Your home design can take a turn for the better when you get a grip on the door's hardware. See how decorative knobs or levers -- made of metal or glass -- are opening doors to home design.

"An entrance door handle is really the first point of contact a person has with a home," says Fredy Orellana, global senior project manager for Baldwin Hardware, a doorknob design company since 1946, based in Lake Forest, Calif. "And the kind of knob or lever that's on a door can help make for a grand entrance."

Orellana says a doorknob can, in turn, be both functional and ornamental, like "jewelry" on the blank canvas of an interior or exterior door. "The doorknob becomes a focal point as you use it to open the door to enter a room," he says. "But form should never compromise functionality."

A working doorknob's components include a latch and spindle. The latch is the mechanism that stays in the opening of the strike plate on the doorjamb, which keeps a door closed. However, when you turn a doorknob -- which is attached to a long metal spindle -- the latch then retracts into the side of the door, allowing the door to be opened.

Many doorknobs are manufactured to fit the American standard door with a 2 1/2-inch pre-cut hole. Shiny brass doorknobs, found in hardware and home improvement stores, are ubiquitous standard builders' grade that are installed by people who, perhaps, don't even consider the other opening (and closing) options.

But Orellana says a home that is well-designed pays attention to the smallest details, such as the doorknob hardware. "When it comes to doorknobs, we are finding that what was old is new again, as people are restoring old homes or just want a quality product that focuses on design and craftsmanship," he says. "The 'less is more' principle also applies to doorknobs, as people are opting for smaller, Euro-inspired sets with decorative flourishes."

The doorknobs used within a home must complement a house's architecture. A scrolled, ornate doorknob wouldn't open new doors in a modern, minimalist design, and a bright shiny doorknob would look out of place in the renovation of an older home.

Renovating homes with older appeal can include adding doorknobs that are oval-shaped with decorative designs. Brass remains a popular doorknob metal, but for a one-of-a-kind look, shiny finishes are out, while oil-rubbed and matte finishes are in.

When it comes to transitional spaces that blend both a traditional and modern aesthetic, there is a strong resurgence in crystal doorknobs. With a timeless quality that appeals to young and old alike, crystal doorknobs feel luxurious in the hand, says Orellana. While crystal doorknobs' popularity is rising, the price is also a luxury that can also soar up to $500.

Contemporary spaces look cool and polished with shiny nickel knobs and barlike levers. "A lever works the same way as a doorknob, except that it is much easier for both adults and children to open," Orellana says. "There is strong demand for levers in contemporary design, as many no longer have that 'institutional' look."

Levers are popular in homes that employ the concept of "universal design," so retirees can age in place. The addition of well-designed levers, instead of the sometimes more difficult to turn doorknobs, is key is to making accommodations in a home, without making it look too institutional.

A well-designed doorknob on an exterior door has to pull double-duty: It not only has to look stylish, it also has to help provide a level of security. "It used to be that double doors on the front of homes were popular," Orellana says. "But now, more people want larger single front doors that lock into the doorjamb."

An exterior doorknob, lever or latch system with a deadbolt lock should meet the highest American National Standards Institute (ANSI) rating. A Grade-One deadbolt is best, which meets impact standards and is pick-resistant.

Original, antique doorknobs are prized among those who are renovating their homes, but make sure the handle sets are in good working order before purchasing. Swapping out a builders' grade variety for knobs that blow the doors off design can be a do-it-yourself project that is achieved by using a simple screwdriver, says Orellana.

"A simple doorknob can reflect great design," Orellana says. "By turning your attention to the small details, a doorknob becomes something more than a way to open a door; it becomes a small delight in design that you hold in your hand."

Opening Doors

Baldwin Hardware: (800) 566-1986, www.BaldwinHardware.com

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

Home design is looking up as companies manufacture products that make an impact on a room's sixth wall: the ceiling.

