Choose Your Own Adventure | Door Hardware [sponsored post]

Finding the right hardware for our home is like finding the right jewelry for your wardrobe.  There is no absolute right or wrong but rather you want these elements to reflect your home's personality in a consistent way.  There are endless choices when it comes to door hardware styles - both a blessing and a curse.  If you are struggling with finding the right hardware finishes for your home, I've created a fun little choose your own adventure guide below with my friends at Schlage.  Simply pick the image that appeals to you, and I'll select a door finish and a couple of doorknob styles that would suit.

Ready, set, go!

Love shiplap? Clean lines mixed with vintage accents? Bold colors in chippy paint? Then your style just might be what I call 'modern rustic'.  You want the modern advantages of open, renovated space but you appreciate a fine patina.  You'll want to select a finish that will work well with both sides of the spectrum.  Aged Bronze is the perfect middle ground.  The nearly black finish is contemporary while the subtle bronze highlights are a nod to the past.  This finish is a great crossover to bring together brass, bronze and black finishes that may appear elsewhere in the home.

Are neutrals your favorite colors?  Are you drawn to large, all white rooms with high ceilings? Do you like clean counters and uncluttered closets? Do you design a room with entertaining in mind?  If so, you might be more of a 'classic contrast' lover.  The best finish choice for your aesthetic is matte black.  Clean lines and a flat finish work in all types of homes and make for beautifully grounded accents against white and neutrals.  Hard to go wrong with this type of finish whether it be in door hardware, bathroom fixtures or cabinet knobs.

Do you prefer an eclectic mix of decorative objects collected over time?  Can you not pass an old bookstore without searching the stacks? Does your home tell a story about your life?  Do flea markets fill you with joy? Do you have a least one serious collection?  If so, you might just fall into a 'cozy cottage' decorative style.  You shy away from modern and lean into a warm, collected feel.  The perfect finish for your home is antique brass.  Not overly shiny or golden, this finish works well with your favorite older pieces and architectural details.

Does the idea of a minimalist life appeal to you except for the part about giving away all your stuff?   Do you have a mid-century style chair with a frilly pillow on it? Do you have a collection of mismatched glasses in your cupboards? Your are a mix of all kinds of styles that should not work together yet your home is perfect for you.  You are sweet and simple and everything in between.  Your hardware should be quiet and practical while still pretty to look at - a satin nickel finish is just the thing.

You have reached the end of the adventure. Have you found the door hardware finish right for you? Did I capture your style?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schlage. The opinions and text are all mine.

disclosure: This post is sponsored by Schlage but all opinions expressed are my own.  Thanks to all of my partners who support Brooklyn Limestone.

Keys are for Suckers | Smart Lock Upgrade

Time for a small confession: I don't like change. I'm one of those 'if it ain't broken, don't fix it types. I was one of the last people to get a cell phone, I don't gravitate toward gadgets or tech innovation and I don't like watching television on my computer. I could give you a longer list but let's just say, I'm part Amish. So when it comes to implementing technological advances in my home, I usually shy away. Not so shocking when you think of my love of old homes and vintage furniture I suppose - the old way can sometimes be the better way. Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong generation!

But there are some rare cases of a truly better mousetrap. It just takes one little crack in the facade to see the light.  Case in point, we installed the Schlage Sense deadbolt at our shore place and I am.in.love.




I had been thinking of replacing our standard deadbolt with a keyless deadbolt for years but now we have finally done it, it's such a huge convenience. The advantages are many - especially in a vacation home.

• No longer having to carry a key to the beach preventing the whole "hide the key in a shoe" game. Nope, criminals will never figure out our genius hiding place!
• Never having to make a copy of a key again. Sorry local hardware store.
• Being able to give friends and family their own unique codes (and being able to turn them on and off at will)
• Being able to give temporary codes as needed to the occasional plumber or condo inspection
• Never being locked out again because you forgot your key (no, that never happens to me - my mind is a steel trap!)
• Schlage Sense has a keyed option (although I don't plan on ever using that - keys are for suckers)

So what took me so long? Well, I was worried it would be difficult to install (I was wrong - it installed with a screwdriver), I was worried it wouldn't be secure (wrong again - it meets the highest industry rating for security), I was concerned it wouldn't work with our less than stellar Wi-Fi signal (no issue here because it uses Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi). So essentially I was worried about absolutely nothing and I'm so pleased I got over my fears and went ahead and joined the modern age.



What about you?  Does new technology scare you off or peak your interest?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schlage. The opinions and text are all mine.

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3 Easy Tricks to Up your Curb Appeal Game

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schlage. The opinions and text are all mine. 

