By the Hand for the Hand – Windsor Architectural Hardware

Words by Aaron Grinter

With more than 35-years’ experience crafting hand-finished door and window hardware, Windsor Architectural Hardware’s special finishes demonstrate a commitment to quality and a motivation to go beyond traditional door handles.

The progress made in global manufacturing from artisanship to industrialisation saw increases in speed and quantity of output, but something was lost along the way – the ineffable emotion evoked by the organic beauty of something crafted by hand. Recognising this, Windsor Architectural Hardware has committed to hand-finishing products to a standard recalling the artisans of the past. This dedication to quality and intensive hand-finishing is key to each of Windsor’s special finishes, available in three main categories – Living finishes, Gloss and Matt Lacquered finishes.

“For our craftsmen, there is a genuine passion for what they do, and they’ve been doing it for a long time.”

Windsor Hardware also understands that the development of the home does not end the moment the building process is completed but that it continues to age and evolve over its life.

Finishing each handle is not as simple as a quick coating or brushing, it is an exhaustive process, with each craftsperson spending several days working on a piece to achieve the striking finish. “The hand-finishing process requires each single piece to be disassembled and individually processed, imparting a distinct uniqueness to the finished product that cannot be achieved through mass production,” says National Business Development Manager Daniel McCallum. Through the intensive process, Windsor Architectural Hardware is motivated by a genuine satisfaction in the quality of the end result: “For our craftsmen, there is a genuine passion for what they do, and they’ve been doing it for a long time. They take a great deal of pride in the quality of their workmanship of every handle and every part.”

The remarkable hand-crafted finish is not limited to one look either, with Windsor Architectural Hardware offering a generous selection of materials, colours, and effects. In the Italian hardware collection, there are six different styles of hand-finished door handles and five door plate styles, allowing for a comprehensive array of style possibilities from traditional right through to sleek and contemporary. The time and effort dedicated to these finishes ensures that they will endure for many years to come, with each brass fitting backed by a 15-year warranty.

“Our most exclusive finish series, the Living Finishes, are designed to become more elegant with age and use.”

Windsor Hardware also understands that the development of the home does not end the moment the building process is completed but that it continues to age and evolve over its life. Responding to this, the living Finishes series is intended to patina and develop character over time, improving with age in a way that few household objects today are designed to do. “Our most exclusive finish series, the Living Finishes, are designed to become more elegant with age and use through natural patina within the brass material composition. This has four brass and two bronze options,” says Daniel.

It is this consideration of the active relationship between home and occupant that makes Windsor Architectural Hardware stand out. The passionate response and dedicated following that the company has seen from both the design and consumer communities speaks to the quality of the craft that underlies each piece. Daniel says, “we’re proud of the relationships that have been established between ourselves, the interior design community and our distributors nationally, as well as homeowners, many of whom have become repeat customers over the years.”

Finishing each handle is not as simple as a quick coating or brushing, it is an exhaustive process, with each craftsperson spending several days working on a piece to achieve the striking finish.