It’s the Little Things-Replacing the Hardware in an Older Home

You know that saying, “It’s the little things in life“? Well, it’s true that the little things do eventually add up to be big things, and in this case, things that make a big impact.

We are remodeling our dream home, a 1989 beauty that just needs a little modern TLC. We renovated the hardwood floors and painted the walls, wood paneling, trim and ceilings before we moved in, and it began to look like a new house! But…there was one thing I couldn’t quit staring at. The old school doorknobs and hinges. In 1989, those shiny brass beauties must have been glorious. But in 2020, they had clearly seen better days.

Cue the research on door hardware. I scanned Pinterest, home magazines, blogs, HGTV shows, you name it. And one brand that kept coming up time and time again was Emtek. I kept finding their designs in blog posts by my favorite designers and in magazines. When I mentioned the brand to realtors and friends in the home building/design business, they all enthusiastically said “Yes!”, so that was a great sign. And when I looked at the Emtek Instagram page, I fell in love with how other designers and home owners are using their hardware. But once I’d decided on Emtek, I had to pick which hardware was best for the house.

Our house has two gorgeous vintage chandeliers that are the focal point of the home, and they are gold. Right off the bat, I knew I had to have one of Emtek’s satin brass pieces, but I had NO clue what design to choose. I went on Instagram and asked for recommendations for the best local hardware supplier, and I was pointed to Rick’s Hardware in Dallas. My husband and I went to Rick’s showroom to see the options up close, and narrowed it down to two styles we loved. I fired off photos in a text to friends asking for their style opinions: round or octagon? They were subtly different and the round knob was the most classic, safe choice. As it turned out, there was a tie between the octagon and round knobs. So, when the owner of Rick’s Hardware, Trevor, came out to count our doors and give his recommendations, I asked him to be our tie-breaking vote. And his pick was…

The Octagon knob in satin brass with a modern rectangle rose! We ordered this style for dummy (dummy knobs are for looks only-we used these on most of our french doors and closets), passage (these don’t have locks), and privacy (locking) knobs. We also decided to add lever handles to the french doors to our backyard, new surface bolts, deadbolts, door stops, hinges, push plates for our kitchen swinging doors, an electronic lock, and new front door hardware for the outside and inside. Since our house is older, the attic doors did not have locks, which Rick’s Hardware suggested adding since we have a little one. It was a very helpful suggestion.

Once the hardware was made to order by Emtek, Rick’s came out with a great crew and installed it beautifully. I can’t believe how much we love it, and the difference something like doorknobs and hinges can make is staggering! It truly is the jewelry of the home.

It took our outdated home and gave it a cool, transitional look without betraying the traditional footprint. If I had to recommend one facelift to make to a home besides paint, I would say GET NEW HARDWARE! Our doors not only look brand new, but they open and close like a dream now. (And I can’t even begin to count the number of times we have used the electronic lock. It also comes in handy with housekeepers, nannies, relatives, etc.)

This was the first time I’ve ever chosen this kind of hardware for a home and I know it will be many, many years before we have to do it again, but it was a great experience.

My advice for anyone who is considering replacing their door hardware would be this:

Research quality brands and styles. Good, quality hardware is an investment. When you think of how often you open and close doors, lock them, depend on them for safety, etc., factor that in when budgeting. This isn’t an inexpensive process, but one that lasts for decades, so choose wisely.
Try to see, feel, and hold the hardware beforehand if you are having trouble deciding. We thought we knew for sure what we wanted until we saw the choices in person. Feeling the weight and heft of the items also made a difference in our confidence in Emtek!
Spring for the matching hinges. We initially didn’t do this, and changed our minds during the process. Going without the matching hinges would have been a major mistake. They are such a small thing, but it’s undeniable they are still a big part of the overall look.
Use a trusted business for your install. Unless you’re a successful do-it-yourselfer, getting hardware installed correctly is an art form. Hire a pro to do it right the first time. Rick’s Hardware knocked it out of the park for us and we didn’t have to worry about things being done right.
Electronic locks are amazing. We decided to only add one, but now that I know how convenient they are, I would have probably added one more. I think these are a must-have item, especially for those times when you’re locked out for some reason or need to let someone into your home. You can easily re-set the passcode when needed.

Doorknobs, locks and hinges may not be “sexy” home decor, but they can add more beauty and polish than you might think. I’m thrilled with the way ours turned out!