5 Tips to Buy the Best-Suited Hardware Reproductions for Your Home

Whether you are aiming to impart a refined Victorian look to your home or need to replace certain hardware to fit it better into your vintage-themed abode, you can do wonders if you choose your hardware reproductions wisely.

That’s precisely what this post is all about.

If your home already has enough hardware, like doorknobs or rosettes, in specific patterns, then the hardware you choose should be complementary to it. Once that’s decided, you have other considerations to ponder over as well.

Should the hardware look and feel old (with the imperfections et al)?

Should it have a strictly vintage pattern and finish?

Would you be willing to go with near-matches to the old-world style design in reproductions?

Needless to say, when shopping for reproduced items for your home, you will come across various options that will be suitable for rustic, old-style homes as well as for new homes with a lived-in look. In fact, most of the new products offered by reproduction hardware specialists are inspired by old designs.

So how do you know which hardware is most suitable for your house? The following factors play a huge role in helping you make this decision prudently.

Where Are You Buying From?

You may think that buying hardware reproductions from a home-furniture store is convenient and a good idea, but it may actually be otherwise. At a store, you will likely see that the hardware is available at several different prices – items from the biggest brand will be the costliest while the least expensive will probably not come with a proper brand name.

If you compare the options available in stores that sell expensive mass-produced items to the options offered by specialists in hardware reproductions at affordable rates, the latter is sure to hit all the right notes, even if you have to spend a little more for customizations.

Further, home-furniture stores will rarely offer items that even minutely resemble centuries-old builder’s hardware as mass-produced items are designed on the basis of current trends.

How Has It Been Produced?

The thing about reproductions is that even the most economical one is machine-pressed from a dense piece of solid brass rather than being stamped from a thinner metal. This makes a huge difference to the weight of the product.

Then there is also the detailing aspect that you need to consider. A piece from a regular hardware company may look and feel significant, but it will probably lack the period details found in competitively-priced reproductions.

Some reproductions employ the use of the lost-wax process, which works well in high-end reproduction hardware. These reproductions may cost more as they are labor-intensive and allow customization of design.

Where Is It Produced?

Even if you decide to buy from a regular hardware store, you should always try to find out where the item was produced - whether it was hand-made or machine-stamped. Most builder’s hardware available in the US is manufactured in other countries, although some American providers of hardware reproduction services do import parts made as per their specifications and assemble them here.

A lot of the high-quality, machine-forged and cast hardware from some reputed makers is produced in the US, while others may be hand-forged just it was done centuries ago. Buyers should know that the most expensive reproductions are typically made either in North American and European countries.

What Are Your Options?

Almost all reproduction manufacturers will allow you to pick and pair items of your choice, regardless of the era that inspired their creation.

Reproductions specialists will also offer you options in finishes. You can ask for custom finishes on certain pieces, and it will be done. If you buy from a high-end manufacturer, you will get even more options in terms of size and style. Going for fully-customized hardware will mean being able to specify not just its design, but also the weight, size, and finish of your choice.

How Does It Look?

If you are buying reproduction hardware online, you may be tempted to choose your item just by the way in looks in the website images. However, it is important that you actually see the physical item and touch it to get a good idea of the detailing and specifications.

It should have the desired weight and the finish should be uniform. Hardware with relief shouldn’t have an untidy or uneven look to it. Most importantly, every piece of hardware you choose should resonate with your aesthetic sense and serve as the perfect complement to your abode.

Conclusion

A home is made of several elements. Everything you include in it has the potential to add to its warmth and charm. It is, therefore, necessary to pick every piece with care. This applies to hardware reproductions as well. Hopefully, the above tips will help you choose reproductions that are best suited to your personal space. Keep them in mind when beautifying your house with these pieces and create a stunning effect. Good luck!