Polished brass in a mansion flat
Tall white doors, deep cornicing and parquet, with the long, elegant Savoy scroll lever in bright polished brass on every door.
A second-floor flat in a red-brick Edwardian mansion block, with the generous proportions these buildings are known for: high ceilings, deep cornices, a marble fireplace and oak parquet throughout. The internal doors are unusually tall, so the owners chose a handle with a long backplate to match. The Savoy scroll lever in polished brass suits the period perfectly, with a keyhole version on the doors that still have their old locks and a bathroom version on the bathroom.
Polished brass Savoy levers for a period flat
More Savoy levers and polished brass
Edwardian flats and their doors
Scale matters
Mansion flat doors are often well over two metres tall. A short handle plate can look lost on them, while the long Savoy backplate with its arched ends fills the space and looks right from across the room.
Why polished brass
Polished brass was the everyday finish of the period. Against white paint and warm parquet it glows rather than shouts, and it ties in with brass lamps, picture lights and fire irons.
Three versions, one look
Use the latch version on most doors, the keyhole version where an old mortice lock is still in use, and the bathroom version with its turn on the bathroom. From the hallway every door matches.
Planning notes
Keep it bright
Polished brass is lacquered. Clean it with a soft dry cloth and avoid metal polish, which strips the lacquer.
Old keyholes
Where a door has a separate keyhole, a covered escutcheon with a rope edge matches the period and stops draughts.
Hinges
Swap painted-over hinges for polished brass butts so the hinge side looks as good as the handle side.
Prefer it aged?
The same Savoy shape comes in antique brass for a softer, older look.
