Do you think I should make my door knobs polished chrome?

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

They are kinda old and brassy at the moment now, I am guessing if I put them as polished chrome it'll look good. The plater said maybe it's not such a good idea and to make it more Matt - like Nickel look. I still like polished chrome more - can I get your thoughts? or should i just leave it as it is? I'm not a big fan of rustic, but without having to change everything I think the polished chrome will give the place some UMPHF!

Featured Answer

djpkdsems

9 years ago

Bryan-
Your doors are beautiful! Parts of my house too is over 100 years old, but had been built with doors of whatever they could find...cheap. I have been replacing doors with solid wood ones from an architectural salvage and some newly built ones to match....including installing the mortise style lockset/knobs/backplates.

Since your doors already have a lockset installed, the mortise has already been "hogged out" in your doors. The pocket lockset is easier than any modern lockset to swap out in my opinion. Most are pretty standard sized and only require the removal of the set screw that holds the door knobs on and two wood screws in the face of the cartridge. Buy new, used from ebay, or my favorite: architectural salvage stores. I have some in my home now that are dark oiled bronze color and some the antique brass color like yours. The lock manufacturers back in the day at least had the foresight to standardize the size of most the door knob shafts so they are easily interchangeable.

I found a pattern of door knobs and backplates that I liked dated 1910 at an architectural salvage antique store. After buying out their stock of 3, I kept watching Ebay and bought others to match. Some had the same coloring as yours...some had old paint on them...some were corroded...some were somewhere in between...no two looked the same finish-wise. I cleaned them myself and spray painted them oiled bronze by Rustoleum (from the big hardware stores). They have other metallic finishes to choose from if you prefer other looks. (I don't recommend painting the lockset cartridge with all the moving parts that could bind if paint got in it)

Swapped out the hinges with an oiled bronze colored hinge to match....making sure to match the size and shape of the current hinge. The door knobs, back plates, and mortises now blend perfectly with my doors and the age of the house.
The point is it was Easy Peasey, cost much less, and I got the look I wanted.
Best of luck!

Comments (28)

Donald
9 years ago
Polished Crome will show smudges/handprints much more than nickel
Bryan Lip thanked Donald
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That's really true... never thought of that!
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boundsgreener
9 years ago
The doors are lovely and I agree with plater - whoever that is :) - matt would suit the door better - polished is a bit too bling.
Bryan Lip thanked boundsgreener
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I live in Seattle, i found a few platers, some were very dear - ie $200-$300 per set. I found a plater near the Seatac area for around $125. I thought i'd give it a go with one see how they do it and then do the other 8 or so if it's good. Was more on a google search than on here unfort.
boundsgreener
9 years ago
Oh der, I think I've had a transatlantic translation problem...now I've learnt a new word. Thanks!
Bryan Lip thanked boundsgreener
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
hahaha
Donald
9 years ago
Will you also do the door hinges as well? I think either shiny or matte would look good, just have to decide if a smudge will bother you or not.
Christalyn
9 years ago
If you do change out the hardware, please keep it. One day someone might want to restore those wonderful doors and the original hardware will be a treasure.
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
I can live with the smudge, my old place also had polished chrome and it looked great. Maybe its more of a london thing but the nickel brushed doesn't seem as nice. I think it really adds a massive change without having to spend big on repolishing floors, touching up poor painting as it draws the eye to those and provides a better sense that it looks great. The hinges would make sense as well, but i'm not sure i want to put on that added cost and maybe i can just simply buy new ones if that's possible, but i think the hinges are what will draw the eye the most.
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Christalyn - i think i'll just have those re-plated rather than change them out its just so hard to buy and fit and im not that handy so i think i'll just get it replated, it'll be simpler. And yes, the house is over a 100 years old, it's a craftsman house made of wood and is in the Pacific Northwest.
djpkdsems
9 years ago
One more thing...if you do decide to go new, there is a website directdoorhardware.com that specializes in door hardware reproductions.
Bryan Lip thanked djpkdsems
katearoni
9 years ago
I like them the way they are personally. Have you tried just cleaning and polishing them?
User
9 years ago
Brass is back in.
247fbl
9 years ago
Don't do it! They're beautiful like that! Or if you really want to change them, maybe you could sell the brass ones as salvage and use the money to buy new ones rather than replaying these?
Aimie Panisara
9 years ago
If you want to Do the door Knobs Chrome, I recommend Painting
The doors Black. But if you keep the door brown and Add Chrome
I dont think it will look so god
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
OK - so i ended up finding some great hardware thanks to djpkdsems - i did some google searches and this is called a "New York" door handle - http://www.charlestonhardwareco.com/cgi-bin/agoracart55/agora.cgi?cart_id=13623636.8235&product=Reproduction&user4=New%20York - i ended up getting each handle for $40 from them. I also bought new hinges in polished chrome. Here's the end result - really pleased and did it myself!
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
And one more...
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
Anyone interested in the old hardware? I have handles for 10 doors (per original picture) and 20x 3.5" 3 screw zig zag hinges.
djpkdsems
9 years ago
Bryan
Your doors look awesome! Be careful though.....changing door hardware is a gateway project to more DIY projects! Great job!
Bryan Lip thanked djpkdsems
Bryan Lip
Original Author
9 years ago
Haha!! Yes, i'm thinking about changing some ceiling lights now... and.. and...
PRO
On The Tiles (hillingdon) ltd
8 years ago
Now you must insist that everyone wears cotton gloves to open your doors so they stay nice and shiny :-)

They do look great though well done.

Terry

www.onthetiles.biz
PRO
Staged for Perfection
8 years ago
Sorrry but I think you should hang onto the old plates. Looks like they were brass. If you hate the old look you should move to a newer house and not destroy the old character
User
8 years ago
Brass is back in fashion. Keep them.
Bryan Lip
Original Author
8 years ago
More door
Bryan Lip
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi all - wanted to follow-up and let you know I ended up selling the property, here are the staged photos.
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PRO
Amelia Wilson
7 years ago
Hi Bryan, I would seriously consider keeping them. The doors are too old for something new and shiny. I'd just clean them up and appreciate the patina
PRO
CMD Ceramics
7 years ago
I'm glad you kept them, hopefully the new owner will keep them too. People are too quick to remove things that add character to property just so they can follow the trend of shiny chrome everywhere. Guess im old fashioned lol

http://www.cmdceramics.com