Issue #47, March 2, 2007

Doorknobs and Broomsticks

by Victoria L. Cooper

Just the other day, I came home only to find that my key would not go into the lock on my front door. At the time, it was nightfall, snow and ice covered the ground and the wind was whipping ruthlessly off the cold ocean waves. I couldn’t believe it. The lock on my front door was frozen. So I did what any twenty-something woman would do and called my father. Upon receiving his wise and timeless advice, I used a lighter to heat up the key and, luckily, was able to get into my house without developing frostbite. When day broke, I went down to my front door to find that the knob had become loose and that the handle, upon further investigation, was in really poor shape. It was time to replace the doorknob. Don’t be stuck out in the cold, and don’t let this happen to you.

The first thing that people see when they visit you is the entryway to your home, so it is important to keep it looking good. That includes your lighting, switch plates, and front door accessories. Doorknobs are significant for two reasons. They not only make or break a first impression, but also serve as a form of security from the strange and deer-populated outside world. There are two general types of doorknob assemblies – mortise-mounted and bore-mounted.

Mortise-mounted hardware relies on a large, rectangular metal box that holds its moving parts. This type of assembly is expensive to buy and install. At the turn of the century, this was the only type of door hardware available. Generally speaking, mortise-mounted hardware is still the finest hardware money can buy.

Many new homes today have largely yielded to the easier to install and less expensive bore-mounted hardware. Bore-mounted hardware costs less because it consists of drilling two holes in the door, instead of chiseling them. Installation is quick and easy and comparatively inexpensive.

Doorknobs fall into the “you get what you pay for” category. Less expensive doorknobs are made of cheaper materials and are susceptible to scratches and other kinds of wear and tear, like FREEZING. But replacing your doorknobs is a simple, easy upgrade you can make to your home to enhance both its looks and security. Many people enjoy brass, bronze and other classic, metal looks. Some people tend to go for the vintage-antique look with knobs made of glass. Whatever door hardware fits your taste, be sure to replace the knob when needed, because old door hardware can lose its traction and, if fooled around with too much, can cause irreversible damage to the door, costing you and your family more money.

Since we’ve established that entryways and front doors are important, the next thing that someone sees when they enter your home is the light switch. But what about your switch plate? How does that look? In one of my friend’s house, I always notice the switch plates because they were hand painted a beautiful light blue to accompany the sea theme she chose when she last decorated the home. Light switch plates were once strictly utilitarian items, almost always white, off-white or cream, but not anymore.

In the world of enhancing home accessories, decorative light switch plates are definitely in. You can find switch plates that are funky, traditional, or that draw attention, producing smiles and exclamations. Some designs incorporate images of nature, art, history, culture, abstraction or even local landmarks. When was the last time you replaced a switch plate? If you take a minute to look around, you might find that some of those worn-out plates are adding contrasting, interruptive colors into an otherwise well-decorated room. By replacing existing switch plates with a more vibrant, creative alternative, you will rid your pad of eyesores and notice a drastic difference in the design of your home.

You might think that doorknobs and switch plates are unimportant compared to some heavy house-maintenance worries like windows, floor and ceiling treatments. Yet it’s clear that doorknobs and switch plates not only present poignant aspects of your personality, but can also add some much-needed flair to your home.