First Impressions

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The door knockers should be plain, — as well as being functional. "Often
sterile and totally uncluttered. "You when I walk up to the door and am
see more polished chrome, a more carrying two bags of groceries, I want
intimidating look," Mrs. Lipsitz said. to unlock the door and just kick it
Oil-rubbed bronze is popular on the open," Mrs. Elston said.
contemporary front door. "It sort of
Door viewers are really selling. And
imitates what brass might look like 20 the door bell button covers are also
or 30 years from now," said Ann getting the attention of many ome
Elston, a controller at Russell Hard- owners. "You can buy them to match
ware, another store that sells elegant the front door locks," Mrs. Elston said.
household hardware.
Before you can decorate the front
In a traditional home, it's easier to door with the myriad assortment of
achieve a look that says, "We're so accessories, there's an important
happy to have you here," according piece of hardware that those who are
to Mrs. Lipsitz. "You can buy really building homes must purchase the
period door knockers. Acorn-shaped, door, itself.
lions' heads and the S-shaped
Although this may sound like a
knockers are all traditional. When you pitch, Detroit homeowners should
add these specific details on a tradi- buy American-made doors, specifical-
tional front door, the provide a ly northern wood. Import doors come
specific warmth," she said.
from warm climates like Mexico.
On the front door of a traditional They're not conducive to our cold
home, the type of hardware that weather. This is the reason, stores
especially catches visitors' eyes is the such as Peacock Alley choose doors
lock itself, said Mrs. Elston. "It's go- made from northern wood.
There are many different ways you
ing to be absolutely polished brass
or antique brass. You can also get the can decorate your front door. If you
entrance handleset (thumb knob pull) can't decide among a contemporary,
traditional or French provincial front
as opposed to a round knob."
The bolts of choice for the tradi- door, why not try a combination of
tional home with a double front door all three. Hey, it might look gaudy; on
are Cremone bolts, full length bolts the other hand — don't knock it!
that go into the top and bottom of
the door jam. They are used on pairs
of doors. "It's a more interesting way
to fasten your doors when you have
a pair of doors, one being stationary,"
Mrs. Lipsitz said.
The alternative bolts are surface
Furniture as Art is a new theme at
bolts. They can either go on the top the Englander's Birmingham
or bottom. Surface bolts come in dif- showroom this fall with a display of
ferent lengths. "A surface bolt is a way contemporary cabinets by Luciano
of still adding interest to the door Frigerio.
without spending a lot of money,"
The cabinets are beautiful at first
Mrs. Lipsitz said.
sight and amazing upon closer look.
Someting with a lot of detail and The designs are handcrafted of inlaid
scroll — along the brass lines — can wood veneers of numerous and
create the French provincial mood, unusual grains. The colors in the
according to Mrs. Elston.
designs are the natural shades of the
"There's a renewed interest in for- woods and anoline-dyed pieces.
mality and a look of deep heritage,"
One cabinet is a bar, faced with a
Mrs. Elston said. "And French provin- Picasso-inspired reproduction of in-
cial fits that need."
laid wood; and the other is a design
At this point, polished brass on the of trees which employs inlaid brass
front door is the trend. "People just as well as veneers.
like the look of brass," Mrs. Elston
Each cabinet requires five months
said. "Tomorrow, they might like for delivery due to the amount of
something else."
labor and skill required, and sell for
Kick plates are also popular today about $7,500.

Art' Furniture
At Englander's

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