Shop 4 Classics Old House Blog

Loose Pin Door Hinges: Butt Hinges with Removable Pins

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:17:00 +0000

A loose pin butt hinge is a door hinge that has a center pin that can be easily removed from the barrel to separate the hinge. Naturally, they are also sometimes called removable pin door hinges. Opposed to loose pin door hinges, butt hinges are also available with a fixed pin. Fixed pin door hinges are sometimes also called tight pin door hinges or rigid pin door hinges. Fixed pin butt door hinges have a permanent pin that cannot be removed from the hinge.

IDH Loose Pin Butt Door Hinge

The advantage of having a loose pin door hinge is that the door can be uninstalled without having to uninstall the hinge from either the door or the door jamb. The hinge pin can be tapped out of the loose pin door hinge to allow the door to be lifted away with little effort. Removing a door isn't an everyday event but it can be helpful to remove a door to refinish it or to paint the door frame. Removing doors can also be beneficial when moving furniture or appliances through doorways. Anyone that has done much of this is sure to have encountered a situation where one extra inch is needed to fit through a doorway. Tapping out two or three hinge pins and lifting the door out of the way can be the difference between a clawfoot tub installed in the bathroom and one resting in the hallway.

Removable pin door hinges are commonly used on interior residential doors. They can be used on exterior doors as well but should not be used on outward swinging exterior doors. If the pin is exposed, as it would be for an outward swinging exterior door, the pin can be removed by a burglar to easily gain entry to your home. Choose a fixed pin door hinge for outward swinging exterior doors.

Shop 4 Classics offers loose pin butt door hinges from IDH by St. Simons (IDH). The IDH loose pin door hinges are available in the most typical sizes and most popular finishes. They feature classic ball-tipped finials. Ball tipped door hinges are common in old homes of most any architectural era but are especially ubiquitous in Arts & Crafts period homes. IDH loose pin door hinges are beveled at the barrel to provide a tight fit in both the open and closed position. The knuckles are precision aligned to ensure smooth operation.

We have one final caution about choosing loose pin door hinges. In some cases, it can be important to know whether a door is a right hand door or a left hand door before choosing removable pin door hinges. Choosing the wrong handing could result in a hinge that is upside down. While it may not look any different, the pin will eventually work its way loose if it is inserted from the bottom of the barrel rather than the top. This is not an issue with IDH loose pin butt door hinges. The knuckles on IDH loose pin butt door hinges are threaded at both ends. This allows the ball-tipped finial to be threaded into either end of the hinge so the pin can always be installed through the top of the barrel. Handing is unimportant for IDH loose pin door hinges because there is no strict top or bottom.

Shop 4 Classics offers loose pin butt door hinges, fixed pin butt door hinges, and door hinges of all types, sizes, and finishes from IDH by St. Simons, Nostalgic Warehouse, and others. Visit Shop 4 Classics for tremendous selection and great prices on door hinges.

Resin Grille Air Return and Heat Register Vent Covers: Decorative Options for Wall and Ceiling Vents

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 10 May 2013 19:32:00 +0000

Distinguished Design Retro Resin Air Return Grille

Decorative vent covers featuring resin grilles are fast becoming a popular option for wall and ceiling air return as well as heating vent applications. There are many advantages to resin vent covers over traditional iron, aluminum, brass and even wood vent cover grilles that have led to their popularity. One of their greatest advantages is that resin grille vent covers are very light in weight making them easier to install on ceilings and walls. Resin grille vent covers are also generally less expensive and typically available in a wide range of sizes. Although resin grilles are not designed to support weight and therefore are not to be used on floors, quality resin grilles also have durability advantages as they will not rust and are resistant to warping, insect damage, corrosion, and moisture.

Shop 4 Classics has just added high quality resin grille heat registers and resin air return grilles from Distinguished Design. Distinguish Design’s collection of resin vent covers are currently available in twelve designs with grille patterns that range from classic to contemporary. Each Distinguish Design pattern is available as a heat register with pre-attached dampers for air control and as a simple air return vent cover. Their resin grilles are available in a paintable option as well as black, brown, and

Distinguished Design Caspian Cross Resin Air Return Grille

white.

Resin grille vent covers install in much the same way as other types of wall and ceiling vent covers. In fact, the guidelines discussed in the recent blog entry, "Professional Installation of Wall and Ceiling Heat Registers And Air Intake Covers" applies to installing resin grille heat registers and air return vent covers.

Clawfoot Tub End Game: Dual Clawfoot Tubs vs.End Mount Clawfoot Tub Faucets

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:33:00 +0000

A dual clawfoot tub is a tub that is rounded at both ends of the tub. It is also sometimes called a double-ended clawfoot bathtub. The clawfoot tub faucet is usually installed in the center on the side of the tub.

Frequently, customers ask, "can I get a dual clawfoot tub with the faucet mounted on the end of the tub?" While they prefer the symmetry of a dual clawfoot tub, they are bound by plumbing that is configured near the corner of a room rather than the middle. If the faucet were mounted on the end of a dual tub, the customer could have their symmetric tub without changing the plumbing. Unfortunately, this bit of nirvana is not easily obtained.

There are two important reasons clawfoot tub faucets are not normally mounted on the end of a dual tub:

Installing a faucet at the end of a dual tub defeats one of the double-ended tub's important advantages. Because both ends of a dual tub are rounded, a person can comfortably sit at either end of a dual tub or two people can simultaneously share a double-ended tub. This would not be the case if a faucet was installed at one end of a dual tub rather than centered along one side. If the faucet was mounted at one end of a double-ended clawfoot tub, a person could not recline comfortably with their back to the faucet end of the tub.
The waste and overflow holes for the clawfoot tub drain will always be in the center of a double-ended tub. The overflow on a clawfoot tub drain requires a relatively plumb vertical surface. The only relatively plumb vertical surface on a double ended bathtub is the side walls. The ends of dual tubs are sloped at an angle that would make it difficult to accept the overflow. Also, if the drain plug were at one end of the tub, the faucet would be the least of the discomforts for the person seated at that end of the tub.

For these two reasons, double-ended clawfoot tubs are not offered with faucet holes drilled through the rim at one of the ends. However, you can choose a double-ended clawfoot tub without faucet holes and install a wall mounted clawfoot tub faucet or a freestanding clawfoot tub faucet wherever you like around the perimeter of the tub. Wall mounted faucets and freestanding faucets are independent of the tub. Installing a freestanding faucet or wall mounted faucet at the end of a dual tub would make it awkward to sit at that end of the tub (see reason number 1) and the drain will always be centered on the side of the tub (see reason number 2) but this would be the one way that you can end mount a faucet for a double-ended clawfoot tub.

Arcadia Dual Clawfoot Tub from Sign of the Crab

Telephone Style Clawfoot Tub Faucets Answer the Call for a Vintage Style Bath

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:06:00 +0000

Most people today have grown up taking baths and showers in bathtubs that have changed very little over the past 100 years. In fact, the modern built-in tub complete with in-wall shower system became the norm for baths soon after indoor plumbing became a standard requirement of new home construction in the early 1900’s. Therefore, those wanting to create a vintage style bath often have to spend a little time becoming familiar with freestanding bathroom fixtures and their unique plumbing. There is much written about freestanding clawfoot bath tubs but comparably much less written about the clawfoot tub shower options.

Telephone Style Clawfoot Tub Faucet

The stand-up shower for original clawfoot bath tubs was an expensive and complicated-looking attachment that included a shower riser and shower ring all made of brass that were often then plated with nickel. Stand-up clawfoot showers were somewhat of a luxury option for early clawfoot tubs with mere bathing and use of simple handheld shower attachments being much more common.

