If you follow me on Instagram you know we have been on a mission to turn our house into our “home”. One of the recent projects we did was switching all of our doorknobs to Emtek Door Knobs and levers and man, what a difference it made! I love projects that elevate the home without being complicated or overly expensive. Not that Emtek is cheap, but for me, it’s all about the bang for the buck. That said here are a few things I learned about installing Emtek Door Knobs that will save you time and energy.

1 Emtek Door Knob Handing

What the heck is door handing? Yeah, you probably aren’t too familiar with that term unless you are a contractor, right? Well turns out fancy doorknobs like Emtek need to be ordered based on their handing because they are not universal. Essentially this means determining the hand you would most likely use to open the door and order accordingly. To do this you stand on the outside of the door (exterior doors= street/ entry side, room door = hallway side, closet door = hallway side). Emtek has a great graphic on their website that makes this process simple (see below). But, it is important you physically take the time to walk the house and jot down what each door needs. I did this using a google sheet which made it very easy to know which doorknob went where when they were delivered. *Note- if you have any questions about handing contact Emtek directly they have excellent customer service and can walk you through it.

2 Privacy versus Passage Doorknobs

While you are walking around the house you will also want to note whether each doorknob is going to be a privacy knob or passage knob. Privacy knobs have the ability to lock and passage knobs do not. We placed privacy knobs on bathroom doors, exterior doors, and our master bedroom. Sorry kiddos no privacy for you. Ther are also key-in knobs and levers which, like they sound, need a key to be opened once locked. We used this along with a deadbolt for places like our French Doors leading to our backyard.

3 Living Finishes

One mistake we made years ago with Emtek cabinet pulls was not understanding what a “living finish” is. We had purchased these gorgeous rubbed medium bronze cabinet pull. They were almost black in color and I initially loved them, but then as the years passed the most used knobs began to show much more of their golden undertones. They looked gold which was not the look I was going for. Having learned that lesson this time around I chose to get a finish that I knew would last. Now, this is totally a personal choice. Many homeowners adore the living finishes and take measures like rotating frequently used knobs to get an even look. But, for me, that is just too much work. The important thing is for you to be aware of the differences and choose what fits your lifestyle accordingly.

4 Emtek Door Knob Rosettes

One of the things I love about Emtek is the ability to truly customize your doorknob look. Not only do they have a wide variety of knobs and levers plus many different finishes, but you also get to choose the rosette to go along with it too. The rosettes are the piece that fits between your doorknob and the frame of your door. Emtek offers many different sizes and shapes allowing you to create the perfect look for your home. We chose the Quincy Rosette and I love the way it paired with the Helios doorknob.

5 Deadbolts

Don’t forget to order matching deadbolts. This are mainly used on entry sets and interior garage doors. Emtek also has a line of EMPowered™ Door Lock Sets that have motorized touchscreen keypads allowing entry with a code. These are great for families with children, pet sitters, house cleaners, baby sitters, and more!

Have you thought about changing the doorknobs on your doors? If so I highly recommend you check out Emtek Products. You can view their website here and find out where you can purchase their doorknobs. You can also check out their Instagram here for more inspiration.

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Mama Munchkin

Amber is not only the dynamic CEO and founder of our team but also a dedicated mother of six and savvy entrepreneur. Her extensive travels with her family have not only created lasting memories but have also led to their tight-knit bonds. Helping you bring your family closer together and finding community with all of you is what gets her out of bed everyday (although her toddler plays a role in this as well).

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