Polished chrome lion head door knocker with its ring, centred in a wreath of silver and white baubles on a glossy lacquer-red front door
Front door · Christmas

Lacquer red, polished chrome and a silver Christmas

A glossy red Edwardian door with a chrome lion knocker, dressed in silver, white and frost for a crisp, bright take on the season.

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The look
Fittings
Polished chrome
Front door
Lacquer red
House
White renderMarble blackBath stone
Decorations
SilverFrost whiteMercury glass

A white-rendered Edwardian villa with a deep timber porch, fretwork brackets and a chequerboard marble floor. The door is a rich lacquer red with round-arched top panels, and every fitting on it is polished chrome. Red is the one strong colour here, so the decorations stay silver, white and frost: silvered leaves, mercury glass, white baubles and lit birch twigs. Chrome reflects all of it, which keeps the porch bright even on a grey December morning.

Up close
White-rendered Edwardian detached villa on a frosty morning with a red front door in a white fretwork porch, a chequerboard path, frosted box hedges and silver lanterns Polished chrome letter plate and stepped centre knob on a glossy red door, with a white envelope and silver ribbon on the chequerboard porch floor Polished chrome cylinder pull on the lock stile of a red door beside a white frame and side light, with a round chrome bell push on the white porch wall Polished chrome numbers 18 between two round-arched panels on a red front door, the top of a silver and white wreath below Edwardian hallway with herringbone parquet, white panelling and a white flocked Christmas tree in silver and white, looking towards the inside of the front door Polished chrome reeded beehive knob on a white panelled door opening onto a dining table laid with white linen, silver chargers and candles under a crystal chandelier
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Polished chrome for a red front door

Glossy red Edwardian front door in a white fretwork porch dressed with a silver and white wreath and frosted swag, fitted with polished chrome numbers 18, lion knocker, stepped centre knob, letter plate, cylinder pull and china bell push 4 1 5 6 2 3
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Good to know

Why chrome suits a red Christmas door

EraEdwardian, 1901 to 1914
Trend statusRising; silver finishes are making a comeback
Inspired byFrosty mornings and white-rendered Edwardian villas
SuitsRed, burgundy and black doors on white or pale houses

Red needs a cool partner

Red with brass is the traditional pairing, but it can tip into warm on warm. Polished chrome cools the red down and makes it look sharper and more modern, while still suiting the mouldings of an Edwardian door. That's why silver and white decorations feel so natural here.

A knocker with presence

Edwardian doors were built tall and solid, and a lion's head knocker has the scale to match. Hanging the wreath so the lion sits in its centre makes the knocker the focal point, and it can still be lifted and used.

Bright in poor light

Polished chrome is the most reflective finish on the door, so on short, dull winter days it bounces back daylight, lantern light and fairy lights. It's also very hard-wearing and needs nothing more than a wipe with a soft cloth to keep it clear of fingerprints.

Getting the details right

Leave room for the lion

The lion knocker is 180mm tall. Fix it on the centre line with enough clear door above it for the wreath, and check the ring can swing freely onto its striking point.

Knob and letter plate together

Keep the stepped centre knob and the 253mm letter plate on the same centre line, with the knob a hand's width above the plate, so the door reads as one composed group.

Choose a china bell

A round chrome bell push with a white china press is the period choice and catches the eye at night. Fix it on the wall at the lock side, at shoulder height.

Silver inside too

The polished chrome tidy hides the letter cut-out on the inside, and reeded beehive knobs in the same finish carry the look onto internal doors.