The power of personalisation

Gone are the days when every homeowner wants a white PVCu door with a matching gold handle, letterplate and Urn knocker. The market is continuing to evolve at a rapid pace, with consumers expecting more choice, as they look to enhance their property’s kerb appeal, without compromising on performance or security. So, what are the latest trends that window and door manufacturers can tap into with their hardware offering?

Going for gold

Rose gold finishes have taken the interiors market by storm over the last few years, reflecting the continued popularity of metallics in our homes. This contemporary alternative to traditional gold is now found in many areas of a property, from kitchen cabinetry and bathroom tapware to light fittings and decorative accessories.

The demand for rose gold has now moved to the exteriors market, where homeowners are increasingly looking for modern hardware finishes that will complement contemporary door and profile colours, and make a statement on their street. Rose gold’s subtle pink tones create a stylish look, particularly when contrasted with darker colours, such as dark blue, anthracite grey and black.

Fab&Fix’s new Hardex Rose Gold finish has been specifically designed to help manufacturers meet this demand. Available in a range of suited hardware, it enables homeowners to add a contemporary touch to their entrance door and windows, whilst achieving a perfectly matching finish across their entire property.

The range includes door handles, cylinder pulls and escutcheons, in addition to letterplates, bull ring knockers and window handles, all in contemporary designs that reflect the modern feel of the rose gold finish.

Achieving an authentic aesthetic

Many owners of older and traditional homes are increasingly investing time and money in recreating period styles and character features. Authentic designs and finishes can add value to a property, and help create a home for modern living that remains sympathetic to the era in which it was built. To meet this demand, heritage hardware for period-inspired windows and doors are being developed to create a more traditional appearance, but one that is combined with the performance, quality and durability of modern materials.

This can be seen in the popularity of Fab&Fix’s heritage-inspired Hardex finishes, including the new Forged Black and Aged Hardex Pewter options, which replicate the look of traditional forged iron hardware. A tactile surface is created through the application of intricate patterns, which, when combined with a matte black or aged pewter finish, has a premium visual appeal that perfectly emulates the authentic handcrafted style common to period properties.

Because the finishes are available across a complete suite of classically inspired door and window hardware, such as spire door knockers and monkey tail door handles, they enable fabricators to provide homeowners with affordable, high performance hardware that replicates the aesthetic of forged black and aged pewter, whilst offering superior levels of security and resilience.

Contemporary is king

For new-build properties and city apartments, style expectations have also changed, with European-inspired door styles featuring additional glazing panels remaining popular. To complement this contemporary, clean aesthetic, there has been some movement away from high-gloss hardware finishes such as polished chrome to more muted, industrial-inspired matte finishes.

This can be seen in the popularity of Fab&Fix’s Anthracite Grey and Hardex Graphite finishes, which provide a modern alternative to standard chrome, particularly when applied to door handles, letterplates and knockers that feature streamlined designs and sleek profiles.