Renovating a Queenslander: Open / Shut them: Windows, doors, fanlights and matching hardware

Window and door architecture - a fancy way of referring to all the fixtures that can be attached to a window and door in order to open, shut and lock them. We spent weeks if not months getting our window and door fixtures sorted for our multitude of french doors and windows. As we were using reclaimed windows and doors wherever possible, we had a combination of casement windows (hopscotch style), sash windows, eight sets of twin light french doors, one set of multi light french doors, fanlights, internal doors and and bifold doors that all needed slightly different fixtures - but fixtures that all need to match or compliment each other.

There were some items that were a definite must. This included the black rim locks for the twin light french doors. They were the closest match to the original locks (still on most of the reclaimed doors when we found them) we could find and I really think they highlight the age of the doors remarkably well. The internal door handles were another 'love at first sight' item, so to speak, as we both like the deco style finish which largely set the tone for the geometric shape of the rest of the fixtures such as the casement fasteners, front door handle and hallway light shades that have a very similar deco pattern on them.

Finding fixtures for the fanlights actually proved the hardest task of all as there isn't a lot to choose from other than the expensive fanlight window operators (the mechanical 'arms' attached to the wall that allow you to wind the fanlight open) or a fanlight catch (both of which come in limited finishes). Given we have eight sets of french doors, the fanlight window operators were a luxury that will have to wait, while the fanlight catch offered a simple solution to tie a piece of cord to the catch (thread over the curtain rod bracket and tied to the curtain tie back when opened) that we felt would more than suffice for the moment.

Chrome vs Satin Chrome: It turned out to be quite hard to match the fixtures we liked in the finish we liked largely because the internal deco door handles only came in chrome, not satin chrome, and the window fixtures we liked were in satin chrome. We thus decided to 'group' the finishes as chrome for the internal doors (to match the chrome light switches and chrome light fitting in the hallway) and satin chrome for the door fixtures. The curtain rods also only came pewter, not chrome, so the satin chrome was a better match though my other half thinks they should all be chrome. So much to think about!

I must also make a special thank you here to Chantal from Finlayson's who spent hours and a great deal of patience dealing with our huge amount of window, door and light switch/gang plate fixtures for a total house revamp. Exceptional customer service!

Unless otherwise stated the primary manufacturer of the fixtures was Traditional Hardware. Details are as follows:

Internal highwaisted doors: Deco knob latch chrome plated door handles (privacy latch for the bathrooms and lock latch for internal garage door) with matching tube latches (Tradco: 1090), satin chrome door stop - magnetic 75mm (1538)
Front door handle: Chrome Deco knob Euro (0814E)
Laundry door (external): Chrome plated 200 Narrow stile steam latch short backset (Lockwood: 200CPAO)
Front door bell: solid brass chrome door bell push button 23x13x63mm (Schot's Home Emporium), electronic door bell mechanism supplied by electrician
Casement windows: satin chrome casement stay (1729), casement fastener (Delf Architectural: 380SC),
Sash windows: satin chrome fitch fastener (1619), satin chrome sash lift (Delf Architectural: 702SC), satin chrome sash drop (1625)
Fanlights: Fanlight catch polished satin chrome (Delf Architectural: 0749SC), fanlight swivels (Woodworkers: silver)
Bifold doors: chrome fittings supplied with the door
Twin light french doors: Black rim lock with black trim 155x105mm (2013) with satin chrome mortice knob milled edge 45mm (0888), satin chrome barrel bolts - offset (1428), satin chrome door stop - magnetic 75mm (1538)
Multi-light french doors: Victorian lever lock satin chrome door handle (0913), satin chrome barrel bolt - offset (1428), satin chrome door stop - magnetic 75mm (1538)