Decorative Hardware

Fall has come. Now it is time for most people in the country to begin their long months of hibernation indoors. With all of the summer distractions out of the way it is time to get to all of those projects that we have been neglecting since spring cleaning. That is right, sorry guys golf season is just about over and it is time to find the lost list of to-do’s. The top of my list this year is to replace all of those old switches in the house.

One of the most over looked details in a home’s decor is switches and switchplate covers.  If your house is like mine then there has been decades of do-it-your-self painters slopping paint all over your switches and outlets. After all of the summer seasons painting is done with, make sure to consider changing those switches and outlets. Old electrical fixtures may be worn out and can even become fire hazards. Besides, new electrical fixtures and covers can really brighten up an old room, even if the rest of your do-it-yourself paint job is obvious.

While sitting in my friends home one day, I couldn’t help but notice all the wonderful piece’s of southwestern art that she had adorned her family room with.  There was a beautiful native American throw rug beneath a rustic coffee table that was made from mesquite wood that she had picked up from Mexico, along with some bronze sculptures of song birds that often frequented her backyard.  But the mural on one of her walls stood out above everything else.

 Oh what a piece of art indeed!  She had it done by one of the local artists in her area using different hues of brown, yellow and orange.  You couldn’t even notice the switchplate for her lightswitch since it was so well camouflaged under the painting.  I wonder what I should do with the switchplates covers in my home?

What I really needed was some time off from work, maybe a trip out west would do the trick.  I made a phone call to a friend of mine who lives in Colorado, and after explaining to him my circumstance, he suggested that I spend a week or two in his cabin that was fairly secluded in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.  I gladly took up his offer and before I knew it,  I was driving away from corporate America to a place of unparallel beauty.

Upon reaching the cabin, I was struck with how well it blended in with the natural surroundings and the majestic mountains around it.  After a short walk from my SUV, I was soon on the front porch of my new found retreat facing one of the most beautiful exterior pine doors I had ever seen.  What really caught my  wrought iron hardware that sported it, all beautifully hand crafted from a blacksmiths hammer who’s pride and care had given it that special uniqueness not found anymore.

Without a doubt, I knew my decision to come here would be well-remembered.

If you were thinking about buying a new door you might want to consider just changing the door hardware.  Simply changing the hardware on your front door can dramaticly improve the curb appeal of your home.  The right door hardware can not only update the look of out-dated doors, it can also be used as a dramatic focal point for your homes entrance and catch the eye of all of your neighbors.

Dont stop there. Bring that appeal inside by updating all of those interior door knobs as well.  You can use hardware as an accent to any home decor.  Create an enchanted cottage or a mountain cabin feel with just a few simple changes.

Decorative hardware for the home has become much more varied in design in the past few years with the popularity of shabby chic home decor and a growing appreciation for antiques, vintage-inspired, and handcrafted home accents.

Decorative hardware such as door pulls, cabinet pulls, light switch plate covers, towel holders, drawer pulls, and door knockers can really bring a one-of-a-kind flair to your home decor.  Whether you prefer an art deco or rustic feel, or are just putting together a look all your own, don’t forget details like decorative hardware to really make your rooms and furniture pop.

A mortise lock is a lock that needs a pocket–also called a mortise—to be cut into the door where the lock is to be installed.  In most parts of the world, mortise locks are found on older buildings that were erected before the advent of the more common modern bored cylindrical lock.  Due to the popularity of antiqued-look hardware and home decor accents, mortise locks have become more frequently used in new commercial and high-end residential construction in the United States.
 
Typical mortise lock components include the lock body, the lock trim (which includes the doorknob, lever, handle set and/or door pull), the strike plate or box keep (which lines the hole in the frame into which the bolt fits), and the keyed cylinder, which operates the locking and unlocking function of the lock body.  In England and most other countries, dwelling mortise locks do not usually use cylinders, but include incorporate lever mechanisms.