Door knobs and arthritis - the "twist" gets the boot.

The most recent task on our renovation to-do list led me to a hardware store specializing in door knobs and cabinetry hardware. While I wasn't particularly looking forward to the errand (not like meeting with a decorator to pick paint colors!), I wasn't overly concerned with the decisions before me. When it came to door hardware, I knew what I was looking for: I wanted knobs, in chrome, with a flat front, and a round base. Easy enough, right?

So when Bernadette and I walked into the store, I requested to see their version of this:

Option A

 I even knew what I didn't want:

Option B

I love the perfectly round shape of Option B, and months ago, it was my first choice. But when I sampled this knob at a friend's newly renovated home, I discovered it was difficult to fit my bony, arthritic fingers around that big bulbous knob and then turn (and that's without any joint pain to speak of.) So my original choice went by the wayside, and I moved on to option A. I'd kept the lupus factor at the forefront, like a good little lupite, and I thought I was set.

But when Bernie and I started sampling the knobs in the store, in comparison to the levers, I realized that even the easiest knob required more torque than any lever out there. So I thought. And I thought some more. And I realized given my circumstances, choosing a lever made the most sense.

So I considered this one:

Option C

 And then this one:

Option D

I ended up going with option D, because it has a thicker handle to grasp onto, and its perfectly smooth surface felt nice against my knuckles. (Mine protrude quite a bit, ready to swell at a moment's notice. Do yours?) Johnny approved of "D" via a text photo, and Bernadette and I moved on to cabinetry hardware.

Same rules applied there, and since I was now cognizant of the need for a thicker handle (I'd actually forgotten about my "skinny writing pen" rant from a few years ago), I made sure that the handles for the cabinets had a smooth surface on the inside, a thickish girth for an easy grasp, and a nice line to match the look of the kitchen. The kitchen knobs had particular requirements, too - they couldn't be too small or too flat, because that makes it hard to fit my fingers around. I just want to be able to grab and go.

The kitchen cabinetry has only been "loosely selected", so you'll have to stay tuned for pictures to come. And the cabinets themselves are still scheduled to be installed the week after next. How exciting!

As a side note, in addition to the revelation I had on the knobs, spending time at my friend's fabulous new home also clued me into the fact that a large, single door on a refrigerator is too heavy and too hard for me to open. Too much suction or too little muscle - whatever the reason, I went with a nice French Door model refrigerator that opens and closes with ease. Thanks to GG for letting me sample hers for the last few years!)