areas where the whole family moves busily before, during and after meal times.
In small spaces, it is more likely to get snagged by handles which can be painful at the least, but also dangerous depending on where you are hit or snagged by a handle and whether you are in a position to be burnt or injured by the many potentially dangerous things in your kitchen like knives, hot food and water.
A design without handles doesn’t have to limit your access to your kitchen.
The doors of a handless kitchen are designed with a variety of mechanisms that make opening your cupboards just as easy.
Handleless kitchens are not just ordinary cupboards without doors. They are designed specifically to not look like they are missing something and make the most of other features like colour, texture or sheen. Minimalist in principle, there is more to handleless design than the absence of grip handles. Designers and carpenters make up for the lack of doors with three main systems.
Simple, functional and elegant. Handleless kitchens are clutter-free and can be used to create a clean and sophisticated look for your kitchen. Clean lines and solid angles further emphasise the minimalistic design living room for colour and contrast to shine as the main decorative elements.
With the focus on the elements that are there using quality materials is more important than ever. Wood, metallics and stone are popular choices in minimalist styles with a focus on the colour and finish of the cabinets often contrasted with cupboard tops with a starkly different texture or colour. To pull off this look you will have to forgo bold patterns and embellishments. Use colour instead to add personality to your kitchen. Monochromatic schemes work well to highlight clean design choices.
Choose how your handles will be replaced with a system that best suits your needs and how you prefer to use your kitchen. Choose between an overhang, J-pull or push-open system and consider if it can be accommodated by the design you choose.
There is no limit to the styles and materials you can choose to create a look and feel for your kitchen that reflects your tastes and style. Designs ranging from modern minimalist to traditional farmhouse and country kitchens can all be made without handles, incorporating all the modern benefits without taking anything from the charm of the design.
The size and shape of cabinetry as well as the configuration of cupboards and drawers can also be tailored to suit your kitchen shape and size as well as make it as functional and practical for you as possible.
No matter the style, handleless kitchens have a sleek, elegant sophisticated look that can easily be disturbed by an appliance or ornament that looks out of place. In these types of kitchens, it is advisable to have integrated appliances built into your cabinetry to create a seamless and cohesive kitchen.
Stoves, microwaves and even fridges can be built into cupboards showing finishes that are complementary to the colour scheme and design or sealed into the cupboards and only visible when in use.
When choosing this option you may find that your choice of appliances is limited. A potential downside is the amount of work and added expense that comes with replacing an appliance. When an integrated appliance is damaged or broken a part of the cabinet will have to be removed and rebuilt to fit the new appliances. This is also a consideration when replacing old or outdated appliances.
The durability of your handleless kitchen will depend on the quality of the materials used, your level of use and the design of your cabinets. Regular gentle cleaning can help you prevent damage like water damage and permanent staining.
These kitchens are no less durable than traditional kitchens. The argument could be made that they are more durable because handles could need screws to be tightened with time and used or replaced as styles change and they become dated, handleless cupboards do not have an equivalent issue. With care and proper use, kitchen cabinets can last five to ten years. Additions like J-pull handles, trimming, and paint can wear and make your cupboards age faster or require repairs and maintenance.
A good interior designer aims to help you design a home that is right for you, spaces you will enjoy and rooms you can make optimum use of. Where high-value, long-term design elements like kitchen cupboards are concerned, longevity and timelessness is important. Contemporary handleless kitchens fulfil these requirements.
By excluding handles that are unavoidably in a style that dates them, cupboards without handles have an advantage. Their sleek design which can be almost indistinguishable from the walls creates a look and feel that is less cluttered and though kitchens that are designed this way are not more spacious, the illusion of more space is always welcome. With a look to the future and creating a kitchen you can still enjoy in the present, interior designers recommend handleless kitchens because they are the kitchens of the future.
Renovating your kitchen is a major undertaking and shouldn’t be done without proper consideration. Choosing chic modern handleless cupboards ideally means a complete overhaul of your kitchen including new appliances that match your new kitchen. Integrated appliances are popular in contemporary kitchens with the convenience of technology while minimising the disruption to the design of your cupboards. This means buying high-quality appliances that will not easily or soon need to be replaced.
The quality and durability of your cupboards will depend on the materials used and the skill of your carpenter. Consider not only the upfront cost of fitting your cupboard but also the cost of maintenance repair and replacements should you need them.
Choose a kitchen, customise an existing design or design the handleless kitchen of your dreams with the help of a qualified interior designer. FCI works with the best furniture designers and carpenters from all over the world.
We have a variety of kitchen designs for you to explore at our showroom with customisable styles, bespoke colours and sizes to suit every taste and preference. Our modern ranges feature the best quality finishes built to be loved for years to come.
From giving you advice on the latest appliances to designing your floor plans and exclusive custom cabinetry, our dynamic team will help you kit out your kitchen in style.
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