door hardware

Depending on how well the finish is done it varies from looking like something a rich, very old person would like to something you might find on furniture at a trailer park yard sale. It's far cry from oil rubbed bronze which feels very old school new York. but all that matters is if you like it.

Ditto above--what you like is paramount. If you're looking to preserve resale value, though, stick with finishes and also designs from the period, or at least consistent with materials and designs available in the period.

Because buyers for your place are going to people who like old places. It personally drives me nuts to walk up to the parlor floor of a grand lady brownstone dripping with period detail, only to open the apartment door and see a renovation inspired by Star Trek. Those people just bought the wrong place, is what I always say to myself.

Satin nickle would need to be looked at hard because it says late 20th, early 21st to me, at least. You can get away with it if it's in the right shape.

A good way to assess this, and what I personally have done when renovating a 100 year old house, is to google the period for your house and study examples of styles. Then I bought stuff that looked like that. There are also renovator's supply stores with stock that's described to the time period and style to make it even easier on yourself.

Period style would have had polished nickel or polished brass. Satin nickel, in my opinion, is an abomination, and a waste of the metal.

Hey, "Guy"withcat, congratulations on your recent co-op purchase!

I personally like oil-rubbed bronze hardware. It pops against white but not in a shiny, showy way. I would really steer clear of lacquered brass, which can have a chintzy, sponsor-reno look to it. If you want to go with brass, I'd suggest unlacquered brass, which you can either allow to develop a patina on its own or use a tarnishing agent such as those made by Jax to darken it. Places like House of Antique Hareware and Rejuvenation sell unlacquered brass. I'd probably suggest staying away from mass-produced 'antiqued' finishes, which can also wind up looking a bit cheesy.

I like both oil rubbed bronze and satin nickel. It depends on your taste and the rest of apartment?
Including door color. Personally I like oil rubbed bronze more with brown wooden doors although others like it against white painted doors. To me it makes the hardware stand out too much. It's all taste. Also the shape of the knob is important.

All my door hardware is polished chrome, but the floor mounted doorstops are all oil rubbed bronze, which blends in nicely with the brown wood floors, so they don't stand out too much.

Thanks for the good advice.