8.11.2010

pagoda help...

We're back to my home today.  For those of you who haven't been following my remodel recap that takes place about once a month on Wednesdays - we call our house "Pagoda" because, well, when we bought it, it had a very large red/yellow pagoda in the front yard.  The name stuck and those closest to us all refer to our home this way.  It has become a  term of endearment.  I think everyone should name their home - it's fun.

I'm not going to do a before/after today because I need a little help.  The "finishing" touches are still going on (do they ever end?) and this one has me a little stumped.  I saved these handles from the old front door because they were awesome and I knew I'd find a use for them somewhere.  As you can see, the original finish is grungy brass - this does not really go that well with my house.  All the fixtures, doorknobs, handles, trim etc. in Pagoda is silvertone finish.  I'm not sure I'm a mixed metals kind of gal.  I've seen it done well but not here.

So, we used two of the handles already.  Sprayed them silver and hung them under the bottom shelf behind our back door.  We come and go through our back door because our garage is in the back.  The fish door handles are hooks for my purses and grocery bags.


Now comes the part where I'm looking for help.  This is my linen closet.  It is between my master bedroom and bathroom (one large space).  It's the "in-between" if you will.


It's great.  I love having our main linen closet right in our bedroom (laundry room is right outside the door) and it's very well organized which makes me giddy...




The problem, if you haven't guessed or noticed from the photo is this - the linen closet doors have no handles.  They haven't had handles for the 2 years we've been living in the finished Pagoda.  We know we want to use the fish handles (because I vetoed everything Andrew Henry came up with until he agreed to use them) but what about the color?  I was thinking a nice pop of orange high gloss because orange is an accent color throughout our house and I appreciate continuity of design but I'm not sure orange looks great wtih the maple color of the closet doors.  My vanity is in the same line of sight and it has silver handles. 


You lovely and creative people out there have any ideas?  Also, do you think straight up and down next to each other like the photo at the top (boring?) or kind of angled and off center from each other (too weird)?...

Please help me - it's been two years...

19 comments:

Unknown said...

love the fish things xxxx

Anonymous said...

where are all the creative people out there?
I am so glad I am back.... orange it is.
as your original architect, I approve orange... :)

Jessica said...

I can't even tell you how much I love these handles - and need to find a set! I do love the brass, but I'm thinking a nice pewter color would be gorgeous for these. I wouldn't want to go too shiny and new, a muted pewter would keep with the antique vibe.

I also like them parallel - I like that the order and symmetry off balances the quirkiness.

OneCraftyFox said...

The fish are amazing!! I love how you have refinished them. Yes, I like the idea of them as pantry handles, just straight up and down. You are so organized :)

Jillian said...

The refinished handles look AMAZING! I wish i was half as organized as you. I am really not too creative, but i hope you come up with something great!! I knwo you will, I mean look at everything you have done so far. BEAUTIFUL.

Maria said...

OK - Flexing the design degree - gotta vote for the orange! And if you go with orange - go ahead and make a statement also in the way you place the handles - let that fun side show! The handles will no longer be required to match the metal handles in your bath b/c frankly - they will no longer "read" as metal :-D How fun!

MJM said...

Orange? We know how I feel about orange. I like the pewter idea... Not so high gloss.

KC said...

I've never seen a closet that organised! It boggles my mind. You've got drawer labels with teeth and pain etc., wow, just wow.
I see what you're saying about the orange going with that color of door. I don't think I'd like the two together. Have you considered black?

Tess Kincaid said...

They're fabulous however you mount them!

Stacey said...

First, i envy your organization and i love the handles. While, i am partial to the orange, i would would probably place something in orange up against the cabinets to see how it looks and if you could unscrew one of the pewter handles from the other room and see how that looks, you could get a great idea of which finish would look better(that was a very long sentence:-)). Thanks for commenting on my blog too. I'm now following yours. Happy Wednesday!

KR said...

The pumpkin color would look okay, one's eye would be drawn to the handles, if this is okay then go with the pumpkin, if you don't like it AH can always redo in silver :). I like the whimsy of an angle, perhaps both placed like the slash on your keyboard however straight up and down might be more in keeping with modern.

Andrew H. said...

It's 2 years and I still don't know... I'm too cheap to send them away to be chromed.

I'm leaning toward the orange. Sorry daughter.

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

What cute fishes!! Have a happy Wednesday, Jeanette! xx

Andrea said...

I like the idea of orange, it's original and will give a nice pop of color. Go for it!

pamela said...

do remember those. lovely. hmm. they would be cool on an oven door. could you take off the orange if you don't like? what about doing a tracing first out of orange paper and put that on the door to get an idea. i'd stay w/silver. like them for the bags! they would be cute little towel holders, too.

Charlotta Ward said...

I think these fish handles are fantastic! Really! I am mad about fish in decor and love that you have hung onto them.

I am actually going to suggest you paint the door.. Go for a light shade of grey to give it some depth.
The fish.. if you want a balanced harmonious look, keep them within the silver theme, however I really really love them in their original colour.
A 'pop colour' (to use dear Stacey's term..xx) would also work and if you want to create more of a fun statement.

I think placing them 'tail to head' above each other, overlapping a little on each side. Like this..
------------
------------
Perhaps even tilting a little bit to the left (i.e. right hand side higher).

Hopefully helpful. Good luck.

x Charlotta

Brandywine said...

My two cents -
I would paint out the circle base to coordinate with the color and tone of the door. The fish would be painted an orange that has the same undertone as the brown of the doors. And the fish would be placed higher than center and in a "S" position - looking at each other. Like had been swimming from different ends of a river and just happened upon each other and now can't leave each other's gaze....
Oh - excuse me - I was talking the talk there for a moment.... hah!!

Whatever you decide will look great.

Before you drill holes - attach them to the doors with those 3M picture strips. Live with it for a while and if it doesn't feel right move them until they do.

Look forward to seeing pictures!!!

jeanette from everton terrace said...

I LOVE this idea to put them up with 3M strips first! You are a genius!

Laura said...

I see we have something in common - a label maker. I'm addicted to mine.
Can't wait to see the finished project!