Dummy Doors

Previously, we featured some of our beautiful door hardware, but didn’t delve into the types of hardware options we offer. Let’s look a bit more closely at the various types, so that placing your order will be a breeze. In this post, we’ll focus on interior doors only, but will address entryway or exterior doors next.There are four main types of doorknobs to consider when deciding what you need for your home. These descriptions will help you sort out your needs.

First, single dummy knobs consist of a knob only on one side of the door. These would be appropriate for a closet door with a magnetic or ball catch or on a bi-fold door.

Solid Brass Round Dummy Door Knob (Georgian Roped Plate Polished Chrome)

The second type of doorknob is the double dummy style, consisting of a knob on each side of the door, but do not turn or operate a latch mechanism. An example of where these might be used would be on french doors.

Passage style knobs are a third type of doorknob we have available. These are a pair of knobs, one on each side of the door, which turn and operate a latch mechanism. These most often are used on closet doors, french doors, or doors that include a separate deadbolt.

Our last option is traditionally used for bedroom and bathroom doors. The privacy style doorknobs turn, latch, and offer a locking mechanism. This type may be unlocked from the outside in an emergency by using a long push pin.

Solid Brass Round Functioning Door Knob (Georgian Roped Plate Polished Chrome)

Whatever your door needs, we offer a wide variety of interior styles. All the types mentioned above are available in a variety of materials and finishes, such as Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Polished Chrome, Brushed Nickel and Oil Rubbed Bronze, designed  to match your home decor. Hopefully this information assists you in deciding which doorknobs you need to upgrade your home.

The Personal Touch

 

Home is not only where the heart is, but it is the place that best reflects our interests, passions and personality. Our refuge from the world, it is that place where not only are we soothed, but we hope to convey to others a warm welcoming environment indicative of who we are. At Look in the Attic & Company, our hardware products help you achieve a look that is as unique and individual as you. The assortment of cabinet pulls we offer is always growing, but below are a few of our favorites.

For the lover of all things Western, horses, boots, and revolvers all can be mounted to your cabinetry.

 

Western themed knobs and pulls for the cowboys and cowgirls

 

Wild animals roam through your home when you install the new series we have created, featuring giraffes, rhinos, elephants and more.

 Our new wild animal knobs

 

And for those who hold a beloved pet in high esteem, we have manufactured a line of knobs replicating popular dog breeds. Labradors, beagles, German shepherds, and dachshund knobs all provide a bit of whimsy and speak to the dog lover out there.

 

Knobs to celebrate our favorite breeds of dogs

No matter what type of hardware it is you’re looking for to provide that personal touch, come view our selection at Look in the Attic & Company for excellent choices. We are constantly adding to our collection and would love to provide you with just the right cabinet pull to proclaim to the world your individuality.

A Warm Welcome

     Your front door is the welcome you present to all who approach your home. Colorful, traditional, quirky or grand, your style speaks to the world and beckons visitors to enter. Have you taken the time lately to study the message your front door is sending?

After a long brutal winter, your front entry may be showing the effects of weather through rust, tarnish, fading paint or dead plants. With warmer temperatures and sunny days ahead, take time to evaluate your entryway so it shines this spring. Here at Look in the Attic & Company, we have everything you need to dress this area up and welcome your guests in style.

First consider the paint. If the color is fading, or you’re ready for a change, liven up your door with a fresh coat of paint to get this project underway. Many homes feature traditional colors for entry doors, but lately, more personalized and unique door colors seem to be a trend.

Once the paint is dry, continue the updates with new entryway hardware. This traditional oval single-door deadbolt entryway set in Oil Rubbed Bronze finish provides an old-world elegance to your entry and is simple to install.  We offer this complete set with tubular latch mechanisms, strike plates, complete knob sets, internal mechanisms, deadbolts and all mounting hardware. Everything you need for a successful installation is included.

Traditional Oval Single-Door Deadbolt Entryway Set

Next, add new house numbers for easy recognition of your street address. This often overlooked detail is attractive and makes your house stand out. The house number shown is made in solid brass and measures 6 inches tall. This durable solid brass casting comes complete with the mounting hardware and is available in Polished Brass (Shown), Antique Brass, Weathered Flat Black and Oil Rubbed Bronze.

6 Inch Tall Number 1 in Polished Brass

     In addition to those updates, consider adding a new kick plate as well.  Kick plates are a simple eye catching way to make your front entry stand out.  Our kick plates come in a variety of finishes and heights. Our smallest plate is a non-standard 5 inches tall, with a width that can range from 27 to 42 inches. Our largest plate is a substantial 10 inches in height and a width range of 28 to 42 inches. Finishes for the plates offered include Polished Brass, Antique Brass, Antique Nickel, Satin Nickel, Oil Rubbed Bronze and more.

Lastly, complete your project with an elegant planter filled with colorful annuals. Look in the Attic & Company provides many choices for that finishing touch as well. We offer an assortment of planters in a variety of colors and styles to festoon your entryway in beautiful blooms. Below are just a few samples of our colorful planters.

Porcelain Floral Planter – Measures 17 Inches Tall with an Antique Bronze Finish Metal Base.

     These featured improvements will declare a warm welcome to friends and neighbors. Let Look in the Attic & Company help with your front entry spring clean up for beautiful and lasting home improvements.

Victorian Cup and Bin Pulls

     Cup and Bin pulls are a great alternative to traditional drawer pulls and dresser hardware.  If you are tired of the annoying ‘knocking’ sound that often accompanies the opening or closing of a dresser drawer with a more traditional style of hardware, think about trying out this style instead.

decorative cup pull - finished in antique brass

     Cup and Bin pulls offer a more elegant and old-fashioned style of hardware decoration, and are ideal for any type of drawer, particularly those found on dressers and desks.  They are very simple and easy to install and can be a wonderful decorative element in any home.  All you need to replace any of these items is a simple screwdriver; we provide the screws and the pulls themselves.

