Door Furnishings (Handles, Hinges & Locks)

In the rush to choose and fit new doors, both external and internal, we can sometimes forget the importance of door furniture, or door furnishings, as they are sometimes called.

Yet door accessories are crucial to the overall look and feel of a door, and so, by extension, can really affect your home's overall appearance. The reality is that visitors will always notice shabby door furnishings! So, with all door furnishings, you need to make sure they are suitable for your door in terms of size and the way they look. The wrong door accessories - ultra-modern looking knobs on a traditional solid oak exterior door, for instance - can spoil even the most elegant door.

So you really shouldn't fit a new door without giving some serious thought to the door accessories which will go with it.

Equally, door furniture is something you expect to last for some time. You don't want to be buying door handles or any other kinds of door accessories for your front door every week. So, as well as looking smart, door furnishings need to be practical and long-lasting. Think about how external door handles, for instance, are exposed to all weathers.

It's only when you stop to think about it that you realise just how many kinds of door accessories there are on the market. There's more to door furnishings than door knockers or door handles. Door furniture also includes things like cat flaps, letter boxes, house numbers, doorbells, house numbers and door hinges. The list goes on, and there are now more kinds of door furnishings on offer than ever, in many different designs.

The history of door furniture is far more interesting than you might think! Did you know for example that, in heraldry, an escutcheon was a shield shaped emblem bearing a coat of arms? Early keyhole covers were shaped like a shield and the name is still in use today to describe these kinds of door accessories. And door numbers have been compulsory door furnishings in London since 1805, following an Act of Parliament.

And, of course, door accessories have changed over the years. Most people have electric doorbells rather than knockers, for example, although elegant knockers still make classy door furnishings.

Most door furniture is fairly straightforward, and, once fitted, doesn't require huge amounts of maintenance. Door handles, for example, just need a regular quick wipe with a damp cloth to keep them free from dirt. And that goes for most other door furnishings as well, although you may want to get out the polish and apply some elbow grease to keep brass door furniture in tip-top condition.

With a little patience, you should be able to fit most door accessories yourself fairly easily. Just be very sure about the door furniture you are fitting, and why you are fitting it, before taking the plunge.

Door accessories such as door handles, for example, need particular care before you start work. Different ones suit different kinds of doors. For interior doors, specifically glazed doors, it is generally best to fit lever type door handles, as ball type ones could overlap the edges of the door. If you fit the wrong type of door handles with the wrong type of lock or latch on these kinds of doors, you even risk breaking the glass.

For louvre or bi-fold doors, your best choice is between bolt through pull door handles or face fix door handles.

While fitting door accessories like knobs or handles is relatively straightforward, bear in mind that if you have old latches or locks, some of the components may not be compatible with modern door handles, knobs or similar door furnishings.

So, while the range of door furniture available is wide, since only some door furnishings are suitable for certain types of doors, your choice of door accessories is not literally endless.

One company which can really help, whatever door furniture you need, is family-run Kaybee Doors, based in Britain's north west. From high quality door handles from Italy to house numbers, hinges, bolts and thumb turns, we've got door accessories galore, and most of our door furniture is available in different finishes including satin chrome, polished chrome, polished and satin brass as well as stainless steel. What's more, it's all on offer at incredibly reasonable prices.

Our helpful and knowledgeable sales team can offer advice whatever door furnishings you are after, whether you want a few new hinges or door handles throughout your home. With our years of specialist experience in the business, serving private and trade customers, we fully appreciate the importance of getting door furniture right first time.

Our efficiency means that you won't be waiting long for your order - the vast majority of our customers receive their goods earlier than anticipated.

And our user-friendly web site makes it even easier than popping down to you local DIY or hardware store.