Spigot style clawfoot tub faucets had ribbed down spouts that could be fitted with a simple rubber hose that could be used to shower. These hoses were typically only two to three feet long so the bather remained seated while showering. A strange enhancement to the simple rubber hose shower attachment was a longer hose that ended in a sprinkler yoke that fitted around the hand of the bather while they stood up in the tub.

The British telephone style clawfoot tub faucet offered the third type of shower option for early clawfoot bath tubs. The telephone clawfoot tub faucet has a flexible shower hose attachment connected to a handheld showerhead. Unlike the simple hose on spigot style clawfoot faucets, these hand showers do not attach to the faucets spout but to a separate shower diverter that is usually located on top of the faucet body.

Shop 4 Classics is currently offering the FAUCET5 discount coupon that can be used when your order includes a clawfoot tub shower, supply lines, and drain from the same manufacturer. The FAUCET5 coupon applies in addition to our already discounted prices and, as always, shipping is free for any order of $100 from a single manufacturer.

Much Ado About What's New from Sunrise Specialty, Reggio Register, & Coastal Bronze

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:44:00 +0000

We are still in just the first week of spring but signs of life anew are popping through the snow that remains on the ground. Yeah, spring is a time for renewal but what does that have to do with Shop 4 Classics? Well, Shop 4 Classics is the home of old home renewal and new home restoration products are popping up on our website all the time. So without further ado, here's what's new in old home restoration at Shop 4 Classics:

Sunrise Specialty Double Bowl Console Sink

Sunrise Specialty recently introduced a double bowl console lavatory sink. This gracefully curved Victorian era reproduction console lavatory features two separate bowls that make it a great choice for his-and-hers bathrooms. Despite being a spacious 47" wide, the openness of the double bowl console sink creates a sense of airiness that can't be accomplished with vanity sinks. The Sunrise Specialty double bowl console lavatory sink is a great option for implementing his-and-hers bathroom floor plans without cramping small spaces.

Reggio Register Steel Air Return Grilles

The latest from Reggio Register is solid steel air return grilles. Suitable for floors or walls, the steel grilles' square grid pattern matches the square grid pattern on the Reggio Register aluminum air return grilles. Unlike Reggio Register's aluminum and cast iron air return grilles, the steel air return grilles are flat on the back. The flat back means that the steel grilles are not self rimming but it also allows them to cover unusually sized ducts without modifying the duct opening. The steel air return grilles have screw holes and include matching screws to secure them in place. The steel air return grilles are available in black, gray, and silver. Beauty, durability and performance are the hallmarks of all Reggio Register products and the new steel air return grilles are no exception.

Coastal Bronze Traditional Bronze Hardware

Coastal Bronze has been busy this spring adding new items to their collection of traditional bronze hardware. New items include a lockable flip-over bronze gate latch, a bronze surface slide bolt, and a bronze cabinet bin pull. All Coastal Bronze products feature rustic hand crafted designs cast in solid bronze and finished with a rich Arts & Crafts brown patina. Coastal Bronze's old world restoration bronze gate hardware, bronze door hardware, and bronze cabinet hardware certainly make an impressive statement.

Say sayonara to Old Man Winter. Spring is here and Shop 4 Classics is the place to shop for your spring home remodeling projects. Visit the Shop 4 Classics' What's New page frequently for recently added items or just browse our complete catalog for unbeatable selection and discount prices. And with that, we bid adieu to what's new.

Professional Installation of Wall and Ceiling Heat Registers And Air Intake Covers

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 17:41:00 +0000

Installing wall and ceiling vent covers is so easy that anyone can do it, right? Sure, but there are a few "tricks of the trade" that can make your do-it-yourself installation look like it was done by a skilled professional. Today, we will discuss installing wall and ceiling heat registers and air intake covers (or air return grilles) to provide a polished, professional appearance.

Choose registers and air return grilles with screw holes for wall and ceiling installations. The screw holes will be necessary to secure vent covers to walls and ceilings. Lightweight aluminum grilles work especially well for wall and ceiling vents. Aluminum grilles are economical and can be painted to blend in with walls or ceilings or faux painted to provide a unique design element. Shop 4 Classics recommends Classic Grills white aluminum registers and white air intake grilles or Reggio Register light gray aluminum air return grilles for custom painting.

If you are replacing an existing vent cover, remove it to expose the register box (ductwork). If the vent cover has been in place for many years it may have paint built up around the edges. Carefully score under the edges of the current heat register or air intake grille with a utility knife so it can be pulled away without damaging the wall or ceiling. Unscrew the vent cover and lift it away from the register box. Recycle.

Clean the inside of the register box with warm soapy water or a household cleaner. Dishwashing detergent with a degreaser works particularly well for cleaning old ductwork. Cleaning the register box behind the vent cover prepares the ductwork for painting.

Unless you are going for an industrial look or prefer the metallic gray backdrop of sheetmetal, paint the register box with a flat black spray paint. The flat black paint will darken and soften the background behind the register or air intake. Choose a direct-to-metal spray paint such as Rustoleum. When painting ductwork behind a vent cover, it isn't so much the quality of the paint but the quality of the spray can. Any ol' brand will work but cheaper paints often come in cheaper spray cans that can spit and sputter causing a bigger problem than they solve. Mask around the duct opening to protect walls or ceilings from overspray. Those skilled in the use of spray paint can shield around the register box with a piece of cardboard.

With the new vent cover in hand, run a light bead of painter's latex caulk around the bottom of the vent cover rim. Latex caulk is recommended because it is easier to apply and clean up than silicone caulk. Press the register or air intake grille in place over the vent opening. All Shop 4 Classics vent covers with screw holes also include matching screws. Secure the vent cover to the ceiling or wall with the screws provided. Apply latex caulk around the edges of the grille where its edges meet the surface. Smooth out the caulk seam with a damp paper towel. The caulk not only helps to glue the vent cover to the wall or ceiling, it also provides a subtle seamless transition between the grille and the wall or ceiling. This technique is especially effective for hiding gaps created by textured ceilings or uneven plaster and lathe walls. Professional painters and trim carpenters use this same trick around door trim, window trim, and baseboards to correct for uneven walls.

Often, vent covers are installed as an afterthought that detracts from a room's appearance. Following these simple tips will instead enhance walls and ceilings to create a professionally finished room.

The supporting images and many of the tips covered in today's post were provided by the vent cover experts at Classic Grills. Classic Grills produces the finest art quality aluminum and bronze air intake grills and heat registers. Each Classic Grills vent cover patterns feature a handcrafted look and feel that you and your guests will admire for many years to come. Shop 4 Classics offers the complete catalog of Classic Grills heat registers and air return grilles. In addition to discount prices and free shipping for orders over $100, Shop 4 Classics offers the HARDWARE5 promotion code for an additional 5% discount on Classic Grills orders of $500 or more or the HARDWARE10 promotion code for an additional 10% discount on Classic Grills orders of $1,000 or more.

Is your sense of style Baroque? Cherub, Shop 4 Classics has the hardware you need to fix-up your palace!

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:59:00 +0000

Baroque is the name given to the extravagant style of design of early 15th century Europe. Luxurious materials including marble, fine grain wood and lavish fabrics are combined with highly complex, often to the point of being extravagant, design. Baroque style varied by region, however, the style was intended to convey an overwhelming sense of grandeur and opulence.

