Beyond brass: stand-out finishes enhance door hardware

Building Products, July-August, 2004 by Stephanie Herzfeld

Although brass always will be standard, pros and homeowners alike are taking a shine to the latest light- and deep-hued entry door hardware finishes.

According to Marty Hoffmann, Kwikset group product manager, satin nickel and pewter finishes continue to be popular while warmer bronze tones are spreading from the West Coast across the country.

"You still see brass, but other finishes set homes apart and offer greater curb appeal," he contends.

As more distinctive finishes make their way onto me scene, manufacturers are setting themselves apart by offering tone variations and by embellishing their products with details like scroll beaded, and floral motifs.

LIFE CHANGES

In particular, manufacturers are promoting living finishes. such as oil-rubbed bronze and unlacquered brass. These surfaces have elegant evolving patinas that change as result of exposure to the elements, touch, and time. Nonetheless, they cost 10 percent--15 percent more than polished brass.

"Truthfulness and purity of materials is very important. I like things to be alive. I like real, living patinas," says M.J. Neal, an Austin, Texas-based architect who uses a lot of commercial-looking contemporary hardware in his projects. Neal says that he doesn't spec brass, or as he dubs it, "the shiny stuff with a coating"

Many homeowners like the look of living finishes when they first see them, but they don't necessarily understand that the finishes change over time. In many cases, what consumers realty crave is a faux look, so they're better off with a Venetian finish because it remains consistent, Hoffmann notes.

Manufacturers and pros agree that consumers' knowledge of living finishes varies greatly, so it's advisable to educate them about the various looks.

OLD IS NEW

In addition to living finishes, door hardware manufacturers are producing attractive distressed pieces with nicks and scrapes.

Available on high-end products like those in Baldwin's Estate line (prices range from $450 to $1,000 for entry sets), distressed features will make their way down to lower price points, pros predict, because unrefined fashions are coming into vogue.

"Rustic styles will be the next big thing with banged, dinged, and dimpled textures. We're already seeing it in context with hand-scraped floors" says Kevin Kalman, a builder and remodeler in Charlescon, S.C.

The beauty of these handsome textures and finishes is that hardware throughout the house doesn't have to match exactly because it can be used to accent individual areas.

"It really varies from home to home if the exterior hardware matches the interior hardware" Lou Bunnick, director of Baldwin's Estate Lock brand, claims. "I've seen Craftsman homes with ornate Victorian hardware, so there's no rhyme or reason when it comes to personal style."

However, dissimilar hardware on every door is a rare find. "Often interior decorators want some hardware contrast but they keep it on the same wavelength," comments Hoffmann.

Many builders and remodelers install matching hardware on the interior and exterior of an entry door, but Kalman is a bit more creative. Unlike pre-bored units that fit with specific-size locksets, Kalman installs solid doors that allow him to mix and match rosettes and other hardware pieces, inside and out.

This broadminded design aesthetic also is a boon to homeowners' pocketbooks, the pros say, because it gives them free rein to choose products at various price points. Basic brass handlesets start at $59 retail; satin nickel, Venetian bronze, and other specialty-finish pieces can run upwards of $130; and custom-made door hardware prices vary extensively.

Good looks, not security concerns, drive the entry door hardware category. Nonetheless, homeowners expect their locksets will protect their loved ones and belongings, and many manufacturers offer products rated ANSI Grade 1, the highest residential security rating.

With so many choices available, the experts can't speculate on the next major hardware trend. "Hardware is like fashion. You never know what will hit next" Bunnick comments.

Nevertheless, as styles and finishes continue to evolve, manufacturers predict that hardware functionality will advance as well.

"Convenience issues may come into play down the road. We might see electronic or keyless entries getting big down the line," anticipates Hoffmann. BP

Hoppe. Many entry lockset finishes are available from the firm: polished brass, polished and brushed brass, antique brass, polished chrome and brushed stainless steel, matte black, brushed chrome, oil-rubbed brass, polished chrome, satin nickel, and antique nickel. Products with the firm's Resist a finish won't tarnish, peel, of Crack, claims the maker, 888-485-4885, www.us.hoppe.com. Circle 250

Rocky Mountain Hardware.

Featuring a beaded design that complements traditional colonial and brownstone architecture, Maddox collection hardware is cast in a choice of silicon or white bronze in seven hand-applied patinas. In addition to door hardware, the collection also includes hardware and accessories for the bath and the kitchen. Finishes weather with age, climate, and touch, resulting in one-of-kind looks, the firm says. 888-788-2013. www.rockymountain hardware.com. Circle 251.