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Drawer Handle Drama

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I like to think of myself as a fairly capable person.
I have managed to get to the age of 52 without any major screw-ups.
I have never been fired from a job.
(Although my husband would love to fire me from my laundry lady position…)
I have raised 2 children to be responsible, duly-employed adults.
But when it came to installing new drawer handles in my kitchen
I have to admit it just about got the best of me.
When I decided to change the hardware my thought was
“How hard can it possibly be?”
Well let me just tell you…

This is my drawer handle.
Note that it take 2 holes.

First I had to gather all the tools I needed.
Drill, tape measure, etc.
Then I had to make a template.
That could be a whole post in itself but let’s just say
that I got the template made…barely.
(I was going to show it to you but I was too embarrassed
and threw it away when I was finished.)

So now I’m ready to start drilling into the first drawer.
I get my nerve up and drill the two holes.
Not big enough.
I graduate to the next size drill bit.
Still not big enough.
Several bits later I get the right size hole.

At this point I’m sweating and annoyed.

I put the handle into the holes and am ready to screw it into place.
BUT
the screws aren’t long enough.
I forgot that the holes needed to be counter-sunk from the inside.
Of course I don’t have a drill bit that does that…

So I’m off to Lowe’s.
The little hardware aisle guy advises me that it might
be easier to get longer screws and forget about the counter-sink bit.
I refrained from hugging him, took my longer screws and drove home.

Got home, tried the new screws and they were too long.

So I decided that the drawer handle Gods were trying to tell me something.
I quit for the day.

The next morning I went to Lowe’s for the second time.
This time I got the correct screws…

I picked up where I left off the night before.
By about the 5th handle I was getting the hang of it.
Too bad I only had 9 to do…I was just getting good when I finished.

So here are my installed-by-Ann drawer pulls.

As you can see I have a long way to go in this kitchen reno.

I’m going to leave you with two burning questions…

1.  Was it worth it?
Absolutely.

2.  Would I do it again?
NO WAY.

Thanks for stopping by…

Linking to:
Creative Bloggers Party and Hop at Homemaker on a Dime
DIY Project Parade  at The DIY Showoff
Newbie Party  at Debbie’s

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Thoughts from my friends...

  1. You are quite the handy woman if it only took you two trips to the store. That hardware is just so perfect it was definitely worth the trouble.

  3. I feel your pain! ;) I hate that 99% of the DIY's that I start end up being WAY more than I bargained for. But they look awesome. You did a beautiful job. I am your newest follower and would love for you to follow me too. You have such wonderful ideas.

  4. Ann, Your kitchen project has progressed nicely! Love the bin pulls and like that you painted the insides of the cabinets. How do you find time to do it all?! LOL Trying to get us all together in July sometime. There are still a few of us Buckeye Bloggers that haven't yet met in person. Stay cool- I hear it's another scorcher today! :-) Sue

  5. Hello! I'm visiting from DebbieDoo's newbie party.

    I have the same drawer pulls in my kitchen!!! I also had to take a quick trip to Lowes to buy longer screws. Luckily for me, the holes were already drilled!

    I'm your newest follower; hope you visit my blog and follow me, too!

  6. Hi Ann,

    So nice to meet you! I really enjoyed reading your post. I have to admit that I would have had my hubby do that. But I have to say that you did an awesome job! Looks really professional. You should be very proud of yourself. ;-) Love your blog too. Thanks for visiting me. I am your newest follower too. Have a wonderful week and I will be back again soon.
    Hugs,
    Janet Bernasconi
    Janet's Creative Pillows

  7. You go, girl! Good for you! I want to install those same handles in my kitchen to replace the glass knobs in there. Handles are just easier on the hands when you have big, old heavy drawers. Your kitchen is looking absolutely awesome! :)

    xoxo laurie

  8. Ann, I can feel your pain! I just had my kitchen redone, and I think I have those same pulls. It took 2 professional men 8 hour to put new hinges and pulls on all my doors and drawers! It is not a job for the faint of heart!
    Your pulls and drawers look fabulous!
    Yvonne

  9. I feel ya Ann, I did this last summer, it was definitely a lot more difficult that I anticipated. Good job for sticking it out, it looks fabulous!

