Organise + design your Reno with these resources
The Finishes Schedule is a template for keeping every product, fixture, finish and colour in your renovation or build in one place. Fill it in as you design and plan, then share it with your builder, trades and architect, so everyone is working from the same details and nothing gets missed.
What you can store in it
Product names and codes
Brand names
Colours, including material and paint colours
Sizes, including length and width
Supplier and manufacturer details, including websites and contact details
Comments, installation notes and details for your trades
Images of each product, so your building team can see what you've chosen
How you'll use it
Use it for one room or a whole new home, from a kitchen or bathroom to a laundry renovation.
Keep it on your computer, phone or tablet, so you can check a product or code on a site visit or at the hardware shop. Share it with your team or print it for site.
Keep it after the job is finished too. When you need a paint touch-up years from now, the colour is right there.
A Prompt Sheet is included, so you know exactly what products to list.
What you'll need
The template is used in the free version of Canva, and you can reuse it for your next project.
Common questions
What is a finishes schedule?
It's one document that lists every product and finish going into your project, with the codes, colours, sizes and supplier details your builder and trades need. It's also called an FF&E schedule, a specifications schedule, a schedule of finishes or a finish schedule.
Do I need to pay for Canva?
No. The template is used in the free version of Canva.
Can I use it for one room?
Yes. It works for one room or a whole new home, and you can reuse it for the next project.
How do I share it with my builder?
Share it digitally with your builder, trades or architect, or print it for handy reference on site.
Our TOP home design + renovation resources, room plans, colour schemes + templates, bundled to create the ultimate project pack to get you reno-ready.
Includes all the resources you’ll need to start planning your home project RIGHT NOW, to achieve your own interior designed home.
This home renovation bundle includes tools and resources to budget, plan colours + products, plan key rooms in your home, and tips to avoid big reno mistakes. Includes:
Budget Project Tracker, valued at $147 • Easily keep track of how much your project is costing.
Finishes Schedule, valued at $97 • Keep track of all your project details, such as finishes, colours and materials.
Bathroom Design + Measurements Cheat Sheet, valued at $79 • Lists all the bathroom layouts with dimensions you need to nail your bathroom design.
Kitchen Design + Layout Planner, valued at $97 • Lists all the kitchen layouts with dimensions you need to nail your kitchen design.
11 Bathroom Designs — Plans + Colours, valued at $789 • Plans and colour schemes for 11 designer bathrooms.
7 Designer Kitchen — Plans + Colours, valued at $553 • Plans and colour schemes for 7 designer kitchens.
Backlit Mirror Step-By-Step Guide, valued at $47 • How to create your own backlit mirrors, explained step-by-step.
Niche Step-By-Step Guide, valued at $47 • How to create a niche in your bathroom including dimensions.
With a total value of over $1856, this renovating and home design resource is SOLID GOLD! You’ll master your room layout, colour scheme and finishes, plus deliver your project on budget, achieving your own perfectly functional, designer home like a PRO.
Take it from us, we know all too well the many decisions you’re juggling when building, renovating or updating your home. From nailing the perfect floor plan to lighting, paint colours and more, cabinetry handles are a finer detail that can make or break a space. In any room, including wardrobes, bathrooms, kitchens, laundries and even offices, the right knobs and handles can easily elevate a design with minimal effort… and if you think about the sheer use your cabinetry handles receive each day, it’s no wonder opting for high-quality hardware is as vital as any other element to complete your design. So how do you choose the best handles for your new cabinetry? We share our simple tips for nailing your decision…
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen
Style + Shape
As with any finish or product you choose for your home, it’s vital the style and shape of your cabinetry handles complement your overall design. Whether it’s minimalist, traditional, contemporary or somewhere in between, handles should be considered as an extension of your cabinetry and pair seamlessly with its finish and the overall space. To achieve this, you might need to choose a handle that’s so minimal it’s almost invisible, or a style that contrasts with your cabinets to make a statement and elevate the space. There are no hard and fast rules for selecting your handles, but the home style you’re looking to achieve should always be at the forefront of any product decisions you make.
