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How We Added Sparkle In a No-Light Zone (+ a Door Knob Guide)

This post is in partnership with Schlage. Choosing door hardware is an opportunity to create an often overlooked design detail. Think of it as jewelry for your home! I’m breaking down our decisions, the various types of knobs and why the details matter.

Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, entering a bathroom with peachy-pink tile | via Yellow Brick Home
Custom Hobson Glass Knob with Century Trim

A big, delicious to-do was just checked off our list: Installing door handlesets in the den! (Pause for applause. Kidding.) But truly, this felt like a milestone, since it’s the first of our doors in our entire Two Flat that are finally fully operational!

As a refresher, the den is the lower level of Unit 1. In the span of a year, it went from a damp basement (see: cinder block walls and exposed drains) to a full buildout, complete with two bedrooms, a bathroom, laundry room and kitchenette. This meant sourcing all new everything from the ground up, with no detail being too small. And that brings me to today’s topic – door knobs!

On Choosing Custom Glass Knobs for Our Hall of Doors

The former basement was home to most of the utilities, including a large water heater and furnace, smack-dab in the middle of the concrete pad. To cut down on renovation costs, we asked our architect if it was possible for them to stay there and still build around them, which is how our hall of closets was born!

Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, Kim walking down a hallway with all new door hardware | via Yellow Brick Home

This hall connects the two bedrooms while also remaining the home for our utilities. Rather than move the water heater and furnace, we built a closet around it and created a hall that dictates the flow of the den level. We still wanted it to look pretty, so after a few revisions, we landed on the layout you see in the photo above! The doors on the left and right mimic each other, but they serve different purposes. The doors on the left open to a glorious closet, and the doors on the right are all of Unit 1’s utilities.

When we purchased all of our 5-panel doors, we opted to upgrade to matte black hinges, knowing that we wanted something equally special for the knobs. And when that time came, we chose these beautiful Schlage Custom Hobson Glass Knobs with Century Trim:

Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, pair of glass knobs | via Yellow Brick Home

We already have several glass knobs for the vintage doors on other floors, so choosing glass knobs here felt like a natural choice. I still remember opening the box and gasping aloud – they are that pretty! The glass is heavy and feels so nice in hand, and for something that you touch every day, it’s a treat to – well, treat yourself, don’t you think?

Privacy, Passage or Dummy?

Once we decided on the Hobson Glass Knobs, the next step was knowing which type of interior knob we needed for which door: Privacy, passage or dummy. Here’s how we broke that down.

Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, locking mechanism close-up | via Yellow Brick Home
interior side of bathroom door
  • Privacy | Privacy knobs have a lock and are used on bedrooms and bathrooms, or anywhere you need – you guessed it – privacy! The den bedrooms, bathroom and even a few of the closet doors received these Custom Hobson Glass Knob door sets, which default as a passage door set. A locking pin is inserted to make it a privacy knob. Pretty neat, huh?
Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, entering a bathroom with peachy-pink tile | via Yellow Brick Home
view looking into den bathroom
  • Passage | Passage knobs don’t lock, but they do turn and latch. They’re typically used on closet or hallway doors, or any door that doesn’t need a lock. In our hall of closets, we purchased the same Custom Hobson Glass Knob door sets as we did for the bedroom and bathroom, but we used it without the locking pin.
  • Dummy | Dummy knobs don’t need to latch or even turn. They’re more for looks, or in our case, they make a nice partner for the French doors in our hall of closets. Below, you can see that the knob on the left is a passage knob (see the latch?), but here’s our secret: The knob on the right is this non-turning glass knob! Common uses for a dummy knob may be pantry doors, or small cupboards.
Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, pair of knobs side-by-side | via Yellow Brick Home

It’s All In the Details

A reason that we return to Schlage again and again is their attention to detail. As a century old brand, their wide array of products – both interior and exterior hardware solutions – have been an ideal finishing touch to our doors as we work to maintain the authenticity our spaces, while simultaneously improving our home’s aesthetic and functionality. Their Custom Interior doorsets feature concealed screws on the backplates for a more polished look, and they’re available in several finishes for coordinating with your lighting fixtures, hinges and other metals in the home.

Schlage custom hobson glass knob detail, wide view of hallway with all new doorsets with glass knobs | via Yellow Brick Home

Choosing the design style and finish that suits your and your home’s personalities is the tough part, but once you hone in on what speaks to you, chances are, Schlage has what you need! Their matte black finish is a personal favorite of ours, and the glass knob is the added sparkle we craved in this space that receives little-to-no natural light. Who knew it was possible that a hall full of new doorknobs could make a girl so happy?

Thank you to supporting the sponsors that support us! Our Two Flat is outfitted with these Schlage Custom Hobson Glass Knobs with Century Trim in both privacy/passage and dummy (non-turning).

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  • lak9.17.20 - 5:28 AM

    So pretty!ReplyCancel

  • Caitlin9.17.20 - 11:51 AM

    Consider me influenced! Just purchased one for my bathroom :DReplyCancel

  • Cheryl9.17.20 - 1:45 PM

    I’d love for my hallway to look as great as yours when finished but paint and new sconces is all I have money, time and energy for right now. So I’ll live with mis-matched shiny and antiqued brass hardware and dream of matte black hinges and door knobs.I did purchase red & white swirly blown glass knobs from a local glass blowing studio for the bi-fold closet doors  – they will make getting out the vacuum cleaner feel special.ReplyCancel

  • JM9.17.20 - 4:38 PM

    I do love Schlage brand for all their keyed entry locks too. They are well built and known in the industry for being solid. I’m interested if they have other styles of glass knobs.ReplyCancel

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