How to Install Leather Handles Back-to-Back

Question: I want to use the same Hawthorne pull for an interior front and back on a barn door. Is that possible? -Barb

UPDATED MARCH 5, 2026

Yes! Our leather drawer pulls and handles can be installed "back-to-back" for the interior/exterior of a door, with two handles mounted on either side of the same door. In this post, we'll show how.

Jump to Section

What is Back-to-Back Handle Installation? How Does the Back-to-Back Hardware Work? Which Handles Can Be Installed Back-to-Back? How to Order Back-to-Back Hardware

What is Back-to-Back Handle Installation?

In this chalkboard sketch, you can see an illustration of what we mean by "back-to-back" installation on a door with our leather-and-wood Sellwood handle:

A hand-drawn sketch on a chalkboard should the Sellwood wood/leather handle being installed on both sides of a door

How Does the Back-to-Back Hardware Work?

In the following photos, you can see how our Chicago screw hardware fits together as a mock-up using our hinged Burnside leather handles.

The Chicago (internally-threaded) screw goes through one side, and the back screw comes through the other side to thread inside the door:

Two round leather finger pull handles connected by one set of nickel hardware: side view

How the Chicago screw drawer pulls kit fits together to connect two handles across one surface.

Two round leather finger pull handles connected by one set of nickel hardware: angle view showing surfaceless head on one side

This side of the surface will show the plain rounded nickel head.

Two round leather finger pull handles connected by one set of nickel hardware: angle view showing flat head screw head on one side

This side of the surface will show the flat head screw side.

The main difference with a back-to-back installation is aesthetic rather than functional: the hardware will have a smooth, surfaceless head on one side of the door, and a screw face on the other side of the door.

The screw face is necessary to secure the handle to the door. Crafty customers who don't want to see a screw head may want to consider screw caps and plugs, which are available at hardware stores and supply companies.

Crisp white background image showing each component as it assembles together of our leather handles with Chicago Screw drawer pull kit

Our drawer pull hardware includes an internally-threaded Chicago screw with a surfaceless head (left) and a connecting back screw (multiple sizes included) that secures the handle to the door

Several screws in different sizes and types on a table, assembled with an extra-long zinc back screw

When ordering, request a back-to-back hardware kit, and let us know the width of the door if you need an extra long back screw (free).

A typical listing on our website includes one set of hardware per handle, but for back-to-back installation you'll only need one set of hardware for every two handles. Keep a backup set, or order the handles with "No Hardware" and purchase half the number of hardware kits using our Drawer Pull Kit listing.

However, sometimes folks need an extra-long backscrew to cover the entire span of their door width. We provide these free upon request when assembling back-to-back hardware kits.

Which Handles Can Be Installed Back-to-Back?

All of them!

We particularly like the Tilikum handle for back-to-back installation, because the C-shape of the handle partially hides the hardware behind the leather.

Looking straight down the floor through a line of Tilikum leather drawer pulls, showing the screw heads are hidden behind the leather

The screw heads of the Tilikum are mostly hidden by the leather itself, making it a perfect handle to install "back-to-back"

For the Flanders, St. Johns and Lovejoy handles in particular, which do not include washers, the longer oval-head back screws included in our hardware kits (used for thicker surfaces) may require a smaller, supplemental washer. (When included, pan-head back screws should be wide enough.)

Below is a sketch showing the placement of the supplemental washer used on the back side of these handles:

Hand-drawn pencil sketch of two leather tab pulls getting a washer threaded on the backside

How to Order Back-to-Back Hardware

When you order, let us know you plan to install these back-to-back, we'll be sure to match and assemble the hardware instructions to ease installation. If you think you need an extra-long back screw, let us know the door/surface width.

Leave us an "Order Note" or "Note to Seller" in the cart during checkout (we read every note!) or contact us with the order number.