L'Enfant Door Hardware
by Brass Accents

A popular current design trend is to combine ornate elements of original Baroque style alongside contemporary design elements. The addition of the heavily designed Baroque elements is intended to infuse energy and a romantic appeal to that may be lacking in a purely modern setting. This design trend is generally referred to as Eclectic Baroque or referred to as Modern Baroque by some designers.

Shop 4 Classics specializes in offering a wide selection of period hardware, including hardware rich with designs that are the hallmark of original Baroque style. L’ Enfant door hardware sets by Brass Accents features an elaborate design that includes dolphin figures and cornucopia under a strong transom arched top. This pairing of complex accents with exaggerated architectural features is a hallmark of Baroque style. Brass Accents also offers European style cabinet hardware and curtain tiebacks that are ideal for adding eye-catching flair. The Baroque period is known for paintings and sculptures that feature idealistic figures and emphasis on movement. Movement, ideal human figures and even cherubs can be found in the designs of Copper Mountain’s Baroque style push plates. The series of push plates includes the Eve and Apple Tree push plate, Goddess at Daybreak push plate, and Goddess at Night push plate.

Choosing Antique Reproduction Door Hardware: Getting To The Heart Of Things

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 17:59:00 +0000

Choosing antique reproduction door hardware is a little like searching for a soul mate. Initially, you might be attracted to what is on the outside but ultimately it will be what is on the inside that will determine compatibility. Today, we put aside the superficial and look at the technical aspects that you should consider when choosing antique reproduction door hardware.

Judging what is on the inside of door hardware requires understanding the door's function. Not all doors have the same function. For example, some doors simply have to open and close while others must lock. Shop 4 Classics offers most interior door hardware with a choice of functions to satisfy every door hardware need. Below is a summary of common interior door hardware functions.

Passage Tubular Latch (top)
and Privacy Tubular Latch (bottom).

Passage Function - The most common door function is passage. Passage door hardware includes two door knobs, two backplates, and a passage latch. These doors latch but they do not lock. Closet doors and doors in hallways are examples of doors that use passage latches.

Privacy Function - Privacy door hardware includes two door knobs, two backplates, and a privacy latch. Privacy latches lock to prevent unwanted guests from entering a room. Privacy latches are used for bedroom doors and bathroom doors. Shop 4 Classics privacy latches rely on a pin that projects through a small hole in the backplate near the doorknob. Pushing the pin in will lock the latch so it cannot be easily opened from the outside.

Antique Mortise Lock

Mortise Lock Function - Antique mortise door hardware includes two door knobs, two backplates, and a mortise lockset. Mortise locksets are box shaped locks that fit into a cavity cut into the door stile. For interior doors, mortise locks are used almost exclusively in antique doors that have already been prepped for such a lock. Shop 4 Classics interior mortise locks are keyed on both sides and include two skeleton keys. The backplates have a keyhole below the doorknob to accommodate the key.

Dummy Function - Dummy door hardware is used for non-latching doors. The doorknobs do not turn to operate a latch. Dummy door hardware can be used for a door pull or simply to match the door hardware on the active half of a French door. Single dummy door hardware (also called half dummy) includes a single knob, single backplate, and a dummy spindle. Double dummy door hardware (also called full dummy) includes two knobs, two backplates, and two dummy spindles. Single dummy door hardware is used for one side of one door. Double dummy door hardware is installed back-to-back for both sides of one door.

You might browse through the door hardware section of Shop 4 Classics much like you would page through the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue and think to yourself, "that one would be perfect" but eventually you will need to consider function over form (no matter how perfect the form may be). Start your search for antique reproduction door hardware by choosing what looks good. Shop to your heart's content but before you become to smitten with a particular design, make sure that the hardware's function satisfies your door's needs.

Shop 4 Classics offers vintage door hardware designs without surrendering modern quality and functionality. Visit Shop 4 Classics for period door hardware from Nostalgic Warehouse, Brass Accents, and Grandeur.

Cast Brass Vent Cover Grilles Finished in Chrome, Nickel, Bronze and More!

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:19:00 +0000

All chrome, pewter, polished or satin nickel vent cover grilles as well as many bronze colored vent covers grilles are created by either plating or applying a powder coat finish to cast brass grilles or stamped steel grilles. Stamped steel vent covers are the cheapest option but they do not have the same quality look and feel of those made from cast brass. Stamped steel vent covers will also rust if the underlying steel is exposed to moisture. For these reasons, Shop 4 Classics' chrome, pewter, polished nickel, and satin nickel heat registers and cold air return vent covers have grilles made from solid cast brass. Shop 4 Classics also offers brass vent covers that have faux powder coat oil rubbed bronze finishes in addition to their many true bronze vent covers. As you prepare your vent cover order, it is important to note that there may be slight differences in plated finishes like satin nickel between manufacturers and potentially much greater color differences among faux oil rubbed bronze powder coat finishes.

Polished Brass Vent Covers
Polished brass has been a popular choice in home hardware products of all types since the nineteenth century. Traditional unprotected brass will tarnish over time and with exposure to the elements, however, the lustrous finish of today’s polished brass hardware typically is protected through a variety of techniques. Polished brass vent cover grilles generally have a clear lacquer protective coating.

Antique Brass Vent Covers
Some prefer the look of aged brass with its natural brown patina. Most brass vent cover grilles are offered with an antique brass finish. This can be accomplished by chemically aging unprotected brass with a patina prior to applying a lacquer coating or by applying a brown powder coat over the brass grille.

Polished Nickel Vent Covers
Polished nickel was a popular finish for plumbing and hardware items from the late 1800’s until the introduction of chrome in the 1930’s. Polished nickel vent cover grilles are created by applying nickel plating over a brass grille. Satin or brushed nickel is a modern variation of the nickel finish. Generally, satin nickel finishes are created by brushing polished nickel’s lustrous finish to produce a softer matte finish.

Chrome Vent Covers
Chromium plating (chrome) became popular in the 1930’s and continues to be a popular finish. Chrome is a popular and appropriate choice for reproduction hardware beginning with that of the Art Deco period through contemporary style hardware of today. Thus, most modern style vent covers are offered with a chrome finish while Victorian inspired vent covers are not.

Pewter Vent Covers
Pewter is silver-gray in color. Pewter vent covers are typically created with a powder coat and therefore one should expect color variations among the various manufacturers of pewter vent covers and other home hardware products.

Bronze Vent Covers
Most manufacturers of brass grilled vent covers offer a faux bronze finish. Manufacturers of faux bronze vent covers will often market their finish as oil rubbed bronze or dark bronze. Faux bronze finishes are generally created by powder coat and therefore the color will likely vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. The color of faux bronze vent covers ranges from brown to black.

Shop 4 Classics provides images and descriptions of all of the available finishes of its vent covers through the “Help Me Choose” link on the vent cover product pages. Shop 4 Classics also offers Finish Tips as well as Vent Cover Tips to help in the selection process.

Sign of the Crab Cypress Corner Bathtub: The Dagwood Special

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:36:00 +0000

Sign of the Crab Cypress Acrylic Corner Bathtub

The Blondie comic strip has been in publication since the 1930's. One of its star characters is Blondie's husband Dagwood Bumstead. Beyond his role as Blondie's husband, Dagwood is probably best known for his super-sized sandwiches. Dagwood is also frequently shown in the comics relaxing in his corner bathtub; sometimes while simultaneously enjoying one of his famous sandwiches. Kicking back in a corner tub enjoying a delicious sandwich paints a pretty pleasant picture. Put a TV in the room (away from bathwater) with a game on and you pretty much have heaven on earth.