A fine example of Victorian design work with an oil-rubbed bronze finish.

     You have your choice of several different designs.  Each design was carefully created by master craftsman.  While the items themselves are created in a mold, the molds themselves were delicately hand carved to ensure consistency, with every attention to detail carefully examined.  These pulls allow you to exhibit more detail than traditional swinging handles, and are much more durable.

It is easy to see how a well designed pull can breath new life into an otherwise drab piece of furniture.

     The decoration on the cup is very durable and easy to care for.  A simple swipe of a cloth gets rid of any dust, and depending on what finish you choose there is little more care necessary.  Swinging handles, while very common, are also very cheap.  They are rarely made of a solid metal, and the finish has a tendency to wear down over time.  While the decorative backplate of these designs holds up very well, the worn finish on the handles is very noticeable and cannot be easily replaced.  With cup pulls the design is made so well that it rarely wears down, and if it does it is very hard to notice.

Modern Kick Plates

     Kick plates are an absolute necessity in most offices and retail stores, and even in some houses.  If you are one of those people who prefer to open doors with their feet, especially when your hands are full, then you understand how much damage the bottom of a door can sustain from this abuse.  Restaurants are notorious for using kick plates on their doors not only as a functional piece, but also to help keep the appearance of cleanliness.  Some homes are also starting to use kick plates in certain areas of their homes.  Most times these are used in basement areas like recreation rooms and playrooms, though some parents are also having them installed on doors into garages, back or side doors, and some kitchen doors.  People who have young children know how much of a hassle it can be to constantly be cleaning scuff marks off of doors from people who are too tired or unable to use a door knob instead of their feet to open doors.  The best thing about kick plates is that they are very simple and versatile.

6 inch tall solid antique brass kick plate.

 

     We carry many different finishes so you can match them easily to the hardware you already have in your home.  We also have many different sizes available for both standard and more uncommon door sizes, eliminating the need to get a specialty piece made.  These kick plates are also available with two different mounting options.  While some people may find the security of screw mounted kick plates necessary, like in restaurants, the is another option.  Magnetic mount kick plates make it possible to save doors from scuffs and damage without having to add extra holes into them.  This is ideal for rental homes and even for apartment buildings.  Adhesive mounts are also available on most products.  Just let us know what mount option works best for you!

Art Deco Push and Pull Door Plates

     Art Deco is characterized by a linear, hard edge or angular composition, often with a vertical emphasis, and highlighted with stylized decoration (according to Blumenson). Art Deco is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s  and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and jewelry, as well as the visual arts such as painting, graphic arts and film.

     The Art Deco style has become quite popular in home décor due to its versatility and uniqueness.  The style typically features clean lines and geometric patterns, usually carved into the metal so as to add contrast, or embossed on the surface to help it stand out.   There are several different methods used to create such designs, though creating a mold and pouring molten metal is a popular method, and can be fairly fast to do.  It is especially popular when making pairs of door plates, ensuring that the two pieces will match exactly.

It easy to see the similarities between art deco architecture and art deco interior design. We nick named this plate "The Chrysler".

 

 

     Etching a design into the piece is generally done when a pattern is placed on the solid metal and an acid, or other chemical compound, is used to eat away at the exposed metal.  The result is a design embedded into the metal.  It is not uncommon to have color differences in the metals, allowing the pattern to stand out a little more.  This is especially the case in the push plates featured in bronze and copper.

A brilliant example of the intricate detail that goes into art deco design elements.

 

     Our pieces are available in many different finishes and metals, making it easy to find just the right one for your home or particular room you are decorating.  Art Deco is an especially nice style for decorating, since it is extremely versatile and can match any current décor.  If you prefer your décor to stand out and make a statement, consider perhaps one of the more extravagantly decorated plates.  You can also choose plates in a metal that contrast with the rest of the décor or the color of the doors they are applied to.  Polished brass pieces look brilliant on a white door, and copper pieces on a dark colored wood add just enough color difference to be noticeable.

Ranch Style

     Ranch style homes are both famous and popular for their mainly one-story construction.  Some Ranch style homes may have a second story bedroom built in, or maybe just a loft area.  This style home is popular all over the United States and Canada, and can be found in other parts of the world as well.  They fit into many different architectural styles and can be decorated in almost any style, making it extremely versatile and sought after.

    

     This type of home is especially beneficial to those who have trouble with stairs, or are just tired of running up and down the stairs all day.  The sprawling floor plans allow for larger homes, but do require more acreage to build on, which may end up costing more but can be very much worth it.  Some of the prettiest ranch style homes feature brick as the main building material, though stucco and siding are also quite popular.

    

     Ranch-style homes feature one or more of these characteristics; a single story roof, a low pitch gabled roof, deep set eves, long, low horizontal layouts, large windows, attached garages, simple floor plans, emphasis on open space, natural building materials or simple, not decorative detailing.  Ranch style interiors share some of those characteristics, focusing on open layouts, simple design and long, open spaces.

 

 

     The Ranch style home came about in the 1920’s but really became popular from the 1940’s to the 1970’s.  Exterior decoration on these homes are kept to a minimum, and many times there is not a whole lot of decoration on the interior either.  Lines are kept clean, open door ways and living areas are popular, as well as an open kitchen and combined breakfast area.  Garages are usually attached, and may or may not feature a bonus room of sorts in the space above them.

 

 

     Ranch style homes are the precursor to the more modern split-level, which was originally introduced as a “raised ranch” home.  This term referred to the fact that all or part of the basement level was above ground, raising a section of the otherwise-ranch.  Split-levels have since become their own style of home and are very rarely connected to ranch homes.