Early glass handles were highly specialized pieces that were multifaceted with a wide variety of designs etched into their surfaces. Caring for these deco-age household artworks requires an appreciation for the workmanship that went into them. Because cleaning them involves careful consideration of the etchings, it is important to use a soft cloth to ensure that no scratches are introduced onto the surface.

Of course, you can still buy a glass door handle in your local hardware store. For many replacing their antiques with newer models is the easiest way to care for the glass doorknobs. These doorknobs are often referred to as “builders’ specials” and are not of the high quality you would find in the antique versions from the early twentieth century. However, since they tend to be priced around ten dollars each, as opposed to the thirty to one hundred dollars you can pay for an antique door handle, money concerns might make this an easier way to care for them.

If you own antique glass handles, your most common work to care for them will entail looking for replacements for worn or damaged parts. The customary piece to be looking for is the stem that connects the glass handles to the door. Since the pre-twentieth century handles were generally made with unthreaded spindles that had holes on either end, while the ones produced after turn of the century have square threaded spindles it is important to determine the type of glass door handle you have. There are a variety of places that you can hunt for replacement parts for your antique glass doorknobs when this happens.

Although yard sales and estate sales might be cheaper, you will find yourself in competition with professional antique buyers at many of these. However, for many the hunt is part of the joy and I have found that most of my best buys were made at early morning estate sales, especially in older neighborhoods where the glass door handles may not be seen as anything more than an old piece of hardware.

Salvage shops might be a little more expensive, but you are likelier to find the right part with less effort. There are literally hundreds of designs at the various salvage shops which is why they are the best place to find replacements or handle parts for broken or damaged glass door handles. Many of these shops have an online site as well, which makes it easier to search.

Finally, antique stores, especially the “junky” ones that allow you to rummage through their stock can be a great source for glass knob replacement parts. If you are thinking of haunting the antique stores to replace one of a set of antique glass doorknobs, be sure to bring one of the original knobs with you while hunting for replacements.

So no matter if you decide to replace your glass doorknobs with newer models, repair the ones you have, or replace damaged ones with additional antique door handles; caring for your glass handle will ensure a lasting impression of style and elegance for anyone who walks in your door.

You have to begin by looking at the collector versus the decorator. A collector is someone who has a wide variety of vintage door knobs proudly displayed in their home. They may be mounted on a special display or in a case. These are the kind of people who love the hunt just as much as the door knobs themselves. In fact, there is a national organization for this called the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America. A group like this will work hard to preserve many types of vintage door knobs and are even planning the development of a museum of ornamental builder’s hardware that will include an extensive collection of vintage doorknobs. Collectors help preserve many vintage and antique house wares that would probably be lost in the development of new and more modern materials.

A decorator, on the other hand, will love vintage doorknobs because of the way they add a whole new note of grace and sophistication to a room. With the simple addition of a crystal vintage doorknob to a Victorian-styled dressing table, a decorator will make a simple antique a piece of amazing elegance. In addition, many decorators will match vintage doorknobs to a modern kitchen or bathroom cabinet to make a statement with the minimum of additional cost. In a bathroom in particular, the addition of something as simple as a porcelain vintage door knob and fixtures will give the room a sense of old world charm. Many of the colored glass vintage doorknobs can be matched to a color scheme and added as drawer pulls, hat racks and more, to give an individual style to a room.

Of course, for the new homeowner who is trying their hand at finding their own style, there is nothing like discovering vintage door knobs to encourage a young couple to try something different. Freed from the boring sameness of run of the mill furniture stores or the unsurprising look of Ikea furnishings, rummaging through an old junky antique store in your neighborhood can connect you with the local history. For the new homeowner, a simple find like vintage door knobs can give a focus to a room or inspire the owner to try out an idea seen in magazines that looked too expensive or daunting. Discovering your taste, adding your own touch of whimsy or exploring unconventional concepts can give a new homeowner a sense of pride.

So it doesn’t really matter if you are a collector looking for that elusive green glass 1890s vintage doorknob to complete your set, a seasoned home decorator pursuing 1920s porcelain drawer pulls or the fresh young homeowner looking to plunge into your first try at home do-it-yourself projects. The amazing thing that will draw any of these people and others is that with vintage door knobs you can own your own piece of history. How you make history with them from there is up to you.

You’re almost done with your extensive home remodeling.  You have just about everything ready except for your glass shower door handles to buy and install.  Perhaps you put it off because you thought they were insignificant compared to other new items you’ve installed as part of your renovation.  Now you’re not sure what to do.  Here are some suggestions.

Look up several websites that specialize in selling door knobs and door handles.  When perusing through the door handles, be sure to pick a glass shower door handle that not only will look great but something that is fairly easy to install and sturdy.   After all the money you’ve invested into remodeling your home, you will want something that will last you several years.  It’s also important, when remodeling your bathroom, to have a budget ready so that you can buy door handles that will last.  To make the glass shower door handles your last priority and buying something very cheap is not advised after all the work you’ve put into remodeling the bathroom.

Another suggestion is to survey a few of the several websites that specialize in hardware, door knobs, and other glass door handles.  It’s best advised to make the actual purchase at a hardware store such as Home Depot or Lowe’s that sell these items but you can save time by either perusing a catalog or the websites that sell glass shower door handles.  Websites and catalogs usually give you an approximation of the size, tools needed for installation, and price.  Also, customer rating can be helpful on deciding what to shop for.  At Amazon Dot Com for example, many displayed items have customer reviews that you can read through.  These reviews can help you make an informed decision when buying the glass shower door handles at the store.

When you’re at the store to make your purchase, do not rely on what a sales clerk tells you.  Many of them are well meaning and are actually well informed about the product you’re interested in.  However, they are sales people eyeing their sales commission and may steer you towards a more expensive item that you don’t need.

If you are considering an extensive cosmetic remodeling job for your home, it pays to take the time to research what you would like your home to design to be.  Realize this.  You can make your home very attractive with something as simple as some antique glass door handles or knobs that can accent a bathroom, a kitchen, or a bedroom closet.  You may want to consider installing door knobs on all the doors that have a vintage look.

Why the vintage look?  For some, an antique door knob or glass door handle represents an era when fixtures represented fine craftsmanship which are missing in a mass produced society.  They also have an elegance to them that modern fixture seem to lack.

If you choose to use antique glass door handles, it’s sometimes best to use facsimiles of antique door knobs and handles than an actual antique.  An antique door handle may be beautiful but may not be secure, and may be worn and unsuitable for practical use.  Facsimiles appear antique or vintage but are designed to be sturdy and easy to install.

Vintage looking knobs and handles are not always readily available or have a very limited selection.  To research a wide variety of vintage door knobs, one good source online is Look In The Attic Dot Com.  As the name implies, you can locate many household fixtures such as door knobs, door knockers, hinges, and many other items of vintage design.  Vintage door knobs include knobs with a crystal octagonal shape and knobs made of porcelain.  Each knob that’s highlighted on the page includes the available measurements and the parts included.  Prices for knobs and handles tend to be less than $100.00.

Other attractive vintage items available include glass drawer knobs which can tastefully highlight a bathroom and kitchen.  All of these items are in very affordable price ranges.

After researching a site such as this one, it should be apparent that there’s no shortage of ideas when it comes to remodeling a room.