Antique Glass Door Knobs Add Character to Your Home Decor

If you've got an older home, antique door knobs preserve it's character and look wonderful

When Matt and I bought our broken-down 19th Century farmhouse we decided to keep the original floor plan. That meant that we would have several small rooms on the first floor instead of the popular open concept plan. We also decided that we would keep or re-install doors on all of the rooms.

Of course you can't just go to the local big box home improvement center and buy a door that will look right in an antique home. We spent hours looking for the right doors. Often we'd find the door at a salvage yard. Usually it was missing it's door knob. Again, it would have looked all wrong for us to put a modern door knob on these doors.

Because there are so many doors facing each other in our home, we decided that antique glass door knobs would lighten up the space. We were pleased to find that we had a lot to choose from.

It's an Adventure to Find the Right Architectural Feature

Fixing up an old house takes years, because it's hard to find just the right pieces. We almost never drive by a salvage yard that sells architectural features. It's hard to be believe that we can get excited over glass door knobs, crown molding, or the doors themselves.

Since many of these shops are open to negotiation, we have to contain our enthusiasm to get a good deal!

Antique Door Store

Often these doors are missing door knobs

Photograph Courtesy of AnyJazz65

Antique Glass Door Knobs

Most people thought that we would gut our home and "modernize" it. We decided to live in the house for two years before making any big decisions. Over that time we found we liked having smaller rooms on the first floor. It made it easier to heat. Each room has a fireplace and it was easy to stay toasty while we kept the thermostat turned down.

Multiple rooms also gave us privacy. I can have my book club in front of a cozy fire, while Matt hangs out with the guys playing pool. Our billiards table is in the foyer. Hey it was heavy and we didn't feel like carrying it further in the house. It actually looks great in the space.

There are six doors that front on the foyer. Each door is different and has a different glass door knob. We did stain them all the same color. So they go together, even though they don't match. We decided to also keep the glass a white transparent color. However, it's possible to find lots of rich colors. Antique glass door knobs are often a rich amber yellow, purple or red.

1898 Glass Door Knob with Brass Plate

This elegant door leads to a bathroom.

Photograph Courtesy of daBinsi

Fluted Antique Glass Door Knobs

It is convenient when the antique door knob comes with a back plate and lock mechanism. However, those are available separately as well. Usually they are in large bins and you just have to wade through them. Often the shop owner will let us return them, if they don't look right when we get them home. If you are uncertain, ask them about this possibility.

Updated: 07/11/2014, Digby_Adams

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