Now you can have your very own Dagwood corner bathtub. Sign of the Crab has introduced one of the most interesting new products for 2013; an antique reproduction corner bathtub. Sign of the Crab frequently recreates iconic products from the past and their corner bathtub is a perfect example of their ingenuity. Sign of the Crab's Cypress acrylic corner bathtub is a built-in tub that measures a spacious 69-1/2" long, 34-1/4" wide, and 25-3/8" tall. It is constructed of durable acrylic. Acrylic bathtubs are lighter and easier to install than cast iron bathtubs. The Cypress acrylic tub is ideal for second story bathrooms like the one in the Bumstead home. Because acrylic is a good thermal insulator, water stays warm longer just in case the game goes into overtime. The Cypress acrylic corner tub is available in a right facing or left facing corner orientation so it can adapt to either plumbing configuration. There is no need to purchase a tub drain for the Cypress acrylic corner bathtub as it includes an integrated drain. This Art Deco corner tub features the same streamline design as the original models of the 1930's. Shop 4 Classics offers Sign of the Crab's Art Deco style wall mount faucetsand Art Deco in-wall tub & shower faucets to complete the job.

Create your own slice of heaven on earth with the Sign of the Crab Cypress acrylic corner bathtub. The corner bathtub has served Dagwood Bumstead faithfully for 80 years. Flip on the game, build a culinary masterpiece sandwich, and visit Shop 4 Classics for the Cypress acrylic corner bathtub, Art Deco faucets, and the entire Sign of theCrab catalog of fine plumbing.

Faux Shutter Hardware: Make Decorative Shutters Look Real

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:11:00 +0000

Shutters on an old home are often operational. They open and close to provide weatherproofing, shade, privacy, or even peace and quiet. In a new old home -- a new home designed to look like an old home -- shutters are often only decorative. They do not open and close but instead are attached to the side of the house to look like open shutters on a vintage home. Modern homes sometimes use decorative shutters to create curb appeal. But just because a shutter is not real, doesn't mean that it needs to look unrealistic. Today, we look at shutter hardware that you can use to make decorative shutters look like functional shutters.

Faux Shutter Hinge

The first and most important piece of hardware needed to make a shutter functional is a shutter hinge. There are many different types of shutter hinges but when a shutter is open, only the barrel is visible. Decorative shutters are always in the open position so shutter hinges for a decorative shutter only need the part of the hinge that is exposed. Shop 4 Classics offers faux shutter hinges that are just the part of the hinge that would be visible on an open shutter, replicating the look of actual shutter hinges on a functional shutter. The newest faux shutter hinge is a two part hinge with a pintel (mounting plate) and abbreviated strap. It can be mounted flush with the shutter for zero throw or on the frame of a recessed window for a 3" throw. The new faux New York shutter hinge authentically replicates the look of strap shutter hinges and New York style shutter hinges. Incidentally, you often see dummy strap hinges used on the front side of decorative shutters. Technically, this would be incorrect. The strap would be hidden on the backside of a functional shutter. It may not be technically correct but it isn't unusual to see dummy strap hinges used to provide detail on the front side of decorative shutters.

Faux Shutter Dog

Although it may not be necessary to make a shutter functional, functional shutters usually have shutter dogs (or shutter tiebacks). Shutter dogs prevent real shutters from closing unintentionally. Because of its visibility, a shutter dog, or the absence of a shutter dog, is a telltale sign of the authenticity of a shutter. A functional shutter would likely have a shutter dog to keep the shutter open. Faux shutter dogs can be rather convincing pieces of hardware for making decorative shutters appear operational. Shop 4 Classics offers faux shutter dogs that attach to the bottom of decorative shutters to make it look as if the shutter dog is keeping the shutter open.

The two additional pieces of shutter hardware that are typically found on functional shutters are slide bolts and ring pulls. Shutter slide bolts are used to keep shutters closed. Shutter ring pulls provide handles for pulling open shutters to the closed position. It may be a bit obsessive but shutter slide bolts and shutter ring pulls can also be installed on decorative shutters. Over the top maybe, but the perfectionist or the homeowner with decorative shutters surrounded by homes with functional shutters might consider shutter slide bolts and shutter ring pulls to complete their mission to make their decorative shutters look real.

Modern Acrylic Bath Tubs: Create a New Look for the New Year

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 02:04:00 +0000

If a contemporary bathroom remodel is goal of yours for the New Year, replacing that existing utilitarian built-in tub or outdated whirlpool tub with a modern freestanding tub may be high on your list of priorities. Many of the unique angular and curvaceous modern freestanding tubs are made of acrylic. Don’t let past bad experiences or visions of flimsy fiberglass bath tubs deter you from considering today’s high quality acrylic bath tubs.

Strom Plumbing, a company known for their high-quality vintage bathtubs and plumbing fixtures, now offers an ever expanding collection of thoroughly modern acrylic bath tubs. StromPlumbing’s Seneca acrylic bath tub is a modern take on the classic double ended slipper tub offering a deep soaker bowl and extended backrests ends. Strom Plumbing’s spacious Grenada acrylic tub and Klamath acrylic tub feature modern straight lines and simple rectangular shapes.

To help you in your search for the perfect bath tub, Shop 4 Classics provides more information on choosing the right acrylic bath tub for your bath in its Clawfoot Bathtub Tips and ClawfootTub Buyers Guide.

Sign of the Crab Rio Grande Clawfoot Tub Faucets: Just In Time for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:49:00 +0000

When I was a boy, the arrival of the Sears Wish Book and the JC Penny Christmas Catalog was one of the great thrills preceding Christmas. We spent hours thumbing through the toy sections of those catalogs in the weeks before Christmas. We studied the new toys and dreamed about playing with them. Many years later, I now look forward to the arrival of the next Sign of the Crab catalog. For a company that specializes in vintage plumbing, Sign of the Crab is incredibly innovative. Each year I look forward to seeing the new items for the upcoming year. As they become available, we add new items to our website and wait anxiously to see which items our customers like best.

Sign of the Crab Rio Grande Clawfoot Tub Faucets

Just in time for Christmas, the Rio Grande series of clawfoot tub faucets are the first new items for 2013. Sign of the Crab has offered the Rio Grande series of faucets for several years but the new faucets are the first Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucets to include a handheld shower. The Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucets are based on the same faucet body as the Sign of the Crab gooseneck clawfoot tub faucets. Like the gooseneck clawfoot tub faucets, the Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucets have a high arching spout. The Rio Grande spout is a shepherd's hook style spout that reaches above the clawfoot tub rim to make this faucet code compliant in areas that require the spout to be above the clawfoot tub's floodplain. The handheld shower includes a vacuum breaker to satisfy anti-siphon code. The Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucets are available in every configuration so there is a tub wall mounted Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucet, a deck mounted Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucet, a flat wall mounted Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucet, and a freestanding Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucet.

Sign of the Crab has long offered the Rio Grande widespread sink faucet, Rio Grande bridge sink faucet, and Rio Grande bath accessories. The Rio Grande clawfoot tub faucets allow customers to complete a coordinated bath. It can be surprisingly difficult to find bathroom sink faucets, bath accessories, and clawfoot tub faucets that all look like they belong to the same family but Sign of the Crab's Rio Grande series does just that.

In our home, the Sears Wish Book and the JC Penny Christmas Catalog were stored in a closet right along with the phone book. Year round, we browsed through these catalogs. Over the next few weeks, we will be adding other new Sign of the Crab items to Shop 4 Classics. We will introduce them to you here on the Shop 4 Classics Old House Blog. Return frequently to see what's new or visit Shop 4 Classics to browse and shop for vintage plumbing and antique reproduction hardware from Sign of the Crab and other top quality brands.