**Click here to enter to win $1000 gift card + design consultation with Carmen Phillips**


While curb appeal gets a lot of attention when you are selling a house, it can sometimes be neglected when you are actually living there. It's easy to get overlooked since you spend most of your time INSIDE and other jobs can take priority. But, there are easy ways to improve a home's curb appeal without a ton of effort (so you can get back to your big to-do list elsewhere) and reap the rewards you can enjoy every time your return home.



There are plenty of traditional, time tested ways to improve your curb appeal from great landscaping to beautiful woodworking to upgraded lighting. You probably have already heard them all so I won't bore you with the basics. Instead, I'm sharing a few easy tricks that you might not have thought of before.  Added bonus is that they that take very little time or money to implement but still reap big rewards.



Trick #1 | Opt for dark colors Instead of getting a new front door, paint your existing one with a rich shade to create a modern eye catching entry. While investing in a fabulous front door is generally a great idea, paint can do wonders at a fraction of the price. Skipping the bright colors and sticking with a dark shade will help hide a multitude of sins while making even an outdated style appear modern and fresh. Black is a perpetual favorite, but you can create the same impact with rich inky blues, forest greens and charcoal greys. Don't be afraid to go dark here as a deep front door will attract the eye -particularly if your home is painted a lighter shade. The same concept is employed by a winding stone path, spot lighting and great molding but this idea is a much easier solution with the exact same result!



Trick #2 | Update your door hardware Even the most outdated door gets an instant pick me up with a new front handle set. Especially if you pick something with great clean lines like SCHLAGE'S CENTURY FRONT ENTRY HANDLESET. Not only is this an easy upgrade to install that beautifies your entryway - it also improves the security of your space in a flash. You can go two ways with finish. Opt for the matte black finish on a dark door (as in this example) to give a more modern, monochromatic feel to the entry space Or go with a matte brass or nickel to create some visual contrast and eye catching reflective surface. Either way, the new handleset will create the impression of a more updated home in a flash.



Trick #3 | Add Whimsy Whether it be a fun vinyl decal welcoming your guests, a modern wreath or a pink flamingo, adding something just a little bit fun will not only show your personality but also gives the eye something to rest on. On the example above, the white "hello" decal is a super affordable and fun addition that can be installed in one minute flat. This technique will distract from the elements of your entry that are less than ideal. Take a step back and look at your front entry way. Does it have depth and texture already with the existing structure, materials and plantings? If not, add in a few layers like big leafy green ferns or hanging plants, updated house numbers or an eye catching welcome mat. If your front entry space is located on a porch, add a cozy seating area for extra welcome. The goal is to be inviting to both guests and residents so go the extra mile to create that message visually

Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Schlage. The opinions and text are all mine.

Update the decor of any room in 10 minutes!

There are lots of ways to update the decor of a room - fresh paint, new furniture, better lighting. But there are few better or faster ways to make a quick change in almost no time at all than to update the door hardware. It's a small and easy change but the impact is big.

If you know me, I'm a hardware junkie. I fell in love with the limestone partially because of the door hardware. Even though the rest of the house was a complete disaster, the hardware was the window into the past that lured me in and inspired me to take on the challenge. I love to visit architectural salvage shops and pour through their vintage hardware for great finds. There is something oddly sentimental about a good doorknob to me. I imagine all the hands it touched over the years - like a small bit of history saved. Even when used in less than traditional ways, I'm a sucker for a good doorknob.



Practically speaking, the right door hardware has outsized visual impact. Think of a great doorknob as the great pair of earrings to pair with a classic dress. Small in size but can instantly update a space. Best of all? Replacing an old doorknob with a new one could not be easier! It requires no special tools or skills - simply unscrew the one you have, pop in the new one and screw together. Voila!



I had been wanting to change out the door hardware in our shore apartment for ages but it never made it high enough on the to-do list. A few years back we renovated the BATHROOM but left the door hardware for a future project. Then hurricane Sandy hit and we renovated the KITCHEN, but again, we never got around to tackling that door hardware. There has always been a mishmash of colors and styles that drove me a little crazy. It's a small thing but the wrong door hardware always screams "thrown together" to me in a way that is never a good thing.


So when Schlage contacted me to see if I was interested in partnering with them, I jumped at the chance. Having used Schlage locks for years already, I knew I was getting a quality product that would last and would feel sturdy to the touch.



Since I like to mix metals as my tastes change, I wanted the knobs to be versatile to work with any finish. I selected SCHLAGE'S BOWERY KNOB WITH GREYSON TRIM in matte black for the closet, bathroom and bedroom doors. Bravo to Schlage for making a great matte black finish that goes with just about any style. It works as well in a coastal style home like ours as it would in a modern or industrial space.

With so little time invested, I finally have matching hardware unifying the apartment and updating the style at the same time. What a difference an hour can make when you have the right materials. I could not be happier with the result!

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Schlage but all opinions expressed are my own.