Cart is emptyThe door furniture on a period property is like jewellery on an outfit — it’s a small detail that signals quality and attention. Get it right and every door in the house feels considered. Get it wrong and the whole aesthetic jars, no matter how well everything else has been done.
We specialise in traditional door furniture for period homes — solid brass, ebony, and nickel hardware handmade in Britain to the same standards that original craftsmen would recognise. Here’s how to choose hardware that respects your property’s character.
Why Original Hardware Matters
Walk into any period property that’s been “modernised” with chrome lever handles from a DIY shed and you feel the disconnect immediately. The proportions are wrong, the materials are wrong, the weight is wrong. A £2,000 front door loses its presence when fitted with a £15 handle.
Original period hardware — or high-quality reproduction — works because it was designed for these doors and these buildings. The proportions, materials, and construction methods match the architecture. A beehive knob on a Victorian panelled door looks right because both were products of the same design sensibility.
Front Door Hardware
The front door makes the first impression. It deserves the best hardware you can afford.
Door knockers are the centrepiece. A substantial brass knocker on a painted front door is one of the most characterful details you can add to a property. Doctors’ knockers, lion’s heads, urn designs, and shell patterns all suit different property styles. Choose one that’s proportionate to the door — too small looks mean, too large looks cartoonish.
Letter plates should match the knocker in style and finish. Brass letter plates are available in various sizes — choose one that suits your door width. A sprung flap keeps draughts out.
Door knobs or pull handles complete the front door. A heavy brass knob or pull handle gives the door presence and makes it feel substantial to operate.
House numbers in matching brass tie the front door furniture together. Individual numbers mounted on the door or adjacent wall are more characterful than a generic plastic plaque.
Internal Door Hardware
Internal doors are where consistency matters. Mismatched hardware throughout a house — different styles, different finishes, different eras — looks chaotic. Choose a style and finish, then apply it consistently.
Mortice knobs are the traditional choice for internal doors. A pair of matching knobs on a mortice latch or lock. Our beehive knobs and round knobs suit most period properties.
Finger plates protect painted doors from fingermarks around the handle area. They’re a small detail that makes a practical difference, particularly on lighter-coloured doors.
Hinges are functional but visible. Brass butt hinges suit period doors far better than stainless steel alternatives. They’re not expensive, but they’re often overlooked.
Escutcheons — the keyhole covers on lockable doors — should match the knob style and finish. It’s a tiny detail but an inconsistent escutcheon on an otherwise well-dressed door is surprisingly noticeable.
Materials
Solid brass is the traditional choice and our primary material. It’s strong, beautiful, and improves with age. Polished, aged, or naturally patinated — all look wonderful.
Ebony and brass. The combination of turned ebony wood and brass fittings is quintessentially Victorian. Ebony door knobs feel warm in the hand and look striking against painted doors.
Polished nickel offers a cooler, brighter alternative to brass. It suits properties where the interior design leans toward cooler tones or where a more contemporary edge is appropriate within a period setting.
Where to Start
If you’re fitting out a whole house, start with the front door — it sets the tone for everything else. Choose your style and finish, then work through internal doors, cabinets, and accessories in the same family.
Browse our full collection or get in touch if you need help choosing the right hardware for your property.