  12. Great job, wow!, your very talented, though! I can even hummer a nail, let alone place this handles! My hubby, or someone else would've had to do it in my case!! My daughter who's building her new kitchen, she wants to put those old fashioned kind of handles, I love them too! Thank you for your lovely comments, I will do what you want as soon my daughter explains!!, Im not computer savvy, like… AT ALL! Thanks for hosting. Love. FABBY

  14. Ann, Thanks so much for stopping by the Back Porch.

    I came back by to tell you I found the runner at Raised in Cotton. Carol is another Missouri blogger, whose beautiful old farmhouse was featured in Fifi O'Neill's book.

    I'm not sure if the runner is still available.
    Carol's blog address is:
    http://raisedincotton.typepad.com

  15. They look awesome! We have some of the same pulls. Thankfully they fit in existing holes. Your hard work paid off…it's looking great! I had to giggle at the end. Was it worth it? I agree – definitely. DIY is hard work, but so rewarding when it pays off. Am I ever thankful that most projects only have to be tackled once? YES!!!!! ;)

    Thanks for sharing in the DIY project parade!

    Roeshel

  18. Love the handles and don't feel bad, when I ordered mine the DH insisted that he could do this in no time. We had 39 and it was an all day, I mean all day project. I was ready to leave home by the time it was done and he was only drilling the holes. I screwed them all in. I love mine too, but I am glad I don't have more to do.

    You asked about the orange bells, I am sure they will grow there, however they will freeze in the winter. You might have to put them in a protected place for the winter months. Hugs, Marty

  19. Good job Ann! totally worth it, however that would have been a honey do project. Thanks for sharing with my newbie party

  20. You did a great job on them! It's a lot more work than most realize to put in the bin pulls–the centering on the drawer front, then the two holes, etc. We recently put them on our drawers and it's a little scary until you get the measurements perfectly figured out.

    I have a drawer full of 8/32nd's screws–1", 1 1/8", 1 1/4", 1 1/2"! Every drawer is different and it's so frustrating when you don't have the exact one and want to finish the job. :)

    Your cabinets look great!

    Have a great day.
    Pam

  22. Visiting from the Creative Bloggers Party & Hop over at Create with Joy!

    Sounds like changing the drawer pulls was a harrowing experience at times, but the results are absolutely lovely! You have great taste (and admirable perseverance) Ann!

    So pleased to "meet" you!

    New follower,
    Jenn/Rook No. 17

  24. You are way better than me, I don't think I could handle the drill and I would have ended up having to replace the whole drawer and my hunny would have killed me!

    I LOVE the new pulls, the are perfect! I am with you though, I think my kitchen reno was worth it, but I don't want to ever do it again!

    Enjoy your Sunday!

    Jodi

  25. I admire you. My husband usually does that stuff for me, and I really should be doing it myself. The drawer pulls look great! I'd like those for my kitchen too!

  27. I wish I couldn't relate to that story, Ann. But, to tell the truth there have been some days that I just need a way to be beamed-up to Lowe's and back or have one of those air-vacuum things like they have at the drive-thru at the banks between my project and Lowe's! LOL!

    Your drawer pulls look fabulous! Well done! blessings ~ tanna

  28. GREAT JOB Ann they look beautiful!! I have the same pulls in brushed nickel, I love them. Don't feel bad every time we do a project here it always turns into more work then it should of!! Martina

  29. They look great Ann. You are a brave gal to take that job on but you did it and did it well! Would you like to come and install mine now that you have the hang of it? LOL I haven't even ordered mine yet. Pamela

  33. I have the same pulls, but I cheated and made sure they were here when the cabinet maker was installing the kitchen last yr and he got to do it…oh and he was grumbling about them too hehe…Great job, they look great.

    Blessings Kelsie

  34. I live alone and do all this sort of thing myself. I have a saying-
    ( NOTHING IS EVER EASY !)
    Thats all I have to say , except , They look great !

  39. You should know i would not ever attemp anything like that. I have no talent fo any kinda power tool, nor does I want to! Richard at My Old Historic House

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