Handles & Knobs

Handles and knobs may be just a small part of your door, but they are by no means only functional. With countless styles, designs and sizes available to choose from, it’s no exaggeration to say they can have a significant impact on your décor.

In almost every case, doorknobs present as far more ornate fixtures. It’s for this reason that you’ll find them to feature more intricate designs and profiles – from subtle engravings to loud and boisterous patterns. This traditional aesthetic is often mirrored in their materials, with brass being the go-to for period homes with vintage styles.

Door Handles, on the other hand, beyond being simply easier to use see a bit more variety in their designs, covering waveform levers and sleeker, straight edges. All with an equally diverse range of back plates and roses. These plates can also serve numerous functions, incorporating keyholes and bathroom turns, helping to keep your doors looking neat and tidy.

You’ll find that whilst there are quite a few design choices to browse, handle and knob colours all fall within a vaguely similar palette. That being the monotone range of white, grey and black. There is good reason for this, these finishes are often metallic for one (either chrome, stainless steel or brass) but they are also able to blend in quite well with a number of different doors and units.

The key then is to keep the style of your chosen hardware in line with the style of your home. Popular choices, satin, matte black and chrome, for example, are all suited to modern décor and come with the added benefit of being relatively low maintenance – usually only requiring a wipe down to clear away any fingerprints or smudge barks.

For subtle, minimalist interior designs, you may want to match these finishes with your doors (or else opt for a slightly different shade). Of course, you can always be bolder and contrast your hardware with your doors. We find that matte black handles on white doors work a treat.

For older homes, cottages or if you are opting for a classic décor, antique black finishes are what we would recommend. These eye-catching handles and knobs feature uneven surfaces that blend in seamlessly with the ‘man-made’ look that makes vintage homes so popular. Naturally, brass can also be a great choice but tend to serve the room better when used internally with other, similarly regal hardware.

Whilst there is no rule of thumb for matching your handles and knobs, it’s important to keep an eye-line in mind. If one handle is within sight of another, having them match would ensure a consistency well in line with modern designs. If you are looking to branch out, however, and give each of your rooms a unique style, remember to keep your handles in line with the décor of the room they are associated with.

When replacing a door handle there are 3 key measurements that you will need to take, those being:

1. The distance between the centre of the handle to the centre of the keyhole
2. The distance between the two screw holes
3. The full length of your handle's back plate 

With these 3 measurements in hand, you will be better able to find a handle of the same size, that will both fit your door and obscure any unsightly fixing holes from the previous handle. If you are fitting a door handle to a brand new door, however, there are quite a few more measurements that you will need to take – and far more time to invest.

Door Thickness:

Fairly straightforward. The distance from the inside of the door to the outside. Fortunately, most doors have standardised thickness: 35mm for internal doors, 44mm for fire doors and 44mm again for external doors. 

Door Height:

Again, very straightforward. The height of your door may differ from standard models depending on its age, but it is an important measurement to know if you are buying new hinges alongside a new handle.

Stile Width:

Your stile is the space between the edge of your door and the first piece of raised panelling, moulding or glazing. Essentially it is the width available for your latch. This means that if your stile is narrow, you may be restricted in the type of handle or knob that is suitable for fitting.

Backset:

This is the distance between the edge of your door and the centre of your doorknob or lever shank. It is also a key measurement when choosing a latch, as each industry standard size will have its own backset to fit into this space. See below. When choosing a latch, you will want to match these two measurements as closely as possible. A 64mm latch, for example, will be ideal for a backset of 45mm.

• 64mm latch (45mm)
• 76mm latch (56mm)
• 102mm latch (82mm)

Centre to Centre:

This is the measurement from the centre of your spindle hole to the centre of your lock and will be needed if your internal door has two pre-drilled holes and you are fitting a lock. Again, locks are standardised so you shouldn’t have much trouble finding one which is suitable. (47.5mm for UK lever, bathroom and euro profile cylinder locks. 48.5mm for UK Oval Profile Cylinder Locks. 70mm/92mm for Multi-Point Euro Profile Cylinder Locks.)