Vintage Hardware and Plumbing Fixtures: Holiday Gift Ideas that Keep on Giving and Look Good Doing So

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 11:44:00 +0000

Let’s face it; most gifts given are used up, forgotten, or out of style within six months. Finding a gift that will be appreciated for years often times calls for thinking outside the box. Shop 4 Classics does not sell scented soaps or candles but does specialize in vintage home hardware and plumbing fixtures featuring timeless designs and quality construction that is designed and warranted to last for years of trouble free use. It is understandable that antique reproduction hardware or plumbing fixtures do not come to mind when creating your gift list, so consider the below list of unique alternative gift ideas as inspiration before settling on that basket of overpriced toiletries.

Hearth & Kitchen Hardware Accent Items

Gatherings of family and friends for special meals define the holiday season. Shop 4 Classics offers a number of unique hardware items for the hearth and kitchen. Cast iron stovetop steamers with potpourri humidifies and fills your home with holiday scents. Shop 4 Classics collection of stovetop steamers includes many with colorful porcelain coatings and novel designs. Cast iron trivets provide a safe place to sit hot pots and pans. Like the stovetop steamers, our trivets are available in a variety of unique designs and many are available with colorful porcelain coatings.

Exterior Home Hardware Accent Items

Used to announce the arrival of invited guests or surprise Christmas carolers alike, a gift of a decorative doorbell button or door knocker can offer a unique and stylish welcome to visitors and introduce them to the home’s distinct character. A new set of bronze or copper house numbers make a thoughtful gift for those who moved into a new home during the past year. A wall or post mount mailbox can serve as a creative gift basket for gift certificate envelopes and smaller gift packages.

Decorative Cast Iron and Bronze Vent Covers

Do you really want to see a surprised look upon opening your gift this year? Heavy cast iron and bronze vent covers will almost certainly be a surprise and make particularly smart gifts for those who routinely try to lift and shake their gifts before opening. Just like giving a gift of trousers, you have to know the proper widths and lengths before giving vent covers as gifts. We highly recommend reading Shop 4 Classics’ Vent Covers Tips to help ensure the right vent covers are selected for your application.

Vintage Kitchen and Bathroom Sink Faucets

Quality vintage bathroom sink faucets and kitchen sink faucets provide years of service and offer timeless designs. Shop 4 Classics offers a wide selection of bathroom and kitchen antique style faucets from some of the top brands that warrant their faucets to properly function for years after purchase. As with vent covers, it is important that you understand which types of faucets will work with the intended sink’s configuration. Shop 4 Classics also provides helpful Sink Faucet Tips that should be reviewed prior to making a purchase.

Hopefully a few new gifts ideas have made your gift list. Find enduring gifts while avoiding the often times chaotic crowds at the mall and big box stores, visit Shop 4 Classics soon to ensure that your gift arrives in time for the holidays.

Shop 4 Classics Reviews Beaux-Arts Architecture: Victorian Hardware and Plumbing

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 19:58:00 +0000

As a youth, I dreamed of fame and fortune. Lacking any prized talent or skill, I assumed luck would play an important role in realizing my dream. I watched reruns of The Beverly Hillbillies and hoped for Jed Clampett's good fortune. As you may recall, Jed Clampett was a poor mountaineer who barely kept his family fed. Then one day, Jed struck oil and found himself a millionaire. His kinfolk told Jed to move away from there so Jed loaded up his family and moved to a Beaux-Arts mansion in Beverly Hills.

The Beaux-Arts architectural style originated at the L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts (school of beautiful arts) in Paris. The style favors large multi-story symmetrical structures. Walls are usually limestone and roofs are typically flat. Grand entrances often feature massive columns. Sculptures, garlands, and floral patterns are integrated into stonework and architectural elements.

Beaux-Arts style Nelson Atkins museum in Kansas City.

The influence of Beaux-Arts principles is evident in buildings designed in the United States from the 1880s through the 1930s. Many American architects studied at the famed French school of architecture around the turn of the 20th century. When they returned to the United States, they implemented the Beaux-Arts style in their own designs. The Beaux-Arts style was particularly influential in the design of museums, libraries, train stations, and public buildings. In residential construction, Beaux-Arts architecture is limited to mansions such as the one belonging to Jed Clampett. The elaborate designs and grandiose architectural elements that are integral to the Beaux-Arts style dictate buildings of monumental size.

Like other homes from the Victorian period, the interiors of Beaux-Arts style mansions are ornately decorated. Brass was in vogue. Fanciful Victorian door hardware with crystal door knobs adorned interior doors. Richly embellished furniture featured elaborately detailed Victorian cabinet hardware in the Baroque, Rococo, Italianate, and Renaissance hardware styles. Bold tapestries hung on walls with Victorian themed tapestry hangers perhaps sporting the Fleur de Lis. Vents were covered by Victorian brass grilles and heat registers with artistic scroll designs. Baths in Beaux-Arts style mansions often included large clawfoot style tubs accented with lions paw feet. Like hardware of the time, plumbing in Beaux-Arts style mansions was highly stylized. The Strom Plumbing Royal Aqueduct standing water delivery system is the epitome of Victorian era plumbing typical of Beaux-Arts estates.

Victorian Hardware and Plumbing

Whether your home is a quaint Queen Anne or an impressive Beaux-Arts manse like Jed Clampett's, Shop 4 Classics has antique reproduction Victorian plumbing and hardware for any budget. Visit Shop 4 Classics online at www.shop4classics.com. Y'all come back now, y' hear.

Cast Iron Shelf Brackets & Coat Hooks for Affordable Mudroom DIY

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 01:17:00 +0000

As far as rooms go, mudrooms have a unique history in the evolution of the American home. Unlike all of the other mainstay rooms like kitchens and bedrooms, the inclusion of a mudroom in the home's original floor plan often depends on when the home was built. They were common in homes built in the early 1900’s then essentially disappeared from floor plans of homes built in middle and late 1900’s only to be reintroduced towards the end of 1900’s. Today, mudrooms remain a popular request for new homes being constructed and creating mudroom spaces in homes built without them is an increasingly popular renovation project.

Mudrooms are created in small spaces often off a secondary entrance to the home. Compact built-ins that include shelves, cabinets, and storage cubbies are a hallmark fixture of modern mudroom design. Pairing the right hardware with good design makes the mudroom a highly efficient, attractive and a naturally uncluttered space.

School House Coat Rack and Storage Shelf

Old-School School House Shelf

Reminiscent of coat rooms of elementary schools throughout the country, this classic design includes cast iron school house coat hooks and simple arch style cast iron shelf bracket. Mounting the coat hooks to a wood backing rather than directly to the wall helps to ensure that the hooks stay firmly into place in addition to making the installation a much more simple process. Keep in mind that the spacing between hooks must fully accommodate the width of heavy winter coats. Sturdy black cast iron shelf brackets provide support for the shelf and create a highly finished look. Remember, attaching hooks and brackets to their mounting board prior to installation makes the entire process much, much easier.

High Utility Mudroom Shelf

High-Utility Mudroom Shelf with Ceiling Hooks

Replacing traditional coat hooks with ceiling hooks mounted to the bottom of the shelf adds even more utility for the small space. Antique Revelry’s triple cast iron ceiling hook is unique in that its three hooks rotate on its base. This added feature makes it the ideal hook for simultaneously storing light and heavy coat options or several styles of umbrellas to fit your mood and wardrobe choice of the day. Again, we recommend affordable cast iron arch shelf brackets as they coordinate well with the cast iron utility hook hardware.

