Here at Habitusliving, we love an origin story. From architects who spent their childhood sketching dream homes, to industrial designers who fashioned furniture for toys from cardboard tubes and old newspapers, we know that greatness is often born from humble beginnings. This is certainly true for Windsor Architectural Hardware.
Let’s rewind to New Zealand 1984, the country’s economy is booming, Crowded House are crooning and the national cricket team are taking international scalps across the world. But while most are distracted by big hair and bright clothes, Peter Hickmott is in his shed, working through the night to finesse designs and prototypes of a new kind of residential hardware.
Over the years, the backyard shed became an industrial premises, lacquering door knobs in the living room became a commercial spray booth and Peter became managing director of a company renowned across New Zealand for its products, vision and approach to business.
Expanding into the Australian market, Windsor Architectural Hardware has built a reputation for making stand-out door handles and window fittings that aren’t forgotten functionalities but design pieces in and of themselves, adornments forged and machined from volumes of solid brass. Windsor silhouettes are sophisticated and elegant, stretched into long forms or exquisite curves, each designed to make simple acts like turning, opening, pulling and locking into an experience.
Nothing exudes this more than the brand’s new range of cabinet handles that add a bespoke element to this already elite collection. All forged with a solid brass core, Planar, Orizon and Vertex have subtle differences in the crafted textures along the length of the handle. From linear knurled, diamond knurled and plain, the texture of each handle can elevate the small moments of everyday, bringing unexpected delight into your home.
Available in matte satin brass, graphite nickel, matte black and brushed nickel, the cylindrical handles blend texture and tone to create a memorable experience under-hand.
Multiple length options suit doors and drawers in kitchens, wardrobes, vanities and cupboards, while customisable texture options allow for a personalised finish to see and feel. This new collection speaks to the ethos behind Windsor: the innate belief that good design is all about the finer details.
From origins in a backyard shed to now being featured in award-winning homes, the Windsor Architectural Hardware story is one of talent and perseverance, of finding authentically good products that people can fall in love with. In the end though, it’s really no surprise that the brand has seen such success, for every designer knows that the devil is in the detail.
Windsor Architectural Hardware
This article originally appeared in Issue #57 of Habitus magazine – Kitchen & Bathroom
