The kitchen in my first apartment in San Francisco had simple white shelves and an old porcelain sink. So far, so good. The problem was the hideous knobs on the cupboards. I scoured the city's hardware stores and was delighted when I found a source for Sugatsune, the Japanese hardware company. I loaded up on a simple stainless-steel knob and transformed our spartan kitchen. When we moved out of the apartment, I diligently removed the knobs and took them with me to our new house. Once again, with the help of lashings of white paint, I transformed the dingy cupboards into something more contemporary and infinitely more livable. I still believe that Sugatsune rules the roost when it comes to hardware. Here are ten cabinet-pull ideas:

Above: Solid brass cabinet knob with satin nickel finish; $8.08 at Alema Hardware.

Above: Pull in matte chrome; $11.50 at Alema Hardware.

Above: Stainless-steel ring pull with polished finish; $21.68 at Alema Hardware.

Above: Stainless-steel recessed pull with stain finish; $5.10 at Alema Hardware.

Above: Hafele drop handle pull in brushed nickel; $17.86 at Shop Hafele.

Above: Solid Brass bin pull in polished chrome finish; $8.58 at The Hardware Hut.

Above: Sugatsune stainless-steel cabinet pull with satin finish; $9.78 at The Hardware Hut.

Above: Berenson Andante cabinet pull in brushed nickel; $5.22 at The Hardware Hut.

Above: Lansa Handle stainless steel pull; $6.99 for two at Ikea.

Above: Aluminum Excel knob in Alumite finish; $4.00 at Alema Hardware.