Small Drawers with Distinct Purposes

Multiple Small Drawers vs. One Big Drawer

The “junk drawer” is an all to frequent designation of a large drawer in the kitchen or entry. Here you will find the oddest collection of items hastily tossed in there over years of cleaning out coat and pants pockets or organizing the visible spaces of the home. It can be argued that junk drawers serve a necessary purpose but they have no place in the mudroom. Incorporating multiple small drawers in place of a single large drawer helps serve that distinct purpose and ensures that the drawers remain uncluttered. Cabinet knobs, rather than drawer pulls, can be used for very compact drawers while cup pulls are ideal choices for small and medium size drawers. In keeping with the cast iron hardware theme, consider using Antique Revelry’s cast iron cannon ball knob for compact drawers and their cast iron scallop cup pull for small and medium size drawers.

Do you have unique of helpful ideals for creating mudrooms? Share your thoughts by replying to this post!

Vintage Kitchen Design: Get A Grip On Handles For Vintage Kitchen Sink Faucets

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 19:33:00 +0000

Henry Ford once proclaimed that, "Any customer can have a car painted any color he wants so long as it is black." A similar principle applied to early kitchen sink faucets. Vintage kitchen faucets had a job to do and did not offer many options. Like Henry Ford's Model T, vintage kitchen sink faucets were utilitarian in their design. If you wanted fancy in the early 1900's, you chose a kitchen faucet with a soap dish mounted on the spout.

One of the few options available for vintage kitchen faucets was the style of handle. Early kitchen sink faucets were offered with a choice of lever handles or cross handles; which is one more handle option than Henry Ford would have likely provided. The faucet handles were either porcelain or metal. Porcelain handles usually had "hot" or "cold" indicators. Keeping with the utilitarian nature of the kitchen faucet, the labels weren't there for embellishment. Indoor plumbing was in its infancy and the labels aided the uninitiated in identify the handle's purpose.

Shop 4 Classics offers a large selection of antique reproduction kitchen sink faucets from Sign of the Crab, American Standard, and Antique Revelry. The number of faucet options for vintage kitchens would be considered garish by Henry Ford's standards. Like the originals, these kitchen faucets are offered with a choice of lever handles or cross handles. There are even a few fancy kitchen faucets that include a soap basket integrated into the spout. Visit Shop 4 Classics for an antique reproduction kitchen faucet for your vintage kitchen project.

Sign of the Crab Antique Reproduction Kitchen Sink Faucet

Tudor Furniture Hardware: Cast Iron Pulls & Knobs Fitting for Heavy Tudor Furniture

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Cast Iron Tudor Pull

Original English Tudor homes of the later half of the 15th were sparsely furnished; a trait that was not carried forward to the Tudor Revival homes of the 19th and even less so with the Tudor Revival homes of 20th century. Whether original or revival, Tudor style furniture was commonly made from oak and featured ornate woodworking including carvings on flat surfaces and ornate turned wood legs, seatbacks, and arm rests. Embellished as it was, Tudor style furniture was not delicate or dainty. Tudor furniture was generally heavy and sturdy.

Like Tudor furniture, Tudor style knobs and pulls were heavy and sturdy. Iron, typically forged iron but later more commonly cast iron, was the metal of choice for Tudor furniture hardware. Tudor furniture hardware took on gothic shapes and often featured decorative, yet simple, designs of back plates and other flat surfaces. Forged iron hardware, which is created by hand by a skilled craftsman, is generally significantly more expensive than cast iron hardware that can be produced in bulk by less skilled labor. Therefore, cast iron knobs and pulls are much more commonly chosen to complete reproduction Tudor furniture today.

Cast Tudor Bail Pull

Shop 4 Classics offers one of the largest selections of cast iron knobs and pulls on the Net and much of this hardware is from Antique Revelry. Antique Revelry’s collection of black cast iron knobs includes rough cast iron cannon ball style knobs and square pyramid head knobs as well as more decorative knobs like its cabinet knob with an English rose design. The flat surfaces of Antique Revelry’s cast iron bin pulls and back plates of its cast iron bail pulls feature simple designs reminiscent of the carvings common to original Tudor furniture. Antique Revelry’s black cast iron ring pulls and cast iron pendent pulls feature gothic shaped back plates and simple and heavy drop rings and pendants making them an ideal compliment to Tudor style heavy oak furniture.

Period Plumbing and Hardware for Making Movie Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:32:00 +0000

High-Tank Pull-Chain Toilet

It should be no surprise that we here at Shop 4 Classics are fans of period piece movies and television shows, especially early 1900's gangster productions. Occasionally, we get an opportunity to contribute. Set designers contact us to supply them with vintage plumbing and antique reproduction hardware to help set the scene.

Antique Basin Taps

Clawfoot tubs are an obvious choice for recreating a 1920's era bathroom. A traditional clawfoot tub faucet, an iconic clawfoot tub drain with a rubber stopper, and a soap basket hanging over the rim of the clawfoot tub complete a bathtub scene. A panoramic view might show a high-tank pull-chain toilet in the corner while a dapper dandy shaves over a pedestal sink with antique basin taps.

Kitchen scenes usually require a porcelain enameled cast iron drainboard kitchen sink equipped with a wall mounted kitchen faucet. Cast iron shelf brackets support kitchen shelves where sundries and various canned and pickled foods are stored. Gravity baseboard heat registers and cast iron floor grates provide a realistic finishing touch to a kitchen scene from the Roaring Twenties.

Porcelain Enameled Cast Iron Drainboard Kitchen Sink

Doors and windows are equipped with hardware that looks as if it was just purchased from the Sears, Roebuck Home Builder's Catalog circa 1910. Doors feature antique style solid brass door knobs with keyhole doorplates and antique mortise locks that make the scene appear to have been filmed in the good ol' days. Brass sash locks and sash lifts contribute to reproducing a vintage double hung window that further authenticates the film.

It is a thrill to watch a period piece and think, "hey, we sell that". The only thing better is to watch a period piece and think, "hey, I own that". Authenticate your vintage bath, kitchen, or entire home with antique reproduction plumbing and hardware from Shop 4 Classics and make a little movie magic in your own home!

Clawfoot Tubs vs. Pedestal Tubs: A Heavyweight Bout of Freestanding Cast Iron Tubs

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:37:00 +0000

Recently, a Shop 4 Classics customer wrote to say that she was considering switching from a cast iron clawfoot tub to a cast iron pedestal tub. Estelle had grown tired of cleaning under clawfoot tubs and figured that a pedestal tub would eliminate that chore for her next project. Before committing to her job cutting strategy, Estelle wanted to know why a person would choose a pedestal tub verses a clawfoot tub and vice versa. Today, we consider Estelle's question more closely.

Sunrise Specialty Cast Iron Pedestal Tub

Appearance Is Everything

Personal preference is the number one reason people choose one style of freestanding tub over another. Just as there are dog people and there are cat people, there are pedestal tub people and there are clawfoot tub people. Some folks prefer the traditional look of a clawfoot bathtub while others appreciate the streamlined aesthetics of a pedestal bathtub.

Occasionally, historical relevancy becomes part of the equation. Pedestal tubs peaked in popularity during the Art Deco period of the 1920's. While pedestal tubs look perfectly at home in the bath of a house built in the first half of the 20th Century, clawfoot tubs have a broader appeal. A clawfoot tub is as natural a fit for a 19th Century Victorian as it is for a 20th Century Arts & Crafts bungalow.

