Gold handles - why you shouldn't spray paint them

I’m sorry.

I wrote a post a few weeks back that showcased a DIY way to get your own gold handles. I used some spray paint over the old plastic coated handles and showed how easy and inexpensive the makeover was.

But look what happened:

This is after a few weeks of use. My beautiful gold paint chipped and scratched and is showing dirt from my sawdust hands. This was SO disappointing – especially since I endorsed the technique on the blog.

Turns out spray-painting handles is not the ideal way to go, and while it might be less expensive in the front end, it will certainly cost you more if you have to do it over and over and over again.

I couldn’t have a brand new office with refinished cabinetry and these scruffy guys ruining the whole look, so I picked up these beauties from Liberty Hardware.

This handle style is called a square bar pull and the colour is called champagne bronze (there are a few colours to choose from) – but I call them gold handles, and they are bee-U-T-full!

I liked it for its sleek lines and slightly different look from traditional rounded bar pulls. Liberty Hardware has hundreds upon hundreds of different styles of drawer pulls, knobs and handles and you can find a Liberty Hardware selection at most Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon and Walmart stores.

I had to get 20 of these to replace every handle on both bookcases, but I think you’ll agree it was so worth it!

Not “in your face” bold, but not hiding in the shadows either – they add a contemporary elegance I think. They are solid, sturdy, washable, won’t chip – and SO beautiful!

The hardware really does make the piece doesn’t it?

So with a sincere apology and a recant to the original article – I give you the real (or new and improved) before and after of my office bookshelves – and their “champagne bronze” / gold handles.