Proof That DIY Kitchen Cabinet Pulls Can Be Very, Very Chic

When you simply don't want to pay up for kitchen cabinet pulls (or bathroom pulls, or drawer pulls), remember that purchasing them ready-made isn't the end of the line. Certain handy raw materials can transform with little fuss—and even less cost—into polished-looking knobs and pulls. Your houseguests will wonder at your ingenuity (if they can tell they're DIYed at all, that is). The following are our favorite raw materials to turn into kitchen cabinet pulls and drawer pulls, and tips for making them look extra polished.

Purchase a narrow strip of leather off Etsy or eBay, and snip it into five-inch lengths. Fold those in half, creating a little finger grab space, and then drill them into your drawer and cabinet fronts to secure.

Drill two holes on either side of where you want this handle to go, then thread the rope through from the outside. Knot on the inside of the cabinet to secure. (Andmatch your handrailto your pulls, while you're at it.)

For anyone who thinks rope handles aren't nautical enough! (Although to the non-nautically-inclined they might just appear as custom handles, the shape is so reminiscent.)

Secure a furniture bolt to a smooth river rock (or . . . any other rock) using epoxy glue, then let it dry before securing to your drawers and cabinets. The neutral shapes and colors will blend into just about any color palette.

Thread lengths of pipe, capped with end caps, through matching brackets, and then mount those brackets to the drawers or cabinets.