| Homes built prior to 2002, in many parts of the | | | | throughout the home. Who do you listen to? |
| country, were built with brass builder-standard | | | | Consider visiting the most plush resort spa. All |
| hardware; not just door levers and knobs, but hinges, | | | | components are consistent and create a sense of |
| door stops, cabinet hardware, bath hardware and | | | | secure leisure. Our general attraction to these |
| front door handle sets. With the current housing | | | | environments supports our inner desire for sensible |
| market suffering and a large majority of homes | | | | decor. Face it; those who intermix, are either deeply |
| carrying negative equity, folks want to know where | | | | connected to eclectic pieces or their perception of |
| to go from here. Here is a relatively simple solution to | | | | the budget requirements has dictated a |
| update a home for less time and money than even | | | | mix-and-match approach. |
| typical paint changes. Simply change your hardware. | | | | Finish hardware that does not match distracts the |
| While changing out your hardware is a relatively | | | | eye and takes attention off of other key aspects of |
| simple endeavor. I discourage clients from running to | | | | the home. That which matches is rarely noticed; as it |
| the local box store, less they are committed to | | | | should be with hardware. |
| spending considerably more both in cash and | | | | Colors of walls and wood, combined with the natural |
| ever-shrinking precious time. Some things to consider | | | | light source, dramatically impact our perception of |
| when changing your hardware: | | | | hardware finish. |
| | | | Tips for Finish Choice: |
| 1. The purpose of Door Hardware is Function: Door | | | | |
| Hardware should service Security First. | | | | 1. Use a sample cabinet knob against your wood |
| 2. With new styles added each and everyday, you | | | | finishes within your home, to adequately assess the |
| can now Enhance Design. | | | | finish color of your choice. |
| 3. Finish Matters: Consistency of finish throughout | | | | 2. Use a sample robe hooks in your bathrooms, |
| your home is a signature of timeless quality. Request | | | | against the colored walls, to determine the best finish |
| a sample, mount it and contemplate. Colors are | | | | choice for your bath hardware. |
| influenced by wood tones and light. | | | | 3. Seek out matching faucets to match your bath |
| 4. Install with a Purpose: Door hardware should be | | | | and kitchen hardware. |
| fixed, mortised and square. | | | | 4. Consider your appliance colors. A brass or copper |
| Security First: While our economy does lend itself to | | | | finish with hardware does not necessarily compliment |
| a rise in crime, door security is not JUST about | | | | stainless steel appliances. Wood tones, also should be |
| keeping your home and family safe from human | | | | considered if stainless is your appliance choice. |
| intruders-intruders also take the form of filthy | | | | Install with Purpose: Great care is taken when |
| critters. | | | | selecting fixtures, colors, flooring and countless other |
| The home owner of a beautiful home up in the | | | | home design and structure components. Doors are |
| Southern Idaho foothills called our shop. She had six | | | | chosen to reflect the architectural style of the home. |
| outdoor entrances. She called hysterical - she had | | | | Take just as great care with hardware. |
| mice-colonies of them! Her door hardware was | | | | Mortised or Drive In? More often than not, your |
| insufficient to properly support the heavy 8 ft doors | | | | builder will make this call for you, so stay informed. |
| that so gorgeously defined her sense of style. While | | | | - Mortise: noun a notch, hole, groove, or slot made in |
| it looked great when she purchased it - just over a | | | | a piece of wood or the like to receive a tenon of |
| year later, the weight of the doors was too much | | | | the same dimensions. A deep recess cut into wood |
| for the rinky-dink hardware installed at a great | | | | for any of several other purposes, as for receiving a |
| savings to the builder and cost to this family. The | | | | mortise lock. |
| interior of the latches were constructed of plastic, a | | | | - Drive in: verb the contractor does just that - with a |
| cheap alternative sold by one of our own local | | | | hammer he drives this supreme quality latch into the |
| lumberyards. It left just enough closing gap to serve | | | | hole of the door... with a hammer? Yes, with a |
| as an open invitation for mice. | | | | hammer! I wonder how long its supremacy will last. |
| According to the current statistics on crime, a high | | | | Door hardware is not our only consideration when |
| percentage of intruders enter through the front door. | | | | addressing installation errors. Cabinet hardware plays |
| Tips for ensuring door security | | | | a very important kitchen jewelry role. So often it is |
