Hardware Talks with Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict
November '21
We caught up with the amazing Jen Bishop from @interiorsaddict to pick her brains on door hardware selection. Having recently replaced her tired old levers with Avant Sierra in the lovely satin brass finish, Jen has a number of good tips on selection, installation and moodboarding.
Read the interview to find out Jen's thoughts on matching fixtures and the importance of design flow!
Interior's Addict is Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
Gainsborough: How do you select door hardware? Walk us through your process!
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: When I was choosing my own door handles for my home, there were two key things to consider. One is quality because with door handles - we touch them all the time! Day in, day out you are always touching these. Them lasting the distance, is really important, so you want high quality. I chose Gainsborough with good warranty and knew they would go the distance.
Secondly, I waited until I found the perfect satin brass […] which ties in with the other hardware finishes at my home. I really love brass but particularly this satin brass - slightly paired back, slightly modern take, was perfect for me, and I'm in love with the Avant levers.
Gainsborough: What is your favourite hardware finish these days?
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: My favourite hardware finish is definitely satin brass. I love how it's a little bit matt, a little bit more modern than the highly polished brass. I think it can work in all kinds of home, from traditional through to very modern. I think it's a very personal choice, whether you like that kind of gold or the cooler, chrome or silver look.
For me I love the elegance of brass, but I really love that brass to be paired back, brushed satin. I think it's just the perfect happy medium.
Gainsborough: Levers ir knobs?
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: For me, levers every time!
I think they are used more and more these days. They give you more options for different shapes. and I just find it really satisfying action to option the door with the lever!
BEFORE...
Gainsborough: Brassy tones are on- trend but they can be challenging to work with. What styling tips could you give us?
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: A lot of people are a bit scared about using satin brass or just verging away from the traditional, more mainstream chrome finish. Brass is not new, brass has been around for a really long time in interiors. Satin brass is just a beautiful new take on it for today.
However, when you are feeling a bit scared of something like that, then make sure you moodboard things... [….] pull together samples of your paint colour and your benchtop, and fabric for your curtains. Lay them together on a table and have a look at what works. It's amazing how much that will show you how things are going to work well or not well. Take your time. Go out and look at things. Get samples.
Look at door handles. Order one and put it on the door, see what you think before you commit to buying everything.
Don't rush these things because getting them right makes such a difference. Don't be scared. Go outside of the mainstream, because if you do it right, it looks so, so much better than playing it safe!
Gainsborough: Should door hardware always match lighting and tapware?
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: Question that readers ask me all the time - should all your hardware match? If you have chrome in the bathroom, do you need to have chrome door handles?
It's up to you. However I think that having everything consistent is one of the best ways to a create a home that is cohesive.
Cohesion is really important as it helps create flow. You wouldn't necessarily understand what it is that is making the house feel right, but it's the sum of all the small details matching and adding up which makes it really work.
For me, I used brushed brass tapware, door handles, cabinet handles, chandeliers in the living room, and I think that we need do sit back and look, it's so satisfying to have everything cohesive.
...make sure you moodboard things... [….] pull together samples of your paint colour and your benchtop, and fabric for your curtains. Take your time. Go out and look at things. Get samples.
Don't rush these things because getting them right makes such a difference. Don't be scared. Go outside of the mainstream, because if you do it right, it looks so, so much better than playing it safe!
AFTER!
Gainsborough: What did you think of the Avant QuickFix®technology when installing your new hardware?
Jen Bishop aka Interior's Addict: Something I really love about Gainsborough Avant levers is the patented QuickFix® technology. Which means that even people like me and my husband who are notoriously not handy, we were able to change all our door handles ourselves.
It all took less than a minute to do each one and we were so happy with ourselves!
We didn't have to pay the handy man for couple of hours works which is what we do so often. We are proof that they are very easy to fit.
