Decorating and Design - Door handle color selection - Bright Brass or Antique Finish

Hello,

I recently purchased a townhome and I am going to replace all the door handles in the house. I was wondering how i should go about choosing the proper color. I am leaning towards the Schlage Brass Levers, but after looking at whats there now, the Antique finish might be the proper choice. Any advice?

To get an idea of what the place looks like inside, please click the link below. You may view a larger picture by going to the link below. For some reason, the board won't let me make it clickable.
http://www.coveragesolutions.net/16051-Dawnview-Dr.htm

Thanks,

Alan

hmm, really depends on which way you want to go with the overall look of the place - are you planning on restoration or modernisation, or another look altogether?

...for starters, what year was the place built?

what kind of furnishings do you prefer? (a few examples: modern, country, classic etc.)

...however if you're looking for a fast and easy answer - if it's between the brass and the antique finish - atm i would suggest using the antique finish (that's assuming you are happy with the wood used in the main kitchen for example, and are keeping it as it is, because bear in mind that the finish you choose for your door handles should also be used on your furniture also, for continuity's sake).

i agree - it all depends on the style you're going for. since you're redoing ALL the hardware, why go with antique OR shiny brass? both seem dated. why not go with something fresh, like brushed nickel, which looks sort of like pewter, or even something like wrought iron (black)? unless you love shiny brass, if those are the only 2 choices, i vote for antique. it will blend better with other metals than the shiny brass will. but both look horrid with stainless. so.........

try to think ahead to how you'll be decorating. for example, in the kitchen, do you dream of stainless steel appliances? if so, you'll be sorry you went with brass. or, do you have a lot of brass lamps & picture frames that you really like? then go with brass. if you want an aged, old world, tuscany-type decor, then the wrought iron would be good, although the antique brass may blend in fine, too. also think about your faucets & light fixtures......they all need to be basically the same. nothing ruins a shiny brass fixtured "gold" bathroom like silver faucetc & door knobs! you get the idea....

we have too little information to help you at this point. can you give some more details as to what your ultimate look is?

Thanks for the ideas.

The place was built in 81 or 83, so its fairly old. Many things are dated, and I am trying to do what I can afford right now. :)

I really do not like the way the kitchen looks now. My ultimate plan is to either sand the cabinets and repaint or refinish. I would also like to replace the counter tops and sink, but that may require replacing the cabinets, and i know i do not have the funds for that, yet. The appliances will be white for now, since my sister is buying all stainless and giving me her white ones. I would eventually, and this is way into the future, like stainless.

As for furniture, right now it is all mixed. I am leaning towards a more modern look. Picture frames are all mixed as well, mostly black though. Come to think of it, the only brass i have is on the front door knob, a lamp set, maybe a frame or two, and some furniture accents (bedroom furniture came from a garage sale back in 1997 before i started college).

Maybe i am thinking / doing this in the wrong order. I hate second guessing myself.

Help! :)

if you like, and plan to have in the future, stainless appliances, and you are leaning towards a more contemporary decor style, i would strongly recommend brushed nickel (or anything in the silver color range).

i have friends who have a more country/shaker decor, with lots of pewter knick-knacks, and they went with the brushed nickel on EVERYTHING in their new home that they built - door handles, hinges, hardware, faucets, light fixtures, etc. and i love it. it could easily go contemporary also.

not sure about the price comparison - i'd guess it's more expensive than the gold, since it's more out of the ordinary. but from the info you've given, i'd definitely go silver/chrome/nickel/or black.

this is important. it's the foundation upon which everything else you do will be based. get this right!

definitely go the brushed nickel if you prefer a modern look :)

i would get something a little less trendy than brushed nickel. yeah, it's new and exciting but you might hate it in 3 years. and doorknobs are expensive to replace! especially all of them.