One of the perks of renovating a period home is the journey through history you will inevitably take. Once you know the period of your property, don’t be surprised if you become an expert in the decorating style of that era overnight.
The UK has such a rich design history that it makes property renovation a genuine treat. Learning about the evolution of interior design will help you to make informed choices throughout the renovation process.
This month, we’re looking at the humble Edwardian door. You might think all doors are created equal – wood, hinges, handles etc – but there are some striking elements of the Edwardian door that make for interesting discoveries in period properties.
Rather than ripping out old doors and installing new, you might consider giving them a bit of TLC once you know more about their rich history. And if you need to replace any of your antique door hardware, we’re here to help. With a wide range of faithful reproductions of Edwardian styles, you can be confident you’re staying true to the origins of your home.
Starting outside, Edwardian doors are typically very striking. They may feature stained glass panels both in the door and in the surround. They are often very detailed, with raised mouldings and decorative hardware such as brass letter plates and bold knockers. It was also common for a large door pull to be placed in the centre of the door. This helps residents to pull closed the large door.
The Edwardian entranceway was intended to communicate your wealth to the world, so they had to communicate the right message to visitors and those passing by. This is one reason that expensive stained glass was a common choice for Edwardian properties.
It was popular to paint the front door in bold and bright colours like red or blue, but today we see the trend towards dark green, shades of grey, or light pink.
Step inside and the theme of opulence and splendour continues. These doors would typically be very ornate and feature moulded panels. A popular style includes three vertical panels on the bottom and one at the top.
It’s also not uncommon for glass panels to feature inside, too. Glass panels in your doors can help to increase light throughout your home. These doors might be left unpainted and simply stained to protect them, or they might be painted white.
This opulence continues into the entranceway, which would typically feature patterned tiled flooring, ornate radiators and a grand staircase.
Photo: @from_house_to_home_84
Period door hardware helps to bring the entire look together. Wooden beehive door knobs in darker shades were popular during the Edwardian period. It was also common for brass door knobs to be used to communicate wealth. Brass also looks beautiful alongside stained wood.
We also see cast iron rim locks on interior doors. This is a great choice for your bathroom if you’re looking for something that looks that part but also delivers functionality. Another option would be a simple Fishtail Door Bolt or Suffolk Latch Set.
When it comes to renovating properties, the wooden panels of the doors often simply need some TLC, but original period door hardware might be nearing the end of its functional life. Thankfully, we stock everything you could need for your Edwardian home renovation.
Save yourself the effort of scouring the salvage yards in search of matching sets of door knobs and functioning door locks. Vintage Door Knob Centre offers a wide range of period door furniture including faithful reproductions of classic Edwardian styles.
Shop all the accessories you need for your home renovation. The Edwardian Ebonised Bun door knob is the perfect choice for interior rooms. For your front door, choose a large brass door pull paired with our Lion’s Head Door Knocker.
Sign up to our mailing list for the latest news, offers and Rad inspiration. You can unsubscribe at any time.
