Accessories for Your Door: Hardware Options for Architectural Doors

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:59:43 +0000

Installing an architectural door in your home is like hanging a work of fine art in your living room. Great time and care has gone into the decision to purchase your “work of art.” You’ve spent hours deciding on the right decorative theme. You’ve selected your favorite colors. You’ve compared the work of several “artists” before finding the product that perfectly suits your taste, home and lifestyle. An architectural door, like fine art, is not a mere afterthought. It’s a carefully-planned and sought out part of your home that is meant to stand out and be appreciated. And like enjoying every color and tiny brush stroke of your work of art, no detail on your architectural door has gone unnoticed. That includes the type of hardware choose.

When speaking of “hardware,” this refers to those smaller parts of the architectural door that “accessorize” it: doorknobs/handles, hinges, lock mechanisms and virtually any other piece that is added to the door itself after fabricating. All of these hardware options for architectural doors are functional and necessary parts of any door. However, they should not be afterthoughts. A carefully chosen piece of hardware can be both highly functional and as aesthetically pleasing as the rest of your architectural door.

Choosing hardware options for your architectural door should be an integral part of the design process. Anything you choose should complement the design of the door but not detract from the overall aesthetic quality of the “picture” as a whole. There are a number of hardware options to consider when you begin to design your architectural door, including:

* Door pulls. There are various styles of door pulls to choose from. Traditional knobs are rounded or spherical. Lever-style handles are grasped and turned in a clockwise motion to release the inner latch. Handles, which are common on commercial doors, are grasped with the hand while the thumb presses a very small lever-style button to release the catch. All of these hardware options come in an array of colors, materials and designs.

* Hinges. The most common type of hinge is the butt hinge. It consists of two plates which are attached to abutting surfaces on the door and door jamb and are joined by a pin. Other types include pivot hinges, Baldwin hinges, spring hinges and pivot hinges. Most types are available in a variety of colors, materials and finishes to complement any architectural door design.

* Locks. Door locks may be part of the door handle/pull itself or may be a separate piece. Locks may be purchased as a set with the door pull. They may also be purchased separately. If so, it’s important to choose a lock that comes in a similar style, color and finish as the door pull.

* Door closers. This is a hardware option that is almost always found on commercial doors. They are not typically installed on residential doors. However, door closers can be an added security feature in a residential home, especially where there are children who may not always remember to close the door behind them.

Every detail of your architectural door should be carefully planned in order to create an overall “picture” that is eye-catching and tasteful. Fortunately, the abundance of hardware options for architectural doors will allow you the chance to be creative and to express yourself with a home that speaks of sophisticated class, right down to the very last detail.

By: Jenny Schweyer

Art Deco Makes a Comeback in Architectural Doors

admin — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:01:59 +0000

Doors are becoming less of an afterthought in modern home design and more of a focal point. In fact, many homeowners today are choosing custom-designed architectural doors for their home’s exterior. Sometimes an entire home design is planned around a customized architectural door. Doors are being recognized as an important part of the aesthetic value of a home’s exterior. An artistically-designed and professionally-built exterior door can raise the value of a home while providing enormous curb-appeal.

One of the fastest-growing trends in architectural doors today is the art deco door. The art deco style of design first emerged in the early 1900’s. It was an international design phenomenon in the 1920’s and 1930’s. It was during this period of time that a number of famous landmark buildings were erected, the design of which has become a part of pop culture and history. Though many people can’t put a name to the style, they will instantly recognize buildings created during the art deco trend. One such example is the distinctive spire of New York City’s Chrysler building, built in the mid 1920’s. Other renowned examples include New York’s Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Like most trends, art deco faded from construction history for a time in favor of more modern, streamlined designs. But also like many trends, art deco has re-emerged throughout the last century in various manners. Today, this includes architectural doors.

Art deco designs are based on mathematical, geometric shapes. Chevrons, sweeping curves, sunburst motifs and multi-tiered steps are characteristic of art deco. The Chrysler Building is a prime example of a curve and sunburst theme with steps that become smaller until they reach the spire at the top.

Architectural doors take the best of these geometrical designs and add modern twists, like sharp, uneven lines, mirrors and contemporary colors. The result is a door that is truly a work of art. These works of art become the focal point for the design of the new home. They often inspire other elements of the home, like windows, exterior colors, and even the shape of the roof. Like someone who purchases a loved work of art and then paints and designs the room it hangs in to match it, homeowners and builders start with a custom-designed architectural door and then look to it for inspiration for the entire exterior.

Art deco architectural doors can be designed to fit any type of home. They can be standard size, or can be crafted to fit unorthodox door frames for truly individualistic style. They don’t sacrifice functionality either. They can be built to accommodate high-security features, and can even be built to mask multiple locks and other security mechanisms. This results in an architectural door whose artistic quality hasn’t been sacrificed for the sake of fortitude.

By: Jenny Schweyer

Contemporary Architecture » Architectural Doors

Accessories for Your Door: Hardware Options for Architectural Doors

Art Deco Makes a Comeback in Architectural Doors