When you’re upgrading or renovating a kitchen, there are so many choices to make! If you’ve decided on panel ready appliances, you might be debating about appliance pulls.

Get our favorite sources for appliance pulls in this curated round-up. Learn about sizes, finishes and styles to create the kitchen of your dreams!

unlacquered brass appliance pulls on a paneled refrigerator.
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Timeless. That was our goal when we made the decisions for our classic cream kitchen renovation. We chose a stunning Lacanche French range as a focal point, and we let the other elements fall into place.

With each decision we made, we tried to envision a space that wouldn’t belong in any certain decade.

From our unlacquered brass faucet, to our farmhouse sink, Danby marble countertops, beadboard backsplash and shaker style cabinets… we wanted to create a simplistic, timeless look. I certainly hope we’ve achieved that goal!

One of the most important ways we captured that timeless look was with our kitchen cabinet hardware.

While we’ve shared our selection of unlacquered brass hardware and cabinet latches before, one of the most frequently asked questions I receive is about our appliance pulls. Let’s learn a little more about them, shall we?

A white kitchen with a wood island and a paneled fridge with brass appliance pulls
Our cream kitchen with a paneled refrigerator featuring brass appliance pulls.

What are Appliance Pulls?

Appliance pulls are a type of heavier duty kitchen cabinet handle often used on wood panel covered appliances. Refrigerators and dishwashers are the two most common places to install them!

They allow you to blend your appliance doors in the rest of your kitchen hardware with ease. Panel ready appliances help integrate your entire kitchen by creating a cohesive look of beautiful wood cabinetry.

However, traditionally smaller knobs and pulls won’t work on these larger pieces! That’s where appliance pulls come in.

In fact, they can also make an incredible statement on tall pantry doors or larger storage drawers. Ranging from 12″ to 24″ long, they can be as sleek or as ornate as you’d like.

unlacquered brass appliance pulls on refrigerator

Tips

  • Just because it’s not labeled as an appliance pull, doesn’t mean it can’t work as one! In our lake cottage, we used a traditional cup pull on the dishwasher. And in our St. Louis kitchen, we used a large traditional drawer pull.
  • However, these pulls will mount onto ¾” thick wood cabinet panels that are affixed to your appliance, instead of the appliance itself. If you buy pulls that aren’t meant for appliances, you’ll need longer (matching) screws to install.
  • It doesn’t have to be an exact match, in order to coordinate. In fact, I’d argue that switching things up creates interest!
  • Read about our Ilve Range, which is a more affordable European range option!
  • Researching cabinet styles, too? Read about our inset cabinets and overlay cabinet doors.
A white kitchen with a wood island and a paneled fridge with brass appliance pulls

Don’t Skip These:  You don’t want to miss our guides to Panel Ready Appliances, choosing a Microwave Drawer, and a guide to Insert Range Hoods.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should appliance pulls be?

The rule of thumb is that pulls should not exceed 1/3 of the length of a cabinet door, or drawer width. However, rules are meant to be broken!

Should the finish for my cabinet hardware and my appliance hardware match?

The styles certainly don’t have to match, but it’s a good idea to keep everything cohesive with just one finish throughout your kitchen.

What is the difference between an appliance pull and a regular pull?

Often, the only difference is the size of the screws for installation! Traditional pulls come with shorter screws meant to attach to furniture or slim cabinet doors.
Appliance handles come with longer screws, that are often thicker. Appliances not only need a little more force to open, but they are also paneled in a slightly thicker cabinet front.

Can you use a regular pull for appliances?

It might not be formally recommended, but it works beautifully in our kitchen. Just make sure you have the correct length and size of screws!

unlacquered brass appliance pulls
Unlacquered brass appliance pulls on a paneled refrigerator with some patina.

Aged, Satin and Unlacquered Brass Appliance Pulls

You know this is my most beloved category, of course! Find our refrigerator pulls here, as well as a few other standout favorites!

Brass can fit into any style of home – from traditional, to sleek and modern, and cottage or farmhouse. Choose a style to fit your home and tastes!

A white graphic with images of appliance pulls, headline reads "the best appliance pulls"

Sources

Shop the best selection of quality appliance pulls here.

unlacquered brass appliance pull

Large Massey Pull

Our refrigerator features the 8″ large Massey – smaller than most people realize. It comes in a variety of finishes and in a 6″, 8″, 12″ and 18″ length. The traditional Massey pull also comes in a 10″ length.

Blair Appliance Pulls

This modern option comes in five finishes (aged brass, brushed nickel, polished chrome, polished nickel and oil rubbed bronze) and 12″ and 18″ lengths.

Unlacquered Brass Pull

18″, available in a large array of finishes including bronze, pewter, copper and more!

Emtek Spindle Appliance Pull

18″, available in French Antique Brass and many other finishes, too!

Emtek Jasper Appliance Pull

18″ Center-to-Center, Satin Brass

Nickel and Chrome Appliance Pulls

These finishes are fresh, timeless and modern all at once. Choose from our favorite silver-hued pewter, nickel and chrome pulls below.

Emtek Westwood

18″, polished or satin nickel

Finial Appliance Pull

Available in this pretty chrome, antique pewter, satin and nickel options and more!

Studio Appliance Pull

13″ or 18″, shown in polished nickel- available in satin nickel and bronze tones, as well.

Rigdon Appliance Pull

Available in polished and satin nickel, as well as bronze and brass. 12″, 18″ and 24″ lengths.

Hassalo Pull

12″ and 18″ options

Black and Bronze Appliance Pulls

These dark beauties provide a striking contrast from wood or white cabinets.

Blythe Pull, 12″

Shown in flat black, also available in oil rubbed bronze and more.

Mission Pull

12″, 18″ and 24″ available in oil rubbed bronze, brass, chrome and nickel finishes too.

Schaub Fonce Appliance Pull

Check out this two tone beauty! Shown in Matte Black Bar and Satin Brass Stems, this also comes in full black, satin brass, nickel and more.

Black Bronze Appliance Pull

Available in many colors and sizes – shown in 18″ length

Patton Pull

12″ center to center, I love the dramatic look of this one!

I’d love to hear from you! Are you working on a kitchen renovation right now?

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3 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for this info, Julie! Can you share a source for the longer screws for your appliance pulls? Were they unlacquered also?

  2. Hi Julie – how have the Massey pulls held up on the fridge? Any issues with them not being appliance pulls?