Helpful Tips When Buying Door Levers

By James A Jackson

 

An excellent means of updating the look of your home is by choose new door levers. Interestingly, little thought is given to this particular door hardware yet when a more modern, exotic, or interesting lever is installed, it quickly becomes the first thing people see. Today, the vast selection of door handles is not designed simply for functionality but also aesthetics. Manufacturers of door hardware have taken the demand of consumers seriously and in return, created some of the most stunning designs imaginable. Literally any style home, room decorum, or personal preference could be complemented with door levers now being offered on the market.

Before going out to buy just any door lever, it would be important to consider any unique architectural features of the home. Additionally, while the decor of the room would be an important consideration, you also want to focus on choices that would enhance any new decor you might choose in the future, as well as what potential homeowners would be most attracted to if you plan to sell the home within the next few years. Even the door itself would be a factor in the decision-making process in that you want the door lever to blend in with the style.

Typically as you look around, you will discover that door levers, as well as other types of door hardware are broken down by category to include antique, vintage, country, contemporary, classic, European, etc. However, one category that offers a multitude of possibilities regardless of the architectural features of the home or room decor is transitional. This style incorporates elements of both old and new so the lever designs would blend in beautifully with a period home or an ultra modern home recently built.

Although the aesthetics of door handles and levers are a major part of choosing, be sure the lever provides the needed functionality. For instance, door levers come in both right and left-handed designs, some feature a locking mechanism and some are simply stationary levers used more for appearance. It would also be beneficial to purchase door levers of the same style, material, and finish throughout the home. With this, the lever would complement each room but also provide a cohesive look, which is cleaner.

The material and finish of the door lever will also make a bold statement or provide a more subtle look. Remember, some of the door hardware now being designed and sold is truly a masterpiece. Therefore, if you want a particular room or door to stand out where the door lever actually becomes a focal point, then you would go with something more dramatic. The list of materials and finishes used for door hardware is long but the most popular choices include brushed nickel, antique brass, pewter, and satin stainless steel.

Finally, you want to know your budget prior to starting the shopping journey. After all, knowing the cap of what you can spend would steer you away from more expensive door levers. Just because you may be somewhat limited financially does not mean the level of options would decrease. Manufacturers of door hardware have hundreds and hundreds of different options to fit within any budget while creating a gorgeous door and home without spending a fortune.

 

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Update Your Home With Door Hardware

Colombo Design "Piuma"Door Lever-Passage

Update Your Home With Door Hardware

By Amanda Bashore

 

You may not realize it, but the doors in your home are begging for new accessories. Door hardware doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being decorative, but with decorative hardware now available, it’s the perfect way to spruce up an outdated door, or add that extra pizazz to a newer piece. Your doors are the first thing that visitors to your home see, so it’s important that they leave a good impression on those that see them. The perfect place to start with a home makeover is at the entry to your home.

The first aspect of the door that most people think of is door handles. This notoriously round, brass piece has certainly come a long way over the years and is available in a ton of decorative styles, colors, and patterns. Adding lever door handles is a way to add a new, interesting element to a door without sacrificing function. When considering new door hardware, remember that there are no rules that go along with choosing new pieces. Doors are home accents, so treat them as you would treat an end table or a coffee table. Think of the decorative hardware as a pretty lamp on the end table, or a floral centerpiece in the middle of the coffee table. They add an interesting element to an otherwise standard piece in the home. Just like adding knickknacks to a bookshelf, you’re adding visually pleasing design to your entryways. By replacing your current standard door hardware with decorative hardware, you’ll be giving your space an instant home makeover without the hassle or cost of a home remodeling project. The installation of the new decorative hardware is a great do it yourself project, and can be accomplished in one day with minimal set up and clean up.

However, if you are considering a big home remodeling project, don’t let your doors get lost in the shuffle. If you’re updating your entire home’s look – it’s a good idea to give your door hardware an update. Even if you’re just replacing your door handles, you are instantly updating the look and feel of your entry way. This is what visitors into your home see first, and door hardware definitely makes a difference. Home accents are so much more than artwork, plants, and table coverings. As a homeowner, it’s important to concentrate on the details of your home in order to pull together your entire décor. Details, like door handles, impact your overall design or theme greatly. Although they may not be the first thing the eye notices, if you have decorative hardware, it certainly makes your space look much more planned and pulled together. Isn’t this what we, as homeowners, strive for? An organized, well designed space? This is easily accomplished through the right home accents.

Do it yourself projects are also a great way to feel like you have made a positive change on your home makeover project. Although some projects call for the assistance of professionals, installing things, like door hardware, is a great way to add accent into your home without diving into a project you’re unsure about. With easy installation, minimal tool requirements, and fast and easy clean-up, installing decorative hardware is a perfect do it yourself project.

So whether you are considering a entire home remodeling project or just looking for a quick and easy do it yourself project to add some added detail and excitement into your home, decorative hardware for your doors is definitely an option to consider. Remember to think of your doors as a blank canvas for decorative door handles and other door hardware that act as the perfect home accent.

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Door Hardware-Locksets and Door Functions

 

Colombo Design "Epoca" Door Lever-Privacy Lock

 

 Lockset

 A lockset or alternatively lock set is the hardware and components that comprise the locking mechanism that can usually be found on a door or other hinged object but can also include sliding doors and dividers. The components of a lockset can include (but are not limited to) the door handle, latch bolt, dead bolt, and decorative escutcheons of the door and can consist of mortised or cylindrical mechanisms. The lockset and associated hardware typically defines a door’s function and how a user would (or cannot) access the two adjacent spaces defined by the opening associated with the lockset. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, under Title III, and many state and local governments regulate locksets in buildings occupied by the public. Typically, locksets that employ door knob controlled latches are forbidden for public use in favor of lever handles, which are easier to operate by gravity instead of the grasping and turning required by knobs. Many municipalities also regulate locksets in terms of fire rating, using standards most often determined by Underwriters Laboratories in the United States. 

 

       Door functions

 

   Lockset manufacturers generally describe locksets in terms of how a door is operated by a user, while the American National Standards Institute, or ANSI, assigns the functioning of locksets individual alphanumerical codes also in relation to the door’s operation. For example, a “passage latch”, a common industry term, on a mortised lockset is a door with a lockset consisting of two turning handles, both of which are never locked. This door function would be given the code of “F01” by ANSI. Alternatively, for a cylindrical passage latch, the ANSI code is F75

 



 

Common Door Functions	Description	Example locations
Classroom	Outside lockable by key, inside handle always unlocked	Classrooms, commercial storage closets
Dummy	Fixed knob or lever on one side only	Decorative doors, cabinets
Passage	Rotating door handles, neither of which lock.	Residential closets
Privacy	Lockable on one side commonly by push-button, emergency release on opposite side.	Single stall or residential bathrooms, offices, bedrooms

 

 

Colombo Design "Tender" Door Lever-Passage

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