CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRIPS FOR YOUR DOORSThat’s a fair point about mixing metals—there’s definitely a fine line between “intentional” and “accidental chaos.” I’ve found that when a ...
I get where you’re coming from about experimenting, but I’d push back a bit on the idea that hardware is “one of the easier things to swap out later.” If you’re dealing with custom doors or high-end finishes, changing grips can mean patching holes or even refinishing. I’ve seen a few projects where a little risk turned into a lot of extra work. Sometimes, restraint is the real luxury.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRIPS FOR YOUR DOORS
I get your point about restraint, but honestly, I’ve swapped out hardware on a few custom doors without much drama. As long as you’re careful with measurements and stick to standard backsets, it’s usually not a big deal. Sure, there’s always a risk with patching holes if you go wild with sizes or styles, but most modern grips are designed to be pretty interchangeable. Sometimes a bold choice is worth the hassle... just depends how much you want to commit.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRIPS FOR YOUR DOORS
Had a client once who fell in love with these massive, sculptural bronze pulls—looked amazing, but the door was an old oak slab with weird spacing. We had to get creative with patching and custom plates. Worth it in the end, but definitely more work than I expected. Sometimes those bold choices really do change the whole vibe, though... just gotta be ready for a few surprises along the way.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GRIPS FOR YOUR DOORS
Had a similar situation on a multifamily project—client wanted these sleek, oversized stainless handles for every unit entry. Looked great in the renderings, but once we started retrofitting them to existing doors, the alignment issues and reinforcement needs multiplied fast. It’s easy to underestimate the impact hardware has, both visually and structurally. Sometimes I think people focus too much on aesthetics and forget about the practical headaches... but when it works, it does elevate the whole space.
It’s easy to underestimate the impact hardware has, both visually and structurally.
Totally get this. When we built our place, I fell in love with these matte black pulls—looked amazing in the showroom. But once they were on the doors, fingerprints everywhere and they felt weirdly cold to the touch. My partner kept saying, “They look cool but do they actually work for us?” Sometimes you have to live with something before you realize what really matters. I still think a bold handle can make a door, but man, function is everything when you’re using it every day.
