Decorative Hardware

This entry door accessory is one of the most important pieces of decorative hardware for your home.  Nearly every home in North America has one, some have more.  Yet, almost all of them are plain and generic.  This is an easy upgrade that can separate your home from the rest of the ordinary homes on the block.

The door bell and its cover are easy to install, and come in a wide range of prices.  Some important considerations when purchasing a doorbell cover are: style, durability, and curb appeal.  With just a few minutes and a simple screwdriver you can dramatically improve the quality of your entry door.  You can also include the door knocker, door speak easy grill cover, and decorative door knob.

Have you ever considered your decorative hardware such as the door knobs, drawer pulls,  cabinet knobs, switch-plate covers, towel rings or even the toilet paper holder that sits in the bathroom the Arabian horse of all hardware?  Have you then not seen an artistically handcrafted piece of wrought iron hardware that was formed by a hardworking blacksmith?

Well look no further!  Decorative hardware that was formed from a raw chunk of iron, then pounded to perfection from a hammer and anvil is something to behold!  Yes, there are still blacksmith companies that handcraft all kinds of decorative hardware from raw iron, and still to this day form some of the most beautiful unique pieces ever.  Check out and see what the world has to offer by searching the web and maybe you’ll find the Black beauty of iron only a fingertip away!

There are a variety of drawer pulls that can add new life to any room or piece of furniture.  First of all their are many different types of drawer pulls out there.  The type of drawer pull that you choose should depend on the style of furniture or room that you have.  For instance,  rustic metal drawer pulls would look best with mountain hardware which will give your room a country look.  There are some creative types out there that can use drawer pulls to reflect their personality.  For example, you could buy a plain colored drawer pull and paint it blue with green polka dots.

Secondly, drawer pulls can add new life to any room or old piece of furniture.  In a way drawer pulls can be thought of as a piece of restoration hardware.  For instance, say you have an old dresser; don’t just throw it out when it gets worn down.  You will be surprised by how much nicer that dresser will look with some new drawer pulls; it will be like having a brand new piece of furniture.  You can also change the feel of an entire room by getting new hardware including drawer pulls.  You could give a home that is straight out of the 60’s a contemporary feel.  So, don’t be afraid; go ahead and go crazy with drawer pulls.

For most people a paper towel holder is just another item cluttering their kitchen counter. Let me tell you, it is much more that.  A paper towel holder can help you express yourself in many ways.  First of all, I should tell you that their are a variety of unique paper towel holders out there for you to purchase; just try looking it up on the Internet.  Also, if you are ever board, you can decorate your old paper towel holder that you have in your kitchen.  All you need is some acrylic paint, and what ever else you would like to use; don’t be afraid to get creative.

 Now I would like to tell you a brief story about a beautiful young woman who was plagued by a plain boring paper towel holder.  She had just moved into her first apartment.  When she realized that her paper towels were getting wet on her kitchen counter she decided to drive down to some local department stores to look for a paper towel holder.  She looked all over town, and eventually settled with a cream colored ceramic holder.  Days went by, and every time she went into her kitchen her heart was filled with great sorrow; her paper towel holder made her sad.  That day she went down to an arts and crafts store.  She bought shiny blue acrylic paint and gold glitter.  When she got home she painted her paper towel holder and poured the glitter all over it.  From that day on she was filled with joy; she was now proud to say that the paper towel holder on her kitchen counter was hers.

Ok, now obviously I know that cave men did not have toilet paper, so they would not need a toilet paper holder.  Maybe they just used a flat rock to stack their leaves on; or maybe they carried them around in a pouch. The idea of cave man hygiene is very perplexing.  Many scholars have spent a lifetime pondering this question.

Honestly, I believe that cave men had toilet paper holders.  In fact not only did they have toilet paper holders, but they also had shockingly elaborate sets of bathroom hardware in their dens. A Cave man bathroom had many common bathroom accessories in it such as a towel ring and a paper towel holder.  You may not believe me, but their is archaeological evidence that supports this idea.  I encourage anyone who reads this article to do their own research on this fascinating topic.

Why not try adding a little of those true earth tone colors to that wrought iron cabinet hardware that’s mounted on all that beautifully stained woodwork!  It’s quite a beautiful mixture, iron and wood.  Now lets combine the two together for that ultimate set of kitchen cabinets and just see what happens!

The blacksmith uses chemicals to create the colors of your kitchen cabinet hardware after he’s done forming it with his hammer and anvil.  There’s actually several colors that each blacksmith can achieve, like the nine different colors above that give your decorative hardware that earthen appeal that will last a lifetime.

Most exterior entry doors are usually made from some type of beautifully grained wood that is stained to a desired color and then finished off with an exterior grade varnish.  The front entry door to your home should be the main focus of attention for you and your visitors when viewed from various directions, thus making it the center of attraction.

Give some justice to that beautifully grained wood by adding the right kind of decorative door hardware that will enhance your doors beauty by adding character along with the appropriate design that will suit the style of your home.  So choose carefully when selecting your decorative door hardware whether it’s a strap hinge, door knocker, mortise lock, door knobs and handles or even a speak-easy grill, and soon your entry door will come to life and shine out like never before.

Boy, do you have your work cut out for you if you’re thinking of replacing the old worn out decorative cabinet hardware in your kitchen!  Not only do you have a choice of thousands of different styles, but you also have the task of choosing the color scheme and type of finish that’s right for your kitchen cabinet hardware.

Remember this is your home, so don’t even consider trying to impress your friends and neighbors.  After you’re pleased with your decision, then maybe it’s OK to do a little showing off.  Keep in mind that everything should flow smoothly when your in one of those redecorating moods, and you’ll end up a very satisfied homeowner!

When you are restoring an old building, whether it is residential or commercial it is important to keep the authenticity alive.  Unless you are renovating the entire structure including the architecture, it is important to understand the era the original building was built.  In order to determine the style of your building you need to take note of many different structural elements as well as the year it was built and the region of the country it was built in.

To choose the right restoration hardware and keep the authenticity of your building, do some research.  Look at other buildings in your area that were built in the same era and see what they have in them.  Online research on time periods and building trends in style and materials can also be very helpful.  The best thing to do is to re-use as much of the lasting materials as you can from your building, and if the hardware is just to worn out to repair, there is a number of places online that will provide custom orders and can re-create an individual piece, for a price.

Metal that has been forged requires a protective finish to prevent corrosion.  Forged iron is susceptible to corrosion caused by a chemical reaction between the iron and oxygen.  Because water (H2O) contains Oxygen it speeds up this process. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the surface of the metal from water to slow this process.

There are a number of finishes that can be used to protect the surface of the metal.  Paints, varnishes, heat treating, and waxes are common finishes however to ensure that the surface of the material is protected it is common to also apply a clear acrylic coat on top of the finish.  This is especially necessary when the metal surface is exposed to the elements such as an exterior door handle, or hand rail.