Yes, I Put My Kids’ Faces on Cabinet Knobs. And No, I Regret Nothing.

This one’s... a little over the top.

I say that with love — and also with the full self-awareness of someone who has spent two decades helping families take better photos, and now seems physically incapable of not turning those photos into home décor.

But here we are.

The Origin Story: One Custom Cabinet and a Dangerous Idea

About 10 years ago, we were redoing our kitchen. (And yes, if you’ve ever done a kitchen renovation, you know it’s the kind of thing that causes you to ask deep philosophical questions like “Do I need a trash drawer?” and “Why is grout so emotional?”)

Anyway.

We had this incredible finish carpenter helping us, and he built the most beautiful custom china cabinet for the corner of our dining room.

When it came time to choose the hardware — the cabinet knobs and drawer pulls, aka the “jewelry of the kitchen” (a phrase gifted to me by a designer friend I’ll never forget) — he asked what I had in mind.

And that’s when it hit me:

What if the jewelry of my kitchen had my daughters’ faces on it?

Tiny Cabinet Knobs. Big Joy.

So I found a site, uploaded a few black-and-white portraits I adored, and had them printed onto a set of photo drawer pulls.

Now — let me be clear:

These are tiny.

People do not notice them.

They’re not the kind of thing guests comment on. Honestly, I don't think anyone but me even knows they’re there.

But I know.

And every time I open that cabinet — whether I’m grabbing a tablecloth or rummaging for birthday candles — I see their little faces smiling back at me.

And it makes me so, so happy.

Am I Obsessed With Photos? Obviously. But in an Elegant Way.

Yes, this is peak photo mom behavior.

Yes, I’m laughing at myself as I write this.

But also? It’s kind of genius.

Because these custom cabinet knobs are a private little moment of joy in my home. They’re not for show. They’re for me.

And in a world where everything feels like it has to be performative or perfect… that feels kind of refreshing.

Wait, before I get into the links and where you can make your own cabinet knobs, do you want some more fun photo gift ideas like this?

Download my free guide: Favorite and Fun Photo Gifts - Volume 1, Fall/Winter 2025 Edition — it’s packed with simple, sentimental ideas (like this one!) to help you turn the photos on your phone into gifts you’ll treasure.

OK, back at it. Want to Make Your Own Photo Drawer Pulls or Cabinet Knobs?

FWIW, my Etsy ones are the very best. I love them very much. I mean look at my girls right here on my dining room china cabinet. CUTE, right?

But for the sake of the blog (and because I know some of you are 100% going to want to do this, and for a while I couldn't find the link to the guy on Etsy who made mine 10 years ago), at first I went ahead and ordered a new set of custom photo knobs from this Amazon link* — and I have thoughts.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

They’re cute — I’ll give them that. Here's what the ones I ordered just a few weeks ago from Amazon look like. I mean, they were cheaper than the Etsy ones. I got a pack of four of them from Amazon for $18.

I actually do like the way the photo pops, and I think the rounded plastic helps draw your eye to the image in a subtle, satisfying way. But when they arrived? I’ll be honest — I’m picky.

And the yellow-ish tint around the plastic edges just didn’t work for me. They felt… a little old lady. Not in a charming, vintage way. Just in a “this doesn’t match my vibe” kind of way.

So I did what any semi-obsessed photo mom would do: I went down a rabbit hole. A deep Etsy rabbit hole.

I tried to find the place I’d ordered from a decade ago, back when this whole wild idea started. Scrolled. Clicked. Compared. Until finally — I spotted one that made me think, “Ooh, maybe this is it…”

I ordered a set of knobs from this new one I'd found on Etsy. It was $27.90 after shipping for just two knobs... so yes, more expensive than the Amazon ones, but worth it, to me.

I picked a new photo...

Waited. Hoped.

And then? I went to check my Etsy messages and laughed out loud — because guess what? It was the same guy. Same shop, same maker. There were messages from 10+ years ago in our thread, from when I ordered the first set for my kitchen china cabinet.

How great is that?

I mean you never know with Etsy, but there's something so incredible about connecting with a real MAKER, a real human... someone who's out there creating art and doing it with love and passion... and then getting that stuff sent to you, and it lands there in your house and you get to have art made by a real person. It's just so fabulous.

And so just a week or two ago Lance made me another set. They match the ones I'd made with him 10 years ago PERFECTLY...

He’s still at it — and honestly, still crushing it. I told him over Etsy messages I wanted to be sure the little foot in the air (isn't it cute? kinda makes the image, right?) to definitely appear on the edge of the knob - I didn't want that part to wrap.

And YES, he nailed it. Look at this thing! It’s tiny, perfect, and the detail is chef’s kiss.

I picked this particular photo because it includes a bunch of our friends and family, and I cannot wait to see the kids’ faces when they come over and go on a little treasure hunt. I already know one of them is going to spot their tiny little face on a cabinet knob and lose their mind.

And I cannot wait.

Drawer Pulls With Feelings? Yes.

This one’s not flashy. It’s not funny like the photo blanket or bold like a framed wall print.

But it’s quietly iconic.

You can find these ones on Etsy, created by Lance here.

It’s the kind of photo gift that’s about you, not everyone else.

And sometimes, those are the best ones.

Like the vibe here?

Come hang out with me. I’m Jess, a longtime family photographer who writes like we’re chatting in the preschool pickup line.

Each week or so, I send a quick, thoughtful email — usually with a photo tip, a funny story, or a moment that made me pause.

Sometimes there’s a gentle nudge to take a picture of your own. Sometimes there’s a reminder that you’re doing a great job.

Always, there’s heart. If that sounds like your kind of inbox moment, you can sign up for emails here: