Yes, all the knobs in my house match: crystal knobs with brass backplate. But I could imagine mixing-and-matching, as well.

Nope. I have white porcelain, clear crystal, one amethyst crystal, original eastlake brass, a couple of reproduction eastlake brass, and one deco chrome with cool backplate in mt 120 year old house. Oh and the back door lockset is basic "antique" brass (the cheap stuff).

I have almost all glass/crytal door knobs, some are original some have been replaced over the years. So while they are all the same material and are similar - they dont "match" exactly. Our house was built in 1923 so I like to keep what was original. The only doors that are not crystal are the original, old brass door knob with back plate- way cool, and the original brass handles on the french doors in the living room. Oh and the back door is modern so it is a blech modern security knob.
I would take the back plates and paint their doors if it were me!! I adore glass door knobs( any kind of vintage doorknobs for that matter, like Aunt Clara in Bewitched.)

Nope - mine don't match. Our house was built in 1936 and we have many of the original knobs, some glass some porcelain but have added other vintage ones as we've added on and remodeled. We also have a variety of the cool old backing plates, some highely decorative and others simple, but even simple from that era has incredible detail. Are you SURE you don't want the backing plates, too?

My Old house, had Both Glass and Brass which were original to the home. early 20's... we Kept all the Old Glass ones for the Upstairs Bedrooms & Bath..and
Down on the Main Floor, we had all the original old Brass ones.. DH had taken each one and cleaned and restored them and they looked beautiful. Things like that are not passing fads especially in an Older Home...they are Classic and Traditional..and they Never go out of style.

I would definitely take the backing plates.

We have crystal door knobs on all the main doors to our rooms, but the closets are all brass, as are a couple of the knobs on the inside of the room.

All are original to the house.

I'm the one who recently posted photo's of my new crystal door knobs. I have them on all the interior doors and exterior doors are metal. I know some people who only have the crystal on some doors and metal on others. I don't think mixing would be a bad thing. I would be consistent say, have all crystal on passage doors and metal on closets or vice versa. Just so the doorknobs match in their application.

Here's a photo of mine.

here's a pic of the one. some of them are a little different.
{{!gwi}}

If I take the back plate off I don't know if they have the same paint still!...Think they would've taken them off to paint? Guess I'll find out. The backplates aren't a shiny brass, they're more antique bronze?

Also didn't know if they would look out of place since we just built the house recently. ?

Never changed a door knob but I can't imagine it's that hard. Just a couple of screws right?

OT, but Brutuses, I just love your home. You're the one who convinced me to get fancy glass double doors. I thought yours were so pretty. Mine are sitting in the garage -- were supposed to get installed this week, but might not. I am *dying* to get the doors in!

Is there a chance the antique knobs won't fit sheesharee's door hardware?

Think they would've taken them off to paint? Guess I'll find out. The backplates aren't a shiny brass, they're more antique bronze?

My guess is yes, they were removed when the door was painted. Are you sure the backplates are brass? Seems like they would have more of an aged look if they were. Get some Brasso and rub a little on one of them. See what happens. Definitely keep the glass knobs! Our house was built in 1950 and has brass/crystal. We replaced the ones in the living room with solid brass. All knobs in the new addition are oil rubbed bronze. It all works!

Please don't use Brasso on those backplates. If you want, wash them with soap and water, but do NOT use chemicals on them. They will never look the same, with the aged patina.

Patser, if those backplates are brass Brasso will only clean them ... not damage them. The "patina" will quickly return ... if they are in fact brass.

awm, thanks so much. Can't wait to see yours installed. I'm also thinking about this antique knob fitting this new door. Old knobs are an entirely different mechanism. That's why I didn't even try to get antique ones because of the hassle of trying to install them in the new doors.
sheesharee, who will be installing them? Is it a skilled carpenter? You need to double check to ensure you can even use them on your doors.

I have porcelain knobs, crystal, brass and they are all original to the house I believe. My house was built in 1895. I have a thing about pretty knobs. lol

I don't think you'll be able to install those on a door with a modern lockset. They look like they're part of an old mortised lockset. Apples and oranges. Besides, they should be left in the house for future owners who might want to put them back. :)

Natal, Tell that to the 1 backplate that I tried to clean 2 years ago....and which is now sitting in the basement because it doesn't match the rest of our home. We found another at salvage to match ours.

Hmm.. wonder if the backplates are brass.

Bru - I was going to attempt to put them on myself. DH will probably get involved. Neither one of use have put a door knob on though before. My Dad's pretty skilled with stuff like this but he had back surgery last week and I'm sure isn't feeling up to working on it.

The knobs should at least fit right? The ones on my door are 2" diameter and I'm pretty sure these are too.

Maybe it's an old house thing?

Our house turns 100 this year & we have the original glass, porcelain, wood & Eastlake knobs throughout.

Bru - forgot to mention I really like your doors and all the pics I've been seeing of your house! Where did you get yours at?

Still not certain about the backplate thing. If all this stuff fits I don't know that I want to put additional holes in my doors.

Ours are all oil rubbed bronze. When my parents built their house around 6 years ago they did all the knobs ORB except the powder room, their room, a closet off the entry hall and their master bath...those are glass/crystal and just lovely. I like that some of them stand out more than others. It gives the house some character IMO.