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The question

Our front door is largely bevelled glass with brass trim. My taste is contemporary and so I'm not crazy about the idea of all-brass hardware. Would brushed nickel work?

The answer

Bevelled glass is fabulous and can be contemporary if the rest of the details are right.

Take, for instance, a simple one-panel door in which the glass sits within rails that are four and a half inches from the top and sides of the door and one foot from the bottom. The connector between the glass and the door itself is called a stop; for a timeless look, the stop should be wood. If yours is brass, simply cover it with wood and paint or stain it to match the door.

As for the hardware, brass works best if the overall look is Georgian. However, my preference, in general, is polished nickel for its shine and warm hue. For a brushed look, I prefer the coolness of stainless steel. But, in the end, it is the styling of the hardware and not its finish that makes it contemporary.

I'm thinking of the high-end and custom hardware at New York's H. Theophile, whose decadence certainly transcends finish. So get into the headspace of your own true style, forget the finish and be original.

Follow architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace on Twitter: @ddtaylorddd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

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