Choosing the right door handle

Door handles used to be purely about opening and closing a door - but not anymore.

Door handles and associated furniture are now one of the most important functioning decorations that you can fit when choosing an interior/exterior theme to your property. There was a time when you would only see door handles made from Bakelite –but now the material and design options are endless. Owing to the computer age, we can now design and market practically any kind of handle in any kind of material; although we are limited to making sure prospective customers will want to buy them. And if you are feeling flush, you can even have your own design commissioned and manufactured – nothing is impossible.

So what should we consider when choosing our door furniture? Firstly, the colour and material of the actual door needs to be taken into account. Some finishes just don’t look right on certain coloured doors. If you have white doors however, most handles can be accommodated and look good.  So if using a timber-grained finished door, try and obtain a swatch so you can offer up samples of different door handles against them – this way you will avoid a clash. Another good way of checking is to thumb through home improvement magazines to find the desired look.

You also need to consider the age and style of your property. Is it a Victorian house, or maybe a farm/barn conversion? Make sure you get the right handle for the right era. Maybe it has an Art Deco theme?  There are now lots of Art Deco handles on the market which will suit a property from the era. 

Take into account who may be using the property – for instance, if there are elderly or very young children around, then it is best to avoid knob furniture – these can be tricky to open and we would suggest lever handles is best. 

The size of the handle set is also important, so if you have taller than average doors, it’s probably best to find quite a lengthy backplate handle, which will look in proportion to the height and will not look ‘lost’.

And finally, if you are looking for the modern look, look no further than a lever handle on a rose, of which there are thousands to choose from. Ranging from  around  £6.00 per set up to £200 per set, you can have buy them in some great finishes, including leather, crystals, and crocodile skin to name but a few !

Stylish Window Furniture

handles4homes.com has a range of window furniture including casement stays, Casement Fittings and sash fasteners. The casement fasteners ranging in sizes from 250mm up to 305mm and are readily available in Polish Brass, Polished Chrome, Florentine bronze, Satin Chrome and Stainless Steel.

It is recommended when buying window furniture that Lockable Stays and Fasteners should be fitted to casement windows and for extra security casement locks, especially on ground floor windows.

The casement stay is fitted to the bottom of the window and rests on a casement peg which on some designs would allow a locking screw to screw onto the peg to add more security to the window.

 

A Casement Fastener is fitted to the side of the window and is readily available in all styles and finishes to match the casement stay. There is a more secure locking variety in the casement fastener range that allows you to lock the fastener by using a key.

 

It is recommended when buying window furniture for sash windows, you should fit lockable sash fasteners, which should be fitted together with sash stops. Various sash lifts are also available in various styles, check www.handles4homes.com for the latest offers.

Carlisle Design Group Ironmongery

handles4homes.com have a supply partnership with the country's largest wholesaler of door and window furniture - Carlisle Design Group, which incorporates Carlisle Brass, Eurospec Hardware, Fingertip Design, and Eurolite Electrical, and can boast some of the best stocks of the above branded ironmongery products.

Carlisle Brass

Carlisle Brass are the UK's foremost supplier of door and Window Furniture, supplying around 75% of the nations housebuilders with their door furniture. Their range is unsurpassed and covers every aspect of door furniture, including:

Door Hinges, mortice latches, locks, handles on backplate, designer levers on rose, period handles, modern and traditional door knobs, external Door Fittings, window handles, ventilators,  and much more besides. 

Eurospec Hardware

Eurospec Hardware are the sister company of Carlisle Brass and specialises in commercial style ironmongery including door closers, panic hardware, stainless steel door furniture in contract and Steelworx designs, security locks and cylinders.

Cylinders are available on 5-Pin, 6-Pin, 10-Pin and the high security 15-Pin ranges, all from stock and all available masterkeyed.

Fingertip Design

Fingertip Design have a full range of cabinet hardware to suit kitchens and general cabintery. Their range includes contemporary drawer pulls and knobs, right through to antique period door knobs and handles. Cabinet hinges and various catches round the range off.

Delamain Reeded Door Knobs

Handles4homes.com are now selling the Delamain Reeded Door Knobs (also known as the Beehive) which is available as a mortice knob and cupboard knobs, and available in four finishes.

Finishes available are: Polished Brass, Polished Chrome, Satin Chrome, Florentine Bronze.  

The knobs sizes start as small as 23mm diameter and the rose diameter is 25mm other sizes are 28mm knob – 30mm rose, 35mm knob – 38mm rose and the largest of the range, the mortice knob has a 51mm knob with a 70mm rose.

They can be used with a Heavy Sprung Tubular Latch, Mortice Locks, and for small cupboards the Double Ball Catch. All of the knobs are solid cast and the 70mm knob weighs approximately 742 grams. The knobs are joined together with a square spindle bar and secured with  small grub screws in the neck of the knob. 

The bar allows micro-adjustment when tightening the knobs and this gives a smooth feel when the knobs are turned making them ideal for any width of door.

To match the Reeded knob they have a vast range of accessories to compliment this beautiful look. Escutcheons are availble for covering your keyhole when using a Deadlock and Sash Lock, for your bathroom door when using a Bathroom Lock you can use a Bathroom Privacy Turn & Release set. Both available in all finished to match the Delamain reeded knobs.

This Reeded Pull Handle (FTD605) is available overall length of 151mm with 128mm bolt centres, and at present the only available finishes are Brushed Satin Nickel (Finish shown) and Black Nickel. The item would be most suitable for dressers, cupboard doors and draws. There is  also a matching reeded cupboard knob. (FTD600)

The Delamain range is always increasing and we will keep you updated on any new lines.

Carlisle Design Group Ironmongery

handles4homes.com have a supply partnership with the country's largest wholesaler of door and window furniture - Carlisle Design Group, which incorporates Carlisle Brass, Eurospec Hardware, Fingertip Design, and Eurolite Electrical, and can boast some of the best stocks of the above branded ironmongery products.

Carlisle Brass

Carlisle Brass is the UK's foremost supplier of door and window furniture, supplying around 75% of the nation’s housebuilders with their door furniture. Their range is unsurpassed and covers every aspect of door furniture, including:

Door Hinges, mortice latches, locks, handles on backplate, designer levers on rose, period handles, modern and traditional door knobs, external door furniture, window handles, ventilators, and much more besides. 

Eurospec Hardware

Eurospec Hardware are the sister company of Carlisle Brass and specialises in commercial style ironmongery including door closers, panic hardware, stainless steel door furniture in contract and Steelworx designs, security locks and cylinders.

Cylinders are available on 5-Pin, 6-Pin, 10-Pin and the high security 15-Pin ranges, all from stock and all available masterkeyed.

Fingertip Design

Fingertip Design has a full range of cabinet hardware to suit kitchens and general cabintery. Their range includes contemporary drawer pulls and knobs, right through to antique period door knobs and handles. Cabinet hinges and various catches round the range off.