Door Levers

Personally I think hardware is a bit like shoes. Beautiful, well-made elements can class up even the lowliest of furnishings. Conversely, crappy hardware can cheap down good millwork/furniture. Have you looked at resources like Rejuvenation or House of Antique Hardware? They have nice pieces at decent prices.

For Manhattan Simon's Hardware & Bath has a decent showroom.

Look at Baldwin Reserve line.

There is an entirely different feel in your hand and when turning the lever or knob of quality hardware compared to a Home Depot special. If you are looking for modern levers, Emtek also is a good mid-budget option

I've got Emtek in my apartment, and am quite happy with them. They're remained solid (i.e., no looseness, no rattling, with solid quiet actions) after 8 years. As nyc_sport notes, the feel in your hand of quality hardware makes a difference.

I second Simon's, though I think the last time I actually needed door hardware I got it at whatever Downtown place Lendy's referred me to when they didn't have it.

Thanks for recommendations. Went to Simon's and Home Depot. Decided against the super cheap ones. Emtek levers at Simon's we really liked, but they were "made to order" everywhere. Ended up buying some in-stock Baldwin levers online for about $80 per set.

By the way, Amazon looks like the worst place to buy these. Disorganized, very few in stock, longer delivery time frames, and many are priced higher (especially in Baldwin brand Amazon store).

For closets, do people usually get cabinet pulls, or dummy door handles? pulls are so much cheaper...

>Krolik - isn’t your architect/contractor giving you any help on all this?

www.build.com

@keith that's a great, easy to navigate website where I just ordered these things.

So the contractor told me I could go to Elegance Hardware on UES (where each door handle is like $400), or buy them at Home Depot for $30; the designer sent a long list of suggestions with the cheapest one on the list costing $120, and most going above $200. I was just perplexed by the range, hence this thread. I guess after testing, I see that the pricier ones do not wobble like Home Depot ones (although cannot rule out that levers on display at Home Depot were not installed properly). Ended up splitting the difference and getting mid-priced Baldwin Reserve line ones.

I think you made a good choice - to me, quality door hardware adds a significantly upgraded feel to any space - and it is something you touch many times a day. That said, there probably is a diminishing return over about $100 a set unless we're talking about a super luxury space.

Agree. Baldwin reserve /Emtek quality is pretty good. If you are paying more, you are really paying for unique designs and finishes. Baldwin also has Estate line with more finish and design options at twice the cost (latches are also better). Some high end ones really do look very nice.

@krolik -- all my closets have recessed pulls on them, no knobs or levers. Saves a bit of room in the halls, and is a very clean look. You have to get separate hardware to hold the doors closed (typically mounts in the top of the door and frame, but there are several options.

My pulls are something like these: https://knobdeco.com/linnea-round-recessed-pull-with-half-moon-in-stainless-steel/, mounted so the half-circle is vertical, not horizontal.

Don't order any of this stuff from Amazon -- unless you really know you're suppliers, it's often knockoff junk or seconds, and there's no reason to give Jeff Bezos another dollar. Have your contractor order it from a distributor.

I'll also put in my vote for Simon's.

What are the stores in NYC that might have a selection of pulls in stock? besides home depot.

Elegance in Hardware, 860 Lexington. http://www.eleganceinhardware.com/

I think they're still there. Used them a couple years ago for some locksets. Very nice to deal with in person.

are cabinet pulls of different quality based on price? Understand levers might have difference in mechanism quality, but how come are pulls between $3.50 and $35 a piece?

Not a lot of places stock that sort of stuff but lead times should be short. You might try Restoration Hardware or Rejuvenation.

Just be aware that the weight of the doors can affect the ease of using pulls. One set of sliding closet doors were made very solid and using the recessed pulls to open and close isn’t great (but we don’t have to do it very often

My doors with recessed pulls are laminated MDF, 24"w x 92"h x 2"thick, about 100# each (sprayed enamel satin finish). The doors are mounted with 3 large heavy duty Soss hinges and swing easily, and the catch is just stiff enough to hold them in place, so they doesn't require a Popeye to open them.

And yes, there can be a significant difference in pull quality across price ranges. The better ones are cast, not stamped, and have had attention paid to the finish surfaces: uniformly thick plating including the edges and interiors, no finish ripples or waves (you should truly be able to see yourself in a mirror finish), or a consistently smooth and even brushed surface, all with carefully shaped edges (should be absolutely smooth when you run your finger over them).

These sorts of choices are not made in front of a computer -- you really have to go to a well stocked shop (Simons, Elegance, etc.) and have a look and a touch, as well as a conversation with the staff. Because they're usually dealing with pros (contractors, architects), they're generally acting as advisors and consultants, rather than pushy salespeople.

Restoration Hardware has good quality stuff, but can be a limited choice. I've found Rejuvenation quality to be variable, depending on product (love their brass transom window hardware, though).

Go to a goldsmith and make your customized levers, it is worthy.

Top artisans of door hardware: P. E. Guerin, right here in NYC on Jane St.

https://peguerin.com/craft.php

Pulls on closets installed, whatever premium pulls were in stock somewhere at one of the stores recommended above, as well as recessed pulls on sliding doors, also whatever in stock, but very nice! All the doors and hardware look awesome!

By the way, I am all done, and promise to stop bothering kind folks on this board with these types of trivial questions going forward. Thank you all so much!!!

Glad for you, Krolik. Now onto pointless gossip & blather about RE!

myknobs.com

Don’t skimp on door pulls. Those sucker buyers like me know Baldwin when they feel and they do care about it. With that said, Emtek is also very good and I would not fault any reno for going that route.