Strange powder room question????

14 years ago

I have a strange powder room question :) We have friends with an old, beautifully restored and added to victorian house. They have this fabulous vintage occupied/vacant sign on their powder room which is part of their door lock.

I found one which I loved on ebay which was english and had the even better saying "vacant/engaged" :) This one is new. I am probably doing oil rubbed bronze doorknobs. Has anyone found one in ORB? Do you think unlacquered brass would work? I do have that brass aging solution that could take the glare off the original brass?

Trying to find inexpensive ways to give this new house some character by incorporating interesting things - bought some great old bin pulls on ebay which I will likely put in the pantry or in my office - not enough for the kitchen but want them somewhere to make me smile :)

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Comments (7)

judydel
14 years ago
athensmom that sounds so cool!! I've never seen anything like that, but would love to. Do you have a photo of the one you're considering?

So you've been doing ORB for your hardware and want to know if unlacquered brass would fit? I think so, and if you get around to aging it even better. But it sounds like even if it doesn't match the rest of the hardware it will be interesting enough to not need to match, if you know what I mean.
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
Here are a few I have looked at:

http://www.vintagehardware.com/uploads/prodimages/28037-1188572302.jpg

http://www.bennettsironmongery.co.uk/products/3565_1.jpg

Mannerly also makes a nickel one I think in their powder room collection which has the option of saying Occupee, which might be fun if you were doing a french house :)

http://showhouse.moen.com/images/mannerly.jpg

Our friends is just so super cool, great for parties, a little touch you don't notice until you need to use the powder room and then it always gets a comment :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Ebay link for brass vacant/engaged sign
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athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
And here are a few more with slightly different styling and more interesting inside lock handles

Here is a link that might be useful: more vacant engaged locks
sweeby
14 years ago
Great idea!
And don't worry about the ORB and old brass not matching --It'll look all the more authentic that way.
Actually, I think the whole thing would look more authentic if your hardware wasn't ORB...
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
As far as the ORB goes - not married to that. And if we do it it will be probably Emtek with the living finish copper underlay. Having said that, our friends who have this fab 1920s house that they have redone have ORB. It is decorated very currently (has been in regional design mag) so not period in decor but I guess the ORB worked the best with the original patina on the hardware.

I guess they have nods to the period (carrera marble 12 foot by 6 foot island in their addition) but still very great blend of old and new. I wish I had a picture but it totally works :)
athensmomof3
Original Author
14 years ago
Oh and also, the ORB will not be on the bathroom fixtures - just on the doorknobs/ hinges. Chrome likely on the bathroom fixtures.

Obviously don't want chrome or nickel door hardware in this traditional old new house, but what are the other options? Shiny brass is a no and I guess antiqued brass is too??? ORB seems the best option but I don't want black hardware on my painted doors? It seems that all the magazine pics I have of houses like that have ORB on the doors and chrome or brushed nickel in the baths
nutherokie_gw
14 years ago
Oh my! Those are the cutest things! Now I wish I wasn't using a pocket door for my powder room. Oh, and I think uncoated brass would look very nice with oil-rubbed bronze.