Likewise, when selecting a handle shape, it’s important to consider any patterns and profiles in wall cladding, cabinetry, tiles and other finishes, and choose a handle shape to replicate or create contrast with these features. Think about how any shapes will work together and whether they match to balance your design. Then consider how the shape will affect the handle use - rounded edges versus square or sharp corners - to ensure your handles suit the needs and lifestyle of your family or the end users of the space.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Entry
Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Bathroom
Colour + Finish
Just like the style of your handles will dictate the overall look of a space, the colour you select is equally important in driving home the type of home you want to create. You might think that choosing a colour is purely decorative, but colour actually also contributes to the style, feel, functionality and longevity of your new cabinetry. For example, a family with young children or a home that will be a rental might steer clear of crisp white - which may show dirt and require more cleaning compared to chrome or brushed nickel finishes.
A great place to start when looking at the hardware is to take note of other colours in your room — windows, doors, lighting and other finishes, to help you narrow down which colours will suit best, and then consider their maintenance and wear. When you’re finalising all your products and finishes, keep track of them with our Finishes Schedule or a similar template, to easily compare your choices as you make decisions and order products. While you don’t always need to match your handles to your windows or tapware for a cohesive look, keeping finishes consistent throughout a room and home, will result in a balanced design where everything feels like it ‘fits’.
No matter the style of home you’re creating, and whether you’re after handles or knobs, there’s a huge range of finish options to choose from, including timber, marble, brass, bronze, nickel and stainless steel. When choosing handle colours, ensure you check any finish options like polished, brushed and satin, which will also affect maintenance, finger-printing, and how well your cabinetry handles stand the test of time. This detail can be overlooked but is vital in making sure you invest in the right finishes that you can enjoy for years to come. The local environment should also be considered when choosing finishes, especially elements like sea spray in coastal areas which make certain finishes unviable as a long-term solution.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Laundry
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Kitchen
Size + Positioning
Now that you’ve got the style and finish of your cabinet handles sorted, it’s time to consider what size to use and where to position your hardware for maximum effect. Cabinetry handle options range in size from subtle knobs that blend in right up to oversized pulls that take centre stage in any space. You can even mix and match the size of your hardware to emphasise features like statement doors while utility drawers recede to the background. This combination can help a space feel more fun, and casual and can give the room instant personality, too.
Also, consider whether handles and pulls are in scale to your design and cabinetry, and importantly for functionality. Choosing larger cabinetry handles with a good grip for high-use appliances like integrated fridges and dishwashers, ensures ergonomics and effortless use every day.
Generally speaking, drawer handles run horizontally while door handles sit vertically for ease of use, however, there aren’t any hard and fast rules, when it comes to creating a design that’s right for you, as long as it’s functional! In a kitchen with varied-sized doors and drawers, ensuring the position of individual pieces working together is as important to consider as functionality. You can also combine styles, like a pull handle that sits over the lip of drawers contrasted with oversized handles that are positioned in the centre of pantry doors - for a unique way to elevate your room and add a designer touch.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal WIR
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen
Functionality
Like every decision when building or renovating, functionality is paramount to creating a home that’s easy to live in day to day. Choosing cabinetry handles is no different, and when you consider how often they’re used, it’s vital to get it right the first time. Choose larger handles for bigger or heavier drawers that hold things like pots and pans, and ensure there’s enough space for your hand to get a good grip to open with ease. We recommend ordering samples of any pulls or handles you love and personally testing them out to make sure they’re the right size and shape for the type of cabinetry you have in mind. Quality is an extremely important factor as well, especially in high-use areas like the kitchen and bathroom where sub-par hardware will quickly show signs of wear and tear.
Cabinetry Considerations
Finally, your cabinetry material can also dictate which handle options are most suitable. If you’re using a cabinet maker then it’s a good idea to have a chat with them about your final vision to ensure your pulls and handles will be right for the type of cabinet. Cabinetry comes in a variety of thicknesses, so it’s important to check your handle specs to make sure they’re suitable, especially if you’re using panelled or profiled cabinetry or solid timbers. Some handle options wrap around the side of a door, and may only suit materials with a narrower thickness.
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Butler’s Pantry
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Kitchen
If you’re looking for high-quality cabinet handles in a range of stunning colours, finishes, shapes and styles, head over to our friends at Lo & Co to receive 10% off your order with the code ZS10. You can also download our free cabinetry tips sheet that’s packed full of key cabinetry terms you need to know, and those are all the important questions to ask your cabinet maker before you sign off on your joinery!
Want more home ideas? Tour our Contemporary Coastal Project room-by-room…