| | | | installed with little consideration given to the |
| 1. Fixed Mortise latches ensure that the latch bolt is | | | | aesthetics it is meant to create. There are a number |
| fixed in place and not easily damaged. | | | | of solutions for cabinets that have already been |
| 2. Deadbolts are often inadequate. The longer the | | | | drilled. A decorative back plate can hide many flaws. |
| deadbolt extends into the door frame, the more | | | | Bathroom Hardware installation requires the use of a |
| secure the entry system. Be sure that your deadbolt | | | | level. Offset Towel Rods and Toilet Paper Holders |
| length is adequate. | | | | can be very distracting. |
| 3. Latch construction is critical to the latches ability to | | | | I strongly recommend going with a company that |
| sustain any degree of forced entry. | | | | offers installed sales. There is nothing worse than |
| 4. Several lock brands on the market use an | | | | investing in quality hardware that serves your home |
| inexpensive zinc alloy material to construct their | | | | daily only to devalue it immediately with poor and |
| latches. This significantly reduces the cost of the | | | | improper installation. One up and coming company |
| latch. It also significantly reduces the life of the latch. | | | | that offers both in home professional sales from |
| In addition, some of the most popular builder | | | | highly qualified design professionals and professional |
| standard lock lines used in new construction use a | | | | installation is Vicinity Hardware. |
| plastic component within the adjustable latch. This | | | | Avoid some Common Pitfalls: |
| creates a very weak security system. | | | | - Big Box Stores: Most designer hardware offered at |
| Enhance Design: The current hardware market is by | | | | Lowes and Home Depot requires special order. They |
| far more diverse than five years ago. The design and | | | | are not able to key your entry systems alike, at the |
| finish choices are endless within all product price | | | | store. There are hardware providers that offer this |
| groups. Seek the hardware brands that are most | | | | service to their customers. |
| mindful of design. One such manufacturer can be | | | | - DIY: Door Hardware is a complicated industry. If |
| found at Fusion Hardware Group dot com. Fusion is | | | | you are into doing the work yourself, be sure to use |
| dedicated to the design styles used in modern | | | | a hardware provider like Vicinity Hardware that will |
| architecture. The hardware includes door, hinge, bath, | | | | serve as an educational guide throughout your entire |
| cabinet, faucets and trim. Moen Bath Hardware and | | | | process. |
| accessories can be found at CSI dot Moen dot Com. | | | | - Hardware Warranty: Be sure to inquire into the |
| Moen now has over thirty decorative styles with | | | | warranty both finish and mechanical for the hardware |
| various finishes. The Moen Bathware Outlet is a | | | | you are choosing. Oftentimes the warranty is only |
| exceptional place to purchase online. | | | | good to the original owner. This poses a problem if |
| Tips for Design Choice: | | | | you are preparing your home for sale. |
| | | | - You get what you pay for: If it is the cheapest |
| 1. Look at your home. Assess the roof line, doorway | | | | option out there, be prepared to pay in the long run. |
| shapes, cabinets, door designs and any other special | | | | Hardware is a daily Hands-On Experience. Touch it |
| architectural aspects. | | | | and use it. Studies indicate that the perception of |
| 2. Look at your decor. What genre of furniture do | | | | value within the housing market lies within a small |
| you own? What colors are you attracted to? | | | | variation of finish components, including countertops, |
| 3. Finally, look at your options. Review the design | | | | doors, windows and hardware. Consider the activity |
| choices available. | | | | in your home daily. From opening cabinets, to closet |
| Finish Matters: There are various schools of thought | | | | doors, to entering and exiting your home; hardware is |
| in regards to matching finishes. Aesthetically, some | | | | touched countless times, each and everyday. We |
| designers adhere to the belief that you can | | | | only notice hardware directly when it interferes with |
| coordinate too much. These designers frequently | | | | our ability to use it. In this way, hardware is the most |
| inter-mix finish colors, using less rigid design rules to | | | | utilized fixture within any home, and the most |
| create a sense of comfort from chaos. Opposing | | | | overlooked element of function and design. Expect to |
| views would claim that accents can be added from | | | | spend a bit more in order to ensure the life of your |
| other decor areas, but fixtures and architectural | | | | hardware; a worthwhile investment that will open the |
| elements should create a sense of continuity | | | | door to value. |