Simmer Till Done

I think it’s safe to say that normally, one does not think much about door knobs – unless you are in the finishing stages of a house. Suddenly faced with the prospect of a dozen or more doors that need opening and closing, you will, by necessity, think about doorknobs.

Our old house, a 1929 Colonial Revival, had a hodgepodge of knobs added over time, mostly cut glass. So we were used to the clunk and heft of glass knobs, and the immediate old-home feeling they bring. We briefly flirted with the idea of using all vintage knobs in the new house – but reconsidered after imagining a house of efficiently working doors.

We went looking for reproductions, and found Nostalgic Warehouse online.

We did a lot of looking, but in the end, these were clearly the knobs for us. They’re clean and classic, don’t scream for attention, and enhance everything they touch. They are exceptionally solid and well-made.

This is where that thinking-about-door knobs-thing comes into play. It’s not just one detail, it’s more than a dozen details, and unlike some other details, we’ll use them every day. They form a visual link, a comforting and quiet chain to follow room by room by room.

Some purchases offer a satisfying box-opening experience, like a new Mac; the Nostalgic Warehouse box was one of the greats. Each knob is packed precisely like little gems, and each working part is wrapped, labeled, and sent off with care.

Our knobs are the “Waldorf,” with a “classic rosette” back plate, in an oil-rubbed bronze finish. We’ve sourced many “oil-rubbed” parts for the house, but these were the first that actually rubbed off oil.

More than a design decision, Nostalgic Warehouse knobs are also a budget decision. They’re pricey. I felt like we were buying each of the doors a nice, glittery brooch, and hitting the “send” button required a deep breath. But as the knobs joined the doors, it became clear that the understated bling was a perfect match, and worth every penny.

We bought our knobs through Knobs and Hardware, but there are several online outlets and local specialty hardware stores that carry Nostalgic Warehouse. A splurge, to be sure, but how long will we be turning these knobs?

Earlier in the building process, Dan mentioned something to us about resale value, and we just looked at each other and laughed. This is it – we’re done, and in for the long haul. Greg likes to say hat we’re not building a house, we’re building a nicely appointed tomb. And by that time, the knobs will have acquired a second patina – finally old, loved, and truly hand-rubbed.