DOOR HARDWARE
The type of door hardware you choose can make a significant difference in the functionality and security of your home. From locks and handles to hinges and closers, selecting the right door hardware is important for both practical and aesthetic reasons.
Ornate door hardware adorns this stained wood door like jewelry.
QUICK SUMMARY
INTERIOR DOOR HARDWARE STYLES: Knob vs lever, rosettes, pocket doors
FUNCTIONAL TYPES: Privacy, passage, dummy
ENTRY DOORS
DOOR STOPS
WHERE TO SHOP (IN TORONTO)
INTERIOR DOOR HARDWARE STYLES
When choosing between knobs or levers for your door hardware, it's important to consider factors such as accessibility, ease of use, and overall style. Both knobs and levers come in a variety of designs and finishes, so it ultimately comes down to personal preference and the overall aesthetic you're trying to achieve. Here are some pros and cons for each option:
KNOBS
PROS: feels good on the hand; can turn in either direction.
CONS: have less grip than a lever, so they can be more difficult to turn for those with mobility issues—Though an egg-shaped knob has a bit more graspability (and feels nice).
Some of our favourite knobs include the Windsor, Helios, & Newport by Ashley Norton and the Laurent, & Egg knobs by Emtek.
Emtek Laurent style doorknob on stained wood door
LEVER
PROS: Easy to grip; can open with your elbow if your hands are full.
CONS: Can catch on belt loops and other clothing; rings can scratch up the finish, harder to child/pet-proof; may need periodic adjustment to make level (which can catch the eye).
Some of our favourite levers include the Alexis, & Bauhaus by Ashley Norton and the Stuttgart, & Hercules by Emtek.
Emtek Helios lever on white painted door
ROSETTES
Rosettes can be quite simple or add a little bit of complimentary detail to the knob or lever. Keep in mind, round rosettes behind the doorknob are more forgiving than square, because over time the plates can shift around and the hardware can look misaligned to the door. This never happens when all the components are round.
POCKET DOORS
The first thing to determine with pocket door hardware is whether you need the door to lock for privacy, because this function will narrow your options. Some of our favourite pocket door hardware includes the C1850 4” flush pull and C1165 edge pull, & the C1840 sliding/pocket door hardware by Ashley Norton and the Pocket Door Tubular round lock by Emtek.
FINISHES
It’s perfectly fine to mix the finishes of your door hardware throughout your home. One coherent strategy we often use is to match by floor. For example, the ground floor of a home may have brass hardware while the second floor switches to matte black. The same thing applies for rooms; you can split the finishes on either side of the door if desired. For example, if all the doors in your hallway have black door hardware but your bathroom has brass plumbing and you want the door to match, you can get a brass set for the inside face of the door and a black set for the outside face.
FUNCTIONAL TYPES
PASSAGE: Passage sets are employed for doors that do not require locking, typically used for easy access to areas such as hallways, closets, and laundry rooms. We also typically use passage sets on bedrooms for children.
PRIVACY: A privacy set is utilized for interior door handles on private rooms that necessitate both locking and a latch mechanism. This type of set is commonly found on bathroom doors and on the main bedroom door.
DUMMY: A dummy handle serves as a purely decorative door handle with no latching or locking capabilities. It is affixed to the surface of a door solely to provide a means of pulling it open. Dummy handles are commonly used on closet doors, door pairs, bifold doors, or any other doors where latching or locking functionality is unnecessary. When using levers, however, it may be worth using a passage set when possible, as people have a tendency to pull on a lever not knowing it’s a dummy, which can make it go askew.
ENTRY DOORS
Typical doors are locked with a deadbolt near the latch, but some manufacturers offer multi-point systems for added security and durability. This kind of hardware, however, can sometimes confuse people, as it requires turning the lever up to engage the lock. , especially when made by a window manufacturer. In general we recommend standard hardware: cylindrical is fine, though pricier mortise locks do have nice features for controlling automatic locking. There are many options for keyed, keypad, or remotely activated locks.
On the inside face, the door hardware can usually be made to match the interior doors, but on the outside often a more substantial handle set is used. Partly this is to help ease operation, since an exterior door is typically heavier and more sealed. Also, the increased length of a handle helps mitigate the awkwardness of grabbing the door from a step down on the outside. Just as importantly, it helps signal the door as the main entry point to the house. When selecting a style of hardware, don’t be afraid to make a statement!
For electronic entry sets, Emtek seems to have the best warranties on internal components (2 years), and, in general they are a good price point, so we recommend starting with them.
Here are some options we like:
DOOR STOPS
The most vital function of a door stop is to protect your door and wall from damage. In general we like to use floor-mounted to reduce the risk of a stop being pulled out of a baseboard. Gooseneck and cylinder are nice. Special attention must be paid at exterior doors, which have a larger gap to the floor and require a taller stop (many stops come in two heights with this in mind).
When a floor-mount stop cannot be used, consider a hinge-mounted stop to help protect adjacent finishes. Be aware, however, that this kind of hardware must be coordinated with your hinges.
WHERE TO SHOP (IN TORONTO)
Our favourite showrooms in the city to look at door hardware include:
UPPER CANADA SPECIALTY HARDWARE
UCSH has a great selection of knobs, hooks, hinges, pulls, doorbells, knockers, and mail slots. They also carry all of the major brands of hardware manufacturers.
10 Brentcliffe Rd, Unit 14
Toronto, ON M4G 3Y2
416-696-8368
www.ucsh.com
ADH FINE HARDWARE
ADH is a small storefront with a surprisingly large selection of hardware including house numbers, latches, doorknobs, and cabinet pulls in styles ranging from traditional to modern. They carry some of the major brands of door hardware, including Baldwin, Emtek, Richelieu, and Rocky Mountain.
1750 Avenue Rd
Toronto, ON M5M 3Y9
647-496-1968
www.adhhardware.ca
