Window fixings - brass, chrome, black?

[Zebra]

OK, purely a matter of taste here, but I'm rubbish at aesthetics and choosing finishes!
I've had timber windows made which will be painted with white linseed oil paint. The house will have a fair bit of exposed timber, and even the new extensions will have lime plaster, so hopefully will have a period feel. Need to buy fixings for windows, and can't decide - brass, or black? Normally I hate brass but chrome doesn't suit the house, and I find the black stuff a bit twee? What have others chosen and how does it look?

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm no expert on period decor and fittings but I'd guess that any original fittings for your house would have been made by the local blacksmith. I'm not sure when chrome was first available, but I doubt it it was all that long ago so probably not appropriate.

For the 'cottagey' part of our house, we've used black iron window furniture. Kirkpatrick make a good range and I don't think it's twee in the right setting. For the Georgian part of the house we'll use something a little grander.

I would avoid a pure white for the windows. I don't think it's an authentic period colour, though again I'm not sure when the modern brilliant whites became available. I believe they are dependent on titanium oxide, which sounds fairly modern to me.

Not that we have much choice as all our windows are black.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I have a copy of a Victorian builders merchants' catalogue and most of the window fitting are quoted as wrought iron or malleable iron. Some of these had the option of being finished in bronze, berlin black(???) or black japanned but many I presume were simply sold with the raw finish. There were only a few brass window fitting and these were more expensive. I get the impression your house is older so I would imagine the iron finish to be most appropriate. I think that or black looks good but it is all personal taste.

 

[tobydog]

I agree with FF on the windows. An old cottage has just been renovated in our village and the windows were painted white. They stick out like a sore thumb and you can't help thinking they are plastic double glazing.

On the window fittings we kept with black in the old part of the house as it had a more rustic feel than the more comtemporary offerings.

 

[Zebra]

A stipulation of the Planning Permission was that my windows had to be white painted timber. All the older cottages in the village have white painted timber windows, although none of them are probably original. I could have got away with an off-white, but it's all better than the PVC I've taken out so I don't really mind.
Hmm, so black fixtures then? Perhaps if I could find something plain, without the curly monkey tail bits. Perhaps I could get the local forge to make me something.
Thanks for the Kirkpatrick tip, I've just had a look and they have lots of choice, I'm sure I'll find something there.

 

[plasticpigeon]

How old is your house? I can scan in the page of casement fasteners from the old Victorian catalogue if you like. When I remade a window frame here I threw away the (later) monkey tail fastener as i wasn't too keen on it, but my girlfriend made me buy another one because she liked it! I don't mind, I've got to choose my battles wisely!

 

[biffvernon]

The window furniture that I have used more often than any other over the last several years is http://www.arciron.com/hfiron6.html

 

[Zebra]

Dammit Biff I'd all but made a decision then and you go and throw another viable option into the arena! 8)

 

[El Greyo]

Dammit Biff I'd all but made a decision then and you go and throw another viable option into the arena! 8)

What did I tell you about procrastinating? If you'd just put off those decisions for a little while longer then another option wouldn't come as a surprise. It would also give you an excuse to procrastinate even longer as you ponder the new information.

 

[Feltwell]

Dammit Biff I'd all but made a decision then and you go and throw another viable option into the arena! 8)

Details are important though, especially when you've got a limited number of windows!

If you want to go truly individual then you could get them made to your own design. If you don't know a local blacksmith then I could recommend a very good one who has made black iron curtain poles for myself and several others on here - he'll make pretty much anything to a customer's drawing, he's very reasnobly priced and will send items by carrier.
He's done quite a few different jobs for me now.

 

[dans]

Zebra- we bought a couple of great books a while back, which has really helped us choose the finer details; Perfect English Farmhouse and Perfect English Cottage. Both highly recommended for some inspiration!

We've chosen the black iron and they look fantastic! I think it only looks twee against cheap modern windows. If you've got some nice period timber windows, they'll look just right!

 

[dans]

Zebra- we bought a couple of great books a while back, which has really helped us choose the finer details; Perfect English Farmhouse and Perfect English Cottage. Both highly recommended for some inspiration!

We've chosen the black iron and they look fantastic! I think it only looks twee against cheap modern windows. If you've got some nice period timber windows, they'll look just right!

P.s. some of mine have just gone in, so have a look if u still popping round...

 

[Feltwell]

I should have said - Zebra, the curtain poles that myself, MdB and a few others on here have had made by this chap would suit your place perfectly I reckon. Although I realise that curtain poles are a long, long way down your shopping list right now!

 

[MdB]

I should have said - Zebra, the curtain poles that myself, MdB and a few others on here have had made by this chap would suit your place perfectly I reckon. Although I realise that curtain poles are a long, long way down your shopping list right now!

Very happy with them here. They look fab.

 

[Zebra]

Thanks all for your help, but I've now bought these from Kirkpatrick, the firm Flyfisher recommended.
http://kirkpatrick.co.uk/product/6833/casement-fastener-3365
http://kirkpatrick.co.uk/product/6850/casement-stay-1312
Rather than being very original, hand-made, stand-out kind of things, they are black, smooth, plain, and unobtrusive, and I think will do fine. I'm not really trying to pretend that I have window fasteners hand-forged in the 17th century, I just wanted something that would suit.
I might have missed a trick though of course Feltwell and MdB so please don't post any pictures, to avoid window-fastener-envy!
Dans I'd be interested to see of course, yes I did invite myself over didn't I, and would love to arrange that.
Feltwell, you're right, funny but it hasn't occurred to me to think about curtains while my windows are still boarded up.

 

[MdB]

I might have missed a trick though of course Feltwell and MdB so please don't post any pictures,

As you asked so nicely I just couldn't resist... here are some curtain poles. Curtains are closed to hid the plastic behind...

 

[Zebra]

Well yes they are nice, and yes, something like that would look very nice here, although for curtains of course I'd have to go for stripes not spots.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Good old Kirkpatrick, just up the road from me in Walsall!!! I think their stuff is good and well priced.

 

[biffvernon]

Avoid window-fastener-envy? No need. There's the choice between wrought and cast but after that Kirkpatrick's are probably the best (maybe only?) malleable whiteheart cast iron fittings you can get.