Help choosing door handles and light switches etc.

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I'm in the process of completing a whole house renovation and extension to a small end of terrace Victorian workers cottage (c. 1884) and am looking for advice on how to approach door knobs, light switches and sockets please.

I'm retaining the original doors, which are simple four panel ones, and replicating them where new doors are required. There is currently only one door on the ground floor and this has a rather naff reproduction brass lever handle. There are three original doors upstairs: two have bakelite type knobs (these must be newer than the house as Bakelite wasn't invented when the house was built) and the third a tiny antique brass knob. Two out of three of these knobs are broken and therefore the doors cannot be closed. The plan is to therefore replace all the existing handles with ones that work and for these to match those on the new doors.

The kitchen units will have pewter cup handles and knobs. Taps etc in the two bathrooms and in the kitchen are chrome.

I'm currently swaying towards simple antique brass bun door knobs. What do you think? Maybe something like these: http://www.morehandles.co.uk/period-victorian-cottage-door-knob-dco.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAqdLDBRDD-b2sv6-i6MsBEiQAkT3wAvQb4j_Vfis8ctkx-bVW8GTpWl50VMzz-8B7PP1uH5QaAs878P8HAQ

And should I match the light switches to the door knobs? (I've seen these and think they're rather cute... https://www.oceanlighting.co.uk/light-switches-c246/toggle-switches-c252/click-deco-victorian-vp421-1-gang-2-way-10ax-single-toggle-switch-p22416)

In the kitchen I guess sockets etc would need to be brushed chrome or similar to tone with the cabinet hardware. But that would mean the door knob wouldn't match the sockets. Does that matter?

And then what approach for my curtain poles?!

So many things to consider. It's a very humble little house. I want it to look nice but not completely inauthentic - it would not have had anything remotely grand in it originally.

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9 years ago

I would begin by looking at some pictures of similar properties as it sounds like its something you want to get right.

No it doesn't matter that they don't match. I would match the sockets and switches to the appliances and taps. As long as it is all balanced and looks right in the property.

You could try looking for some antiques online or in antique stores for the door knobs/handles. Many of these stores will have sections for handles and knobs where they have completed house clearances and taken all the handles where someone is gutting it in favor of the modern. These can sometimes yield great finds.

Things can have their own identity and don't need to be exactly the same.. as long as they are in keeping with the style or colour scheme of the property :)

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Comments (9)

catherinehale7
9 years ago
Check out yester home, Wolverhampton based company. They have some lovely hand-forged bits which look the business!
Emma Clare thanked catherinehale7
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It's better to use the same everywhere but you could also have one type downstairs and another one upstairs for instance. as long as you cannot see 2 different handles at the same time, it works. I would choose the finish depending on what you have around for cupboard, lighting,... and stick to it (if your cupboard handles are polished brass go for polished brass everywhere). One thing to look for is to get sprung handles so it is not only the lock getting your handle back up. I use Hafele for my ironmongery and I have never been disappointed.
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Thanks for all the help, for anyone who is interested in the outcome in the future I found some in a place called tlc direct and bizarrely it was a brushed chrome finish in a make called Knightsbridge that came up as a good match against my aged pewter door knobs! Lots of the other pewter sockets were quite flat in colour whereas the aged pewter has flecks in it so they just didn't seem to work together. There is also a really lovely make called Finesse that does pewter electric fittings. Very expensive though. Thanks again!
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I am having to make the same decisions as you. I found these wonderful solid pewter knobs and handles on Etsy.com Here is one of the twigs I bought. They do lots of others as well .https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/224135909/oak-twig-solid-fine-pewter-cabinet-knobs?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=pewter+handles&ref=sr_gallery-1-19&organic_search_click=1&frs=1
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Jonathan
9 years ago
It's unusual for a house of that era to have thick enough doors to have a door mechanism inside the wood and if they do they are likely modern proportions meaning the spindle is too close to the edge. Perhaps you should be looking for rim locks.
I think that light switches and door handles and smokers should match.
Kitchen handles don't need to match sockets but should match something else like the oven.
Emma Clare thanked Jonathan
Emma Clare
Original Author
9 years ago
The kitchen cabinet handles match the range cooker. All the other appliances are built in. The doors definitely don't have rim locks, or look like they ever have. One has a push latch that doesn't work, the other two have normal latch type things - I'll have to try and get a photo next time I'm on site.

Next question...what is a smoker? Google has failed me!
minnie101
9 years ago
I think it looks best if handles, switches and sockets match throughout and I think brass would have predominantly been used. The handles look fine but you could also source reclaimed. I think the perfect light switch would be a fluted dolly switch, brass on dark wood but I have some and I'm not that keen (mine obviously don't all match!). I much prefer the look of the toggles which are also in keeping. I think it's fine to mix some metals in other rooms of the house, if the kitchen sockets look out of place then maybe consider painted ones without knowing what your kitchen looks like. I'm also curious to know what a smoker is :)
Emma Clare thanked minnie101
Emma Clare
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks minnie101. Hmmm think the fluted dolly switches are a bit too fussy for my tastes to be honest. My kitchen (once it's in!) is shaker, with a mix of very pale chalky grey units and mid-grey units, white quartz worktops, white metro tile splashback and a slightly greyed oak floor (LVT not solid). The handles are pewter and the range is stainless steel. Will probably therefore go for sockets on the splashback that tone with the range and handles? There will be quite a few light switches. Do you think I should match them with the sockets? Or with the light switches throughout the rest of the house? I could do the same style but a different finish perhaps? The sad things that keep me awake at night...
Lauren
9 years ago
So you know I bought a single 'click deco' brand dolly light switch a while back and found it to be pretty poor quality so it was returned. Ended up with these:

http://www.forbesandlomax.com/the-unlacquered-brass-range.html

Really good quality and they have lovely finishes too. I quite like their antique bronze range too as it contrasts nicely with chrome/nickel finishes without clashing.

If you'd really like everything to match then take a look at the Jim Lawrence range. They're not the cheapest but offer both light switches and door furniture in a large selection of finishes. They also do the narrow style of light switches which I think looks really elegant in older houses.

https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/door-window/door-handles-door-knobs/bromley-handle-with-bristol-keyhole-backplate-in-510201bw?returnurl=%2fdoor-window%2fdoor-handles-door-knobs%2f%3fcount%3d36

https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/1-gang-dolly-architrave-switch-in-chrome-with-3279chniz

https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/2-gang-black-dolly-switch-bevelled-plate/
Emma Clare thanked Lauren
Emma Clare
Original Author
9 years ago
Oh my goodness Lauren they are all absolutely beautiful! The Jim Lawrence ones are sadly way beyond budget. What sort of price are we talking for the Forbes and Lomax switches? The electrician has advised me to steer clear of flat plate models as my walls are a bit on the wonky side. Still I'm having it all replastered so hopefully it'll be ok then. Shame that the Click Deco ones are no good, I guess the price was too good to be true. :(
Lauren
9 years ago
Hi Emma,

Sorry I can't really remember as the electrician sorted it out at the time and we just paid him for everything inclusive.
Emma Clare thanked Lauren

Help choosing door handles and light switches etc.

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catherinehale7

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