Sunrise Specialty Cast Iron Clawfoot Tub

Blinded By Science

Cast iron pedestal tubs are heavier than same sized cast iron footed tubs. For example, the Sunrise Specialty traditional 5' rolltop cast iron clawfoot tub weights about 275 lbs. If the feet are replaced with a cast iron pedestal, the weight of the tub increases over 75 lbs. The difference is even more dramatic for larger tubs. Having said that, the additional weight of the pedestal typically isn't any more significant to supporting the tub than the difference in weight of the people using the tub. Getting the tub from the driveway into your home, however, is where its weight may become important. Navigating a pedestal tub and its additional 75 lbs. or more through narrow doorways can be an adventure. Sure, the pedestal can be separated from a Sunrise Specialty cast iron tub but this is usually discouraged. The tub is leveled and bolted into the pedestal. A bead of caulk seals and conceals any gaps between the pedestal and the tub. Installing the pedestal is a project best left to an experienced professional. Other pedestal tubs, such as Sign of the Crab cast iron pedestal tubs, are cast as a single piece so the pedestal can't be separated from the tub.

Sign of the Crab
Clawfoot Tub Coasters

Related to weight is the transfer of weight. Pedestal tubs transfer the weight of the tub across the entire footprint of the pedestal while weight transfer for clawfoot tubs is centered on four legs. The larger area of weight transfer for pedestal tubs can be helpful on a tile floor where you may not want a quarter of the tub's weight focused on the center of a single tile, especially a large tile. Clawfoot tub coasters can also help provide a larger footprint for footed tubs.

Correcting for a floor that is out-of-level is another reason a clawfoot bathtub might be favored over a pedestal bathtub. Particularly in an old home, floors may have some minor grade to them that causes water in the tub to be higher on one end (or one side, depending on the tub's orientation). Some clawfoot tub manufacturers incorporate levelers in tub feet. The levelers can be adjusted so the tub is level. Pedestal tubs do not have levelers. Also, not every clawfoot tub has levelers so check first if this is the reason you choose a clawfoot tub.

Cleaning Philosophies

Finally, we return to Estelle's justification for choosing a pedestal tub. Clawfoot tubs expose the floor under the tub whereas a pedestal tub conceals it. The pedestal eliminates the need to clean under the tub but it also makes it more difficult to clean behind it. The area between the tub and the bathroom wall will be out of sight and, for most of us, out of mind. We might worry about our children, our jobs, the economy, replacement referees, and what have you but not the dust between our pedestal tub and the bathroom wall. Neat freaks reason that although the dust is hidden from plain view, it does exist and therefore must be tended to. Let your own cleaning inclinations be the judge.

Conclusion

Whatever your reason for choosing one style of tub over another, you'll find a great selection of brand name cast iron clawfoot tubs and cast iron pedestal tubs at Shop 4 Classics. All tubs include discount prices and free freight within the continental US. Plus, choose a freestanding tub, clawfoot tub faucet or shower, clawfoot tub supply lines, and a clawfoot tub drain from the same manufacturer and use the TUB10 coupon code to save an additional 10% off your order total.

Bungalow House Numbers: Unique Numbers for Your Unique Home

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 01:45:00 +0000

Bungalow House Numbers

Looking up the definition of “bungalow” in any dictionary will provide a pretty precise definition as a small one story home. However, a much broader definition of the term bungalow seems to be more commonly used to describe any style of small house in today’s jargon. The more liberal definition of what is considered a bungalow is likely a function of the renewed popularity of small homes. Whether due to the after effects of a crash in the excessive real estate market, desire to reduce one’s carbon footprint, or simply a new found appreciation of the unique charms of smaller homes; the bungalow is once again an extraordinarily popular choice for today’s home buyer.

Classic American bungalows of the early 1900’s best fit the style’s common dictionary definition. Entire neighborhoods of what is now often referred to as Arts & Crafts bungalows were constructed throughout the country during the building boom that followed World War I. The basic layout of these one or one and a half story homes may have been similar from coast to coast but their facades typically reflected the unique style and building materials of the region. In the decades that followed and leading up to the introduction of the ranch style home during the 1950’s, a variety of compact styles of homes were popular. The style of each of home was given their own unique name but they are all often now considered, or at least marketed, as being a bungalow.

Choosing a new set of house numbers for your bungalow should blend your personal sense of style with the home’s unique style. Bronze and copper house numbers with an Arts and Crafts font are ideal for classic Craftsman style bungalows. Similarly, bronze and copper house numbers with a rustic font look right at home on rustic bungalows. If your bungalow is actually any one of the small home styles of the 1930’s through the 1940’s, consider a unique scroll font house number to add a distinctive accent to the home’s charming exterior.

Window Hardware: Keep Old Windows Open Without Losing Your Head

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:43:00 +0000

Double hung windows have two sashes that slide up and down inside two channels in the window frame. With the exception of famed architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright who called them "guillotine windows", the venerable double hung window has been popular with home builders for well over a century.

In the early days, these windows were also called "rope and pulley" windows because they featured a system of ropes and pulleys inside their wood frame. The rope and pulley double hung window was first introduced in the middle of the nineteenth century. It remained popular until the middle of the twentieth century when the rope and pulley system was replaced by spring suspension systems. Rope and pulley double hung windows can still be found in many old homes today and the conscientious homeowner will make every effort to restore them.

One of the biggest problems that homeowners encounter with old wood double hung windows is that the lower sash will not stay open. To understand why this happens, we first need to understand how the rope and pulley double hung window functions. At the top of the window, on each side of the frame, is a pulley. A rope loops over each pulley. One end of the rope is attached to the sash. The other end of the rope is tied to a cast iron weight that hangs inside a pocket hidden behind the window frame. Equal to the weight of the sash, the cast iron weights act as a counter balance to the sash's weight. When the rope and pulley system is in tune, the sash will lift effortlessly and will stay in place when let go. Unfortunately, the ropes tend to break over time. The cast iron weights crash to the bottom of their pocket. Without their counter balance, the sash is heavy to lift and will no longer stay open.

Restoring antique rope and pulley double hung windows is a noble cause but it can also be a tedious and expensive endeavor. Replacing a broken sash cord requires removing the sashes, window stops, and window trim. An old home can have many windows and repairing each window can add up quickly. Instead, homeowners often find themselves cutting off the end of a broom and using it to prop open windows. Fortunately, there are economical alternatives. Attractive options that don't scream, "I'm too broke to repair this window" include the following:

Window Stop

A window stop attaches to the window frame. When the sash is lifted past the stop, the hook end swivels to catch the bottom of the sash and hold it open. Simple but limited, the John Wright Company window stop only allows for one open position.

Side Sash Stay

A side sash stay also attaches to the window frame. When the lever arm is lifted, the plate on the side of the stay extends; pushing the sash against the parting stop (the thin piece of wood that sits in the channel and separates the top sash from the bottom sash). Unlike a window stop, an Antique Revelry side sash stay allows the sash to be locked in any open position. On a warm breezy day, a side sash can keep a window wide open. On a cool rainy day, it can hold the window only partially open. Side sash stays can also provide a marginal measure of security. While they won't discourage a harden criminal, the pressure on the sash can be just the deterrent that causes a petty thief or Peeping Tom to give up on a partially open window and move on to easier prey.

A rope and pulley double hung window that won't stay open can be a source of great aggravation but don't lose your head over "guillotine windows". Instead, visit Shop 4 Classics, your source for window stops, side sash stays, and other antique style window hardware for double hung windows.

One on One With Wood Flush Mount Vent Covers for Wood Floors

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:44:00 +0000

We've said this before but it bears repeating, vent covers are selected by the size of the duct opening they are intended to cover. Oh sure, there are exceptions but despite their installation, flush mount wood vent covers aren't one of them.

