Quick Answer

Choose a cup handle when you want a traditional, easy-to-grab shape on drawers and low cupboards, and a pull handle when you want a slimmer, more contemporary line across cabinet fronts. In the Grove range, the Rectangular Cup Handle in Antique Brass gives the stronger, more classic grip, while the Medium Pull Handle in Matt Brass gives the quieter, more linear look. If you are replacing handles one drawer at a time, match the fixing centres to the holes you already have before deciding.

How the Two Shapes Actually Differ in Use

A cup handle is a shell-shaped piece that stands away from the door or drawer, so your fingers hook underneath it. That makes it very forgiving on drawers that need a firm pull, and it reads as a traditional kitchen cupboard handle. A pull handle is a bar that runs parallel to the surface, so your hand wraps around it rather than under it; it looks more contemporary and tends to sit flatter against the front.

The practical difference shows up in tight spots. Cup handles need a little clearance behind them for your fingertips, so they can feel bulky on a shallow drawer or a run of narrow doors. Pull handles take up less visual depth, which helps when you want cabinet fronts to stay calm and uninterrupted.

The Grove Cup Handle: A Heavier, Traditional Grip

The Grove Rectangular Cup Handle, Antique Brass is a rectangular metal cup handle made from solid brass, so it has a pleasingly weighty feel in the hand. Concealed fixings keep the front clean and minimal, and the antique brass is a natural finish designed to change with use, lightening in areas to reveal the solid brass beneath. That patina is a feature, not a fault, but it does mean the handle will not stay uniform forever.

Because the shape stands proud of the surface, it suits drawers and lower cupboards where you want a positive, full-hand pull. On upper cabinets, the same shape can feel visually busy if you have many doors in a row.

The Grove Pull Handle: A Slimmer, Contemporary Line

The Grove Pull Handle, Medium, Matt Brass is a linear metal pull handle offered as a contemporary alternative to the classic cup shape. It is also crafted from solid brass for that weighty feel, and its natural finish is designed to gently patina over time in your home. Matt brass keeps the surface softer and less reflective than a polished finish, which suits modern and pared-back kitchens.

One thing to check before ordering: the product notes flag a small update to sizing and ask you to review the details tab. Confirm the length and fixing centres against your existing holes, because a medium pull handle is not a universal fit.

Mixing Both in One Kitchen

You do not have to pick one shape for the whole room. A common approach is cup handles on drawers and pull handles on doors, or cup handles on base units and pulls on tall cabinets. Keep the finish consistent across both so the mix looks deliberate rather than accidental, and repeat the same handle on every drawer of the same size so the eye can settle.

If you are also refreshing the front door, the Grove Letter Plate, Antique Brass uses the same solid brass construction and antique brass family, so the hardware reads as one scheme from the hallway inward.

Trade-Offs to Weigh Before You Buy

  • Grip vs. profile: The cup handle is easier to hook and pull, especially on stiff drawers, but it stands further off the cabinet front. The pull handle sits flatter and looks quieter, but your hand wraps around a thinner bar. Choose the cup for drawers you open often; choose the pull for doors where you want an unbroken line.
  • Finish behaviour: Both handles are solid brass with a natural finish, but the antique brass cup lightens in areas to reveal the brass beneath, while the matt brass pull is described as gently patinating over time. If you want a finish that stays even, neither is sealed; if you like visible age, both will reward you.
  • Fitting and replacement: Concealed fixings on the cup handle give a minimal face, but both handles depend on matching your existing hole spacing. The pull handle notes a recent sizing update. Measure your current fixing centres and read the details tab before ordering, particularly for the medium pull handle.

Grove Handles at a Glance

  • Grove Rectangular Cup Handle, Antique Brass: Rectangular cup handle in solid brass with concealed fixings and an antique brass finish that lightens with use. Gives a traditional, weighty grip and a clean front face, but the finish will change over time rather than stay uniform.
  • Grove Pull Handle, Medium, Matt Brass: Medium linear pull handle in solid brass with a matt brass finish that patinas gently over time; sizing has recently been updated. Suits a contemporary, low-profile look, but you must check the details tab for current dimensions before ordering.
  • Grove Letter Plate, Antique Brass: Grove Letter Plate in antique brass, made from solid brass. Lets you carry the same brass finish and weighty feel through to the front door for a consistent scheme.

Which Handle Fits Your Kitchen

Best for

  • Drawers and lower cupboards that get pulled open many times a day
  • Traditional or period-style kitchens that suit a cup shape and antique brass
  • Anyone who wants a weighty, solid brass handle with hidden fixings

Not for

  • Very shallow drawers or narrow doors where a cup handle's depth feels bulky
  • Modern, handleless-looking kitchens that need a flatter profile
  • Anyone who wants a finish that will not change with use