Door handles/knobs?

We need to replace ALL of the door knobs on the first floor (the foyer, both bedrooms and closets, linen closet and bathroom). Honestly, I don't really pay attention to doorknobs so I'm not really sure what finish I should get. Please help me decide! Here is some info:


We just dormered the upstairs and the builders installed the doors with brass door handles. Should I use the same on the first floor so that it is consistent throughout the house?

The fixtures in the bathroom on the first floor are brushed nickel and so is the front door knob. Should the door handles in the bathroom and the foyer be brushed nickel as well? If so, should the whole floor be brushed nickel, or should the others be brass?

Any other ideas, opinions welcome!

Message edited 7/12/2008 11:50:36 AM.

Re: Door handles/knobs?

I would keep each floor consistent, so I would do nickel on the first floor. Why replace the front door knob just to match the upstairs?

Re: Door handles/knobs?

I don't think it needs to be consistent throughout the house, maybe just on each floor or in each area of the house.

Our front door and garage door handles are brass (they are on the first floor). Our guest bathroom, guest bedroom and master bedroom door handles are brushed nickel (we replaced the gold brass that were there) and our laundry room door handle we did a dark bronze, which will match our kitchen hardware since that door is off the kitchen.

Re: Door handles/knobs?

my real estate agent got me into being conscious and picky about them all matching.

I am so glad our house all match....they even matched the toilet flusher.

ETA: I don't think the whole house has to match, but the whole area or floor should.

Message edited 7/12/2008 4:09:46 PM.

Re: Door handles/knobs?

I would weigh how many things you have to change vs the cost. ie, how many door handles would you have to replace if you wanted to do all brushed nickel? How many if you go with brass?

Which do you prefer? bc if it's brushed nickel and you just had your upstairs done, you should call the builder and ask them to switch them out at their cost, which is technically your cost since they will take the brass ones with them and you have paid for the nickel ones. If it's a newly done renovation, I don't see why they wouldn't do so.

If you can't get that done and it's too costly to do the upstairs with new knobs, I'd do the nickel downstairs and keep the brass upstairs. I like it all to match though so I'd probably end up switching them all.