kitchen cupboards - door handles

I guess that trying it on one would decide the dilemma one way or the other?
I think you can get Matt Hammerite if you don't want a shiny finish.

I certainly would give the cheaper option a go first !

What about a spray can of car paint ? Spraying seems to get a very good finish especially if it is given 2 very light coats.

We bought an expensive shower about five years ago and the 'chrome' handle has started to peel revealing plastic underneath. We might as well have gone to somewhere cheaper.

If you are very unhappy with them you could try the Hammerite on one handle first of all; at least you would know then whether it would work or whether you will have to replace them all.

Here is another idea:
www.rustoleumspraypaint.com/how-to-guide/how-to-spray-paint-handles/

Hammerite do a spray version. Certainly in Matt black. We re sprayed our metal garden chairs. It did an excellent job, even though I was not very precise. I'd try it first and then replace if they don't look right. x

If you want a shabby-chic look you can paint the handles using a sample pot of Annie Sloan chalk based paint. This will be much cheaper than buying a 1ltr tin as it goes a long way and there some great colours on her website. You then wax them - ordinary furniture wax will do so long as it's not too dark and then you can gently rub them with sandpaper where the handles would naturally show signs of wear so that the original colour shows through.

merlotgran the shabby chic look wouldn't fit in with the rest of the kitchen but thanks for your different idea.

I've never used spray paint before but have previously painted gates and an iron bed frame with Hammerite. And outdoors at the moment we have a heavy iron bell at the back door that gets a fresh coat on alternate years....So I already have black hammerite....have it also in dark green. In my last home I painted the metal posts for the big clothes line in dark green.

Haven't used the Matt finish in it, sounds good. The actual hammered finish is quite forgiving of any flaws underneath where one part of the original finish might have worn away.

Thanks all for your ideas.
I think I'll try Matt black hammered finish on one handle and see how it goes

I don't think I'll try spraying, simply because I haven't done it before. Rosemary, thank you for the link about spraying, and it's good to know that spraying is an option J52 that worked for you.

You have just confirmed what I feared, when I had my kitchen changed I opted for no handles at all.

I hope you like the painting type option finish and it works well. If you need to go for the big replacing option you may have difficulty finding handles if your existing ones have two fixing points the distance between them will be crucial to getting ones that fit correctly with no further drilling. Good luck either way.

Bez - yes the existing handles do indeed have two fixing points though I hope they are a standard fitting size. There will definitely be no further drilling done because then you have the likelihood of dealing with the original hole etc. naaaahh..... New handles will either fit exactly or they won't happen.

harrigran - why didn't I think of that ... at the time !! Sounds perfect.

I unscrewed my old handles and painted them with aluminium hammerite. Eight years later they are still fine.

Actually I did a whole standard lamp with baby lamp attached at the side as well - the ones with the big uplighter bowls. You would never know. The paint goes on really smoothly.

I think spray colour will go nice.

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No. Do your own research!

I replaced mine with silver coloured metal handles from Ikea, not too expensive and 8 years on they look as good as new.

I am a great fan of spray Hammerite. I use it every couple of years to refresh my bistro-style patio table and chairs. It comes in several colours/finishes. I think it would work well for you.

Oops!, just noticed this is an old thread. What did you decide Coolgran?

I sent for 22 handles from Amazon. £1.79 each with free delivery.. A brushed aluminium finish. They arrived in 3 days and look perfect.
The quality appears very good and should they require replacing in a few years it won't break the bank.
We are very pleased with both the look and the cost.

I would go for the new handles.

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Blimey! Just goes to show who is trawling GN looking for free advertising space!

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