From bright copper coffered to warm wooden timbers, ceilings should emulate and complement the design elements in a home, says Lori Rowley, marketing manager of Armstrong Residential Ceilings, based in Lancaster, Pa. "People spend so much time in a house sitting and lying down that homeowners are realizing they don't have to stop decorating with just the walls and flooring," she says. "A top-notch ceiling design can bring drama or help create a light mood in a room."

Usually, ceiling standards are at least 8 feet in height, but can have vaulted details that reach up to 12 feet tall. In general, the lighter in color a ceiling is, the more open and airy a room will feel. By contrast, dark colored ceilings can make a room feel smaller and cozier.

In many homes, ceilings are blank canvases that can be decoratively painted or paneled, with a unified design aesthetic that is pleasing to the eye from top to bottom. Ceiling design is first dictated by the existing architecture, which can include a curved cove, vaulted cathedral or a recessed tray ceiling, which breaks up a flat ceiling with an inverted or recessed rectangle as a focal point.

For some, transforming an unappealing ceiling is as easy as choosing a complementary paint color to the walls, papering the ceiling with wallcovering or adding fine details, such as stenciling and crown moldings. But for other homeowners, dressing up a textured topper is a ceiling challenge.

"People want to get rid of their 1970s textured ceilings that were sprayed with particles, which resemble popcorn," Rowley says. "You don't have to scrape and paint a ceiling, when you can cover it with decorative tiles."

Armstrong has patented an "Easy Up" ceiling system, which is a suspension system for ceiling tiles that uses metal tracks secured into a home's joists. Tiles or planks are then clipped onto these metal tracks and interlocked together, which are floated right beneath the existing ceiling.

But Rowley cautions that a ceiling should be structurally sound before installing decorative tiles over it. "Ceiling tiles shouldn't be used as a 'Band-Aid' for ongoing water damage or falling plaster," she says. "You can't cover up a ceiling that's coming down."

The use of ceiling tiles is nothing new in America, when tin varieties rose to popularity around the turn of the 20th century. Today's use of ceiling tiles is topping out in below-grade applications as more homeowners use basements for media rooms, bars and "man caves."

Here are some options that will decoratively put your ceiling over the top:

-- Tin Ceiling. Traditionally, uniform shapes of thin tin were stamped with a design and snugly meshed together. For those who want their home to emulate Craftsman- or Tudor-style houses, Armstrong has the Metallaire decorative tile collection that features white, brass, warm copper-plated or reflective chrome-plated finishes. Up to $9.50 per square foot, these ceiling tiles can be used above a bar or kitchen island to create a "wow" effect.

-- Coffered Ceiling. This architectural finish is found in the stone coffers of ancient Greece. Characterized most often in square sunken panels, these ceiling tiles have a modern look that adds a sense of height to a room, says Rowley. Armstrong's decorative "mineral fiber" tiles top out at $3 per square foot and can be painted.

-- Wood Panel Ceiling. Wooden planks are precisely cut and installed side-by-side to adorn high flat or vaulted ceilings. Creating an elegant or cozy cottage feel, Armstrong's engineered pre-stained wood planks have tongue-and-groove construction and cost around $3.30 per square foot.

When choosing a decorative effect for the ceiling, also take into account the style and placement of light fixtures. From recessed cans to grand chandeliers, you can illuminate the ceiling's design by getting the light right. As a rule, the darker the ceiling, the more light you will need in the space.

In a home's great room, where the kitchen, dining room and family room share a continuous ceiling, it may be overkill to tile or panel the entire space. Instead, Rowley suggests using decorative techniques above the table or kitchen island, set off by crown molding, to create a focal point that tops it all.

"Homeowners are becoming more aware of the design possibilities of ceilings, because they are looking up," Rowley says. "People want their personal style reflected on the sixth wall of a room, because they want to live within a space, not in a box."

SOURCE

Looking up: www.armstrong.com/residential-ceilings

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)

If you are at home near your range, there are a multitude of reasons why the stovetop has become a hot spot for gathering in today's kitchen.

"The kitchen remains the heart of the home," says Eliza Sheffield, vice president of marketing for BlueStar, a manufacturer of cooking accoutrements and ranges since 1880 in Reading, Pa. "There's a reason people say, 'hearth and home.' The 'hearth' has changed to include modern-day cooking appliances, but its importance in the home hasn't changed."

