Last Updated on March 2, 2013 by Kristi Linauer
Do you want to see how I used them?! Are you excited? On the edge of your seat? Well, I’m quite pleased with how my little project turned out, and even more pleased with the price.
You see, I could have used something like this, and paid $10.34 each…
 |
| via Knobs and Hardware |
Or I could have used this one, and paid $10.89 each…
 |
| via Hardware and Tools |
These must really be something special, because they’re over $40 each…
 |
||
| via Drawer Pull Universe |
And then there’s this really, truly, extra-special one that’s $63 each…
 |
| via Drawer Pull Universe |
And while it’s very possible that I’m a bit biased, I’m quite partial to my FREE drawer pulls, straight from nature…
So yesterday morning when I left you, I had a little pile of branches cut to about 3 1/2″ long, and sanded to remove all of the little pointy twiggy parts and rough spots, and to smooth the cut ends.
As you can see in this comparison of a sealed section and an unsealed branch, the sealer really enhanced the colors.
To attach the drawer pulls, I used the screws that were on the original door/drawer knobs.
I put the screw through the hole in the drawer, and measured how much stuck out the front of the drawer.
Then I measured down on my drill bit that amount and placed a piece of painters tape.
I used that painters tape as a guide so I would know how far into the drawer pull to drill the hole. The drill bit I used was just a tiny bit smaller in diameter than the machine screw that I was going to use.
Because the hole in the drawer pull was smaller than the diameter of the screw, I had to put a bit of muscle into it when attaching it, but it wasn’t difficult, and it held very securely. After attaching a couple of them, I decided that on the rest, I would add just a couple of drops of wood glue in the hole before attaching them, just to be sure that they would be secure.
And that’s it! Pretty simple!
This post is linked to Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I hope you’ll join me on my DIY and decorating journey! If you want to follow my projects and progress, you can subscribe below and have each new post delivered to your email inbox. That way you’ll never miss a thing!
16 Comments
Kim - A Creative Spirit
October 8, 2010 at 1:08 pmThat is genius…. :o) I really love the idea and a GREAT way to save money… of course your labor is worth a BUNDLE.
[email protected]
October 8, 2010 at 1:18 pmI have drapery rods that are tree branches in a guest room, but I hadn't thought of drawer pulls….very ingenius, Kristi!
Janet
October 8, 2010 at 1:22 pmAwesome! They look great you are so creative.
OMG, who would pay $63. for a drawer pull, or $40. for that matter! Insane!
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating
October 8, 2010 at 1:29 pmJanet, my jaw hit the floor when I saw the price on that drawer pull. $63!!?? At first, I thought it was a big door handle that you would put on a front door, or maybe one of those big ones for a refrigerator or something. I could understand paying that for one of those. But that's for a little 6-inch drawer pull!! I have no idea who would pay that, but you're right…it's insane.
Tatiana
October 8, 2010 at 3:39 pmOh my goodness. I have been thinking about what you could possibly use all of those branches for. My mind never went to drawer pulls. That is just on a genius level of thinking! Love it!
Ann
October 9, 2010 at 1:49 amSo clever! I love them!
Kathy
October 9, 2010 at 4:23 ammy oh my… to look at branches and see drawer pulls, you are so creative. It amazes me.
Funky Junk Interiors
November 8, 2010 at 6:15 pmSoooo cool! I love that you used the real deal on this one. 🙂
Donna
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
Claudette
September 15, 2011 at 2:20 pmi live in Pa.i have 10 acres of woods.i love ur ideas .if u ever need wood look me up
Runningstream303
November 21, 2011 at 5:06 pmThank you Kristi,
We have Hickory cabinets and I love this idea, as my house decor, is Native American. This will look great.
Thanks again,
Runningstream
Inspire Me Heather
August 24, 2012 at 8:54 amYour pulls look great! I was going to make some similar with branches but was on the lookout for some cheap pulls and then somehow attach the branch on just the vertical part – hmmm, I’m still working on it! I have this linked to my knobs and pulls post as well today, it’s a keeper!
Mhairi Gordon-Preston
August 15, 2013 at 12:46 pmI’ve been wanting to turn some driftwood into handles and knobs… now thanks to this, I know how.
I loved your jokes about special handles and *really* special handles. I love that Mother Nature does a much better job for free
Lindsay
September 27, 2015 at 6:29 pmMhairi – I had the same idea. How did yours work out?
Traci Wade
September 23, 2013 at 10:44 pmGreat project! My son’s room is outdoor themed so this would be a perfect project for his chest of drawers!
Lori
January 27, 2022 at 10:38 amcool idea. Esp. sense i live in the woods. How thick are your branches?
Kristi Linauer
January 28, 2022 at 8:11 amThey were about an inch in diameter.