Flush mount wood floor vent covers are built into the wood floor when the floor is installed. One might think that the overall size of the frame is more important because of how the frame integrates into the floor but one would be wrong. One might also think that the size of the insert would be most significant. One would be 0-2 in one's attempt to size a flush mounted wood vent cover. To avoid striking out in one's attempt to choose a flush mounted wood vent cover, one must measure the duct opening in the floor.

The frame for a wood flush mount vent cover is always larger than the duct opening. If it were not, the whole vent cover would simply drop into the duct. The frame's length and the frame's width will vary depending on the size of the duct opening and the manufacturer of the vent cover. Normally, these dimensions would not be important. Wood floor experts install the flush mounted vent cover over the duct and then adapt to its dimensions by cutting the wood floor planks around the frame. Where one might require the dimensions of the frame in addition to (but not in lieu of) the duct size is if one were replacing a flush mounted vent cover in a previously installed wood floor. Replacing a flush mounted vent cover isn't a simple endeavor and it typically requires refinishing the floor.

The wood flush mount vent cover's frame serves as a border enclosing the duct opening. The frame's opening is centered over the duct to allow air to pass through the vent cover. The opening in the frame will often match the size of the duct; however, this is not always the case. Depending on the manufacturer, the frame opening may actually be larger than the duct opening. Unless one is replacing a previously installed vent cover, the length and width of the frame opening is irrelevant except to once again remind oneself that it is the size of the duct opening that ultimately determines whether one has chosen a correctly sized vent cover.

The inside of the frame is cut away to provide a shelf for the insert. The shelf allows the insert to rest in the frame whereby its surface is flush with the wood floor. The slots in the insert should be centered above the duct opening to provide efficient air flow. This is especially important for a flush mounted wood register because the louver assembly will likely drop below the frame into the duct opening. The flush mount wood vent cover's insert will be larger than the duct opening but, again, the insert's length and insert's width are usually immaterial. Just as the frame's length and width mattered only when replacing a previously installed flush wood vent cover, the insert's length and width will only be important if one is replacing an insert without replacing the frame. And even then, the insert's dimensions are required in addition to (but not instead of) the duct size. I should mention here that inserts aren't typically sold separately so one may need to purchase the complete flush mounted vent cover just to acquire the insert.

Shop 4 Classics offers flush mounted wood air return grilles and flush mounted wood registers from All American Wood Register, Tailored Vents, and Reggio Register. If one finds oneself in the market for wood flush mount vent covers, visit Shop 4 Classics to purchase one. Or two.

Slipper Tubs Large and Small: These Slippers are Available in Sizes to Fit Every Queen

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 17:27:00 +0000

long time ago in a kingdom far away, so the story goes, lived a poor but beautiful young lady named Cinderella. Cinderella spent her days tirelessly cooking and cleaning for an evil and ungrateful bunch all the while dreaming of meeting a handsome prince that would make her a queen taking her away from her hard life. Long story short, one night her fairy godmother pays her a visit and makes her magical slippers that would fit only Cinderella. She meets the prince that night but must leave early, leaving the prince with only one of her magical slippers. The prince travels the kingdom trying to find a foot to match the slipper before finally fitting the slipper to Cinderella and the two are married eventually making Cinderella the queen of the kingdom. This fairy tale ends happily ever after for Cinderella but what about all of those forgotten female villagers that were surely devastated when their feet did not fit the slipper. I am sure that the vast majority of these women also toiled day in and day out; after all, modern home appliances would not be invented for hundreds of years.

We here at Shop 4 Classics may not in the shoe business but we do offer a slipper of a different sort that can provide an escape from the stresses and rigor of modern day life. Shop 4 Classics offers clawfoot slipper tubs and double-ended clawfoot slipper tubs that are specifically designed for comfort to provide a relaxing prolonged soaking. Clawfoot slipper tubs have an extended backrest that makes them perfect for reclining and relaxing while you bathe. The double-end slipper tub, as its name implies, features extended backrest at both ends making it the perfect tub for two. Best of all, unlike Cinderella’s magic slipper, Shop 4 Classics offers a wide selection of discount priced large slipper tubs and petite size slipper tubs to fit bathers and bathroom floor plans of all sizes, so almost anyone can be a queen for an hour or two each day.

Save even more of your hard-earned money by using Shop 4 Classics’ Tub10 coupon. TUB10 will apply a 10% instant discount to your total order of products from a single manufacturer when the order includes a tub, faucet or shower, supply lines, and drain from the same manufacturer. The TUB10 coupon applies in addition to our already discounted prices. All Shop 4 Classics tub orders also include free crate, freight, and residential lift gate service.

Hanging With Hinges: Butt Door Hinge Review

noreply@blogger.com (Shop 4 Classics) — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 19:44:00 +0000

Generally speaking, when we talk about door hinges, we are talking about butt hinges. There are many other types of hinges but the butt hinge is the most common type of hinge found on residential interior and entry doors. Butt hinges can be quite plain but this doesn't have to be the case and often is not in older homes. Today, the Shop 4 Classics Old House Blog turns its spotlight on the butt door hinge.

Butt door hinges have two rectangular leaves. One leaf is mortised into the edge of the door while the other is mortised into the door jamb. The mortised (or recessed) installation allows the door to close flush with the frame. It is also why butt door hinges are sometimes called mortise door hinges or full mortise door hinges. Between the leaves is the joint that allows the hinge to pivot. The joint consists of a pin inside a stacked row of knuckles known as the barrel. At each end of the hinge pin is a finial that caps the barrel at both ends.

Butt hinges are measured from corner to corner of the leaves with the hinge in the open position. There are many sizes but in residential construction, 3.5" x 3.5" butt hinges and 4" x 4" butt hinges are most common. Smaller hinges usually install with three screws while larger butt hinges install with four screws. Door weight, thickness, and size all factor into the size and quantity of hinges required to support a door. Interior doors usually hang on 2 or 3 mortise hinges. Entry doors are normally heavier than interior doors and typically swing on 3 mortise hinges that may be larger than hinges used on interior doors.

Most frequently, the leaves on butt hinges are unembellished. However, in the Victorian Era any visible piece of architectural hardware that could be decorated was decorated. Typical for the period, Victorian butt hinges often have ornate patterns cast into the leaves.

The highest quality butt hinges are cast in brass and offered in a choice of popular finishes to match other door hardware. Polished brass and antique brass door hardware is typical of homes from the Victorian era. Arts & Crafts homes and traditional homes tend to favor earthy finishes such as oil rubbed bronze or antique pewter. Chrome hardware was especially popular in homes from the Art Deco period while modern and contemporary homes are often accented with brushed nickel hardware.

Shop 4 Classics offers butt hinges that include a choice of finials to further complement your home's architectural style. Urn-tipped finials agree with the urn motif that appears in many Federal and Colonial style homes. Victorian butt hinges are frequently decorated with steeple-tipped finials. Nature themes were common to Arts & Crafts homes and so acorn-tipped finials are perfectly suited for homes of this period. Modern and contemporary homes feature butt hinges with flat-tipped or button-tipped finials. And finally, the ubiquitous ball-tipped finials are popular with butt hinges in homes of all eras.

One last thought about butt hinges, the name includes a word that juveniles find amusing. My 3 year old nephew, for example, has become quite enamored with the word "butt"; often to my sister's chagrin. Although no longer socially acceptable, there was a time when his behavior might have been corrected with a strap, which is an entirely different type of hinge. Strap hinges, butt hinges, cabinet door hinges, and socially acceptable hinges of all types can be found at Shop 4 Classics.