Expert Interior Designer Nicky Percival’s Top 6 Architectural Hardware Suppliers

The term ‘architectural hardware’ doesn’t have the sexiest ring to it, but I personally love everything to do with the topic. Covering items like door handles, hinges, locks, cabinet knobs, drawer pulls, and window latches this umbrella term includes all your historically considered ‘boring’ yet essential items.  Yet, it's because these elements are used every day that the touch and feel of them are very important.

Nowadays, however, these functional elements are far from humdrum, they have been turned into works of art.

Turning on your light using a beautifully handcrafted bronze toggle switch or opening your kitchen drawer with a textured handle connects you to your surroundings, becoming familiar over time and adding to your sense of ‘home’. 

Fixtures and fittings are also key elements when setting the tone or style of your room – from modern and sleek to vintage and ornate. If carefully chosen, they can also help you elevate your interior design scheme from ‘nice’ to ‘wow!’.

Finding the ‘right’ fitting, however, is not always easy, but over the past 20 years I have found six architectural hardware brands that I return to again and again. And here they are, in no particular order, …

Images Corston Architectural

Corston Architectural

I first encountered this brand during a visit to Clerkenwell Design Week back in 2021 when the company was just a few years old. Based in Wiltshire – just down the road from my old school – I was drawn to their elegant yet simple electrical sockets and switches.  They soon developed lighting and door furniture ranges that have since become very popular and their bronze finish is perfect for both period and contemporary projects.

I also applaud the fact that, as a company, they are extremely conscious of their environmental impact. They only use recycled brass in their products, invest in recyclable packaging and transport goods using modern, low-emission ships in an effort to avoid air freight whenever possible. To help reduce their carbon footprint even further, Corston Architectural also planted four acres of native broad-leafed trees in May 2022 which are now home to an abundance of wildlife.

It's no wonder, therefore, that I love their products, and, as you can see from the mood board, I’m currently using their fittings in a barn conversion in East Sussex.

Ged Kennet

Based on the edge of Exmoor in Devon, Ged Kennet makes beautiful hand-forged domestic ironwork and specialises in handles for cabinetry. He’s been honing his craft in metalworking since 1995 and I’m grateful to a local joinery company for introducing me to his work.

I particularly like the hand-beaten character and texture of his architectural hardware and Ged uses his own handmade tools and hammers to create the fine finishes you see on his metal work. 

Ged is a true craftsman, and I used some of his handles to add an element of texture and connection to a super-simple contemporary kitchen I installed within a listed Victorian building, as seen below…

Kitchen handles Ged Kennet

Images Ged Kennet

Dyke and Dean  

I love being able to buy from independent sellers and Dyke and Dean are local to me here in Hastings. Their flagship store is housed in a beautiful historic building in the America Ground area of town, and over the last 10 years, they have established themselves as a ‘go to’ supplier for a wide range of funky hardware, homeware, lighting and iconic design.

I particularly like their light fittings and concrete basins, Katy Paty fittings, Swedish double-ended wall lights and wall-mounted basin taps. I also like to add a touch of unexpected drama and flair to a room and their colourful collections are perfect for adding a touch of playfulness.

Images Dyke and Dean

Philip Watts Design

This year, Philip Watts Design are celebrating a huge achievement. It’s been 30 years since they first started designing and making beautiful handles and accessories from their base in Nottingham and they have just launched their new ‘Sonne’ range to mark the occasion.

The brand is well known for drawing inspiration for its collections from Art Deco and Modernism, but its designs are also influenced by unusual items such as tattoos and castings from nature.

Personally, I’m a huge fan of their Deco-influenced brass fittings with reeded finishes and eye-catching shapes and it was the detailed, decorative nature of their handles that first grabbed my attention.

I also support their ongoing commitment to reduce their environmental impact by using recycled packaging and manufacturing products from recycled materials. 

Images Philip Watts Design

Dowsing and Reynolds

This company specialises in detail. They are “passionate about improving the aesthetics of everyday things”, and since I discovered this ‘family and friends’ brand ten years ago, I have consistently been using their switches, sockets, lighting and leather handles.

Their industrial light bulb clusters are iconic, and they now make and sell everything from taps and shelving to faux foliage and paint.

One of the reasons they’ve always been one of my favourites is that they were one of the first architectural hardware suppliers to offer a bespoke ‘mix and match’ service, allowing you to choose a fitting, the colour of its metal work, the flex and the shape and size of the bulb to create a light fitting unique to you.

Their hardware is also fashionable, good value and comes in a range of fabulous colours and textures that are perfect for adding a playful element to any interior – as you can see from one of my teenager's bedroom designs below.

They also have a great range of more ‘grown up’ door furniture and electrical fittings which are ideal for helping to make a design scheme extra special.

Ceiling light Dowsing and Reynolds

Images Dowsing and Reynolds

Buster and Punch

Inspiration for a new business can come in many forms, and it's said that, for Architect Massimo Buster Minale, it was his passion for custom building motorbikes.  Tinkering away in his East London garage, Massimo began making everything from door handles to loo roll holders and I’ve now been using his products for years.  

Buster and Punch, Massimo’s architectural hardware and lighting company, has now expanded to sell furniture, taps, shelving and even jewellery, but it’s his signature masculine and industrial clean-lined, hard-edged designs that make this brand one of my favourites, as can be seen on the blue vanity unit below.  

Images Buster and Punch

So that’s it, my favourite top six architectural hardware brands.  It’s often said that beauty is in the detail, and when it comes to elevating a room’s design, I totally agree. 

Whether you opt for contemporary and industrial styles or prefer vintage and ornate looks, investing in quality architectural hardware is an easy way to transform your living space into something truly special and reflective of your personal taste.

So, take the time to browse, be inspired and don’t’ be afraid to mix and match different styles to create a look that’s distinctly your own. And if you need any expert help or advice in selecting the perfect pieces for your project, don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m always happy to help you create your dream home. 

Nicky