The range -- or kitchen stove -- is a stand-alone appliance comprised of four to 10 burners or cooking elements on top, with an attached oven for baking.

A recent survey by Houzz -- a home design website based in Palo Alto, Calif. -- finds that 32 percent of nearly 8,000 participants who are planning home kitchen renovations want a "chef's stove." For many, "dining out" really means "dining in," enjoying meals made on a restaurant-quality range from the comfort of their own kitchen, Sheffield says.

"People want to feel like a 'top chef' at home, and go beyond the basic range," she says. "Preparing food at home has evolved into 'cooking as theater,' where the cook is also having a social experience with family and friends."

Many homeowners feel a professional-looking kitchen is within range, due to a variety of hot options when it comes to functionality, finishes and size. Mainstream manufacturers, such as KitchenAid and Maytag, try to emulate the stainless steel designs found in the pro-grade profiles of BlueStar, Viking, Wolf and Dacor range brands.

When shopping for a range, consider your cooking and baking needs, floor space with gas/electrical outlet availability, and style aesthetic. Gas ranges allow for precisely controlled temperatures. While electric ranges don't have a flame, they also don't immediately cool down when the heat is lowered on cooking elements. An induction-style range uses an electro-magnet below a ceramic cook-top surface, which quickly transfers heat to pots and pans only.

Ranges vary in width from 24 to 60 inches, with price tags from under $1,000 to more than $4,000. Sheffield says BlueStar's 48-inch professional-style range is one of their most popular sellers, and starts at $7,600.

BlueStar's freestanding ranges are handcrafted and made of steel with up to 10 cast iron grates on top, depending on its size. More than 750 colors and finishes are available so customers can "build their own BlueStar," Sheffield says.

Many professional-grade ranges offer custom-color, textured finishes or stainless steel exteriors, with customizable knob colors. Stainless steel and metallic textured finishes can construct a contemporary culinary creation, while a rainbow of custom colors suit '50s chic- and Euro-inspired kitchens. Lilac-colored Radiant Orchid is Pantone's color for 2014, and BlueStar is set to satisfy people's purple penchant in their range options.

"Today's kitchens are floor to ceiling cabinets -- even the refrigerator is clad in cabinetry," Sheffield says. "The area surrounding the range is a place in the kitchen where homeowners can make a statement and the range can literally stand out."

Often, the range becomes a focal point of the kitchen with a larger, eye-catching backsplash on the wall between the range and the hood venting. A pot filler faucet plumbed into the wall behind the range makes this space one that really cooks, without having to leave the stovetop and go to the sink for water.

Customizable stovetops on ranges can support the way a home cook really cooks. A griddle for pancakes or charbroiler can be placed over burners, while a French top insert for simmering sauces or wok ring can lead to more global gastronomy.

Larger freestanding ranges have spacious single or side-by-side ovens, often pairing a convection heating element in a conventional oven for the uniform circulation of heat. For a baking bonanza, many of these ranges can accommodate full-size commercial baking sheets.

While an island is no longer uncharted territory in the kitchen, some homeowners opt for an industrial cooktop built into it. Instead of an integrated range, homeowners can cook on the island cooktop and bake in the wall ovens. Double wall ovens installed at eye level can offer twice the cooking capacity and generally run up to 30 inches wide. Double ovens can be ideal for occasions that require several different dishes to be cooked at the same time at different temperatures.

Modern in technology, Sheffield says these ranges also have a classic style, which inspires people to get back to their food roots in the kitchen. "People are hungry for the way their grandmothers used to cook in their kitchens," she says. "While these ranges are an investment, they are built to last and will pay dividends in good food."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Heating up: BlueStarCooking.com, click the "Build Your Own BlueStar" link on the right.

(For editorial questions, please contact Clint Hooker at chooker@amuniversal.com or the Universal Uclick Editorial Department at -uueditorial@amuniversal.com)