I’m sure I’m not the only one daydreaming about traveling during this time. Between staying at home and trips being cancelled (due to COVID-19, our family trip to Greece this summer has been postponed), places like Europe feel even further away…
…which, of course, has inspired me to reminisce on trips past and scroll through photos! My family and I were lucky enough to take an incredible trip to Italy a couple summers ago, and the memories we made there are still as vibrant as ever.
As we metaphorically throw open our doors to the summer season, I wanted to share some photos of literal doors (and stunning door knockers) from that special trip to Italy.
Oftentimes, designers get asked where we find our inspiration… well, here’s a prime example! The architecture and design in Europe are incredible, and all these photos of striking doors and intricate door knockers are no exception.
The lines, textures and patterns of the elements on historical buildings have my wheels turning (again, two years later) about how we can use this inspiration in our current design projects. I hope you’ll find these as inspiring as I did.
So, let’s keep our doors open, stay inspired, and make the most of this beautiful Rhode Island summer to come!
Enter the Doors to Summer…
Door 1: Over My Head
I found this door when I was out in Rome’s shopping district. I LOVE its scale and the curved upper portion. The top of my head hits at the knocker – it must be nearly 11′ tall! Many times you see the upper arch in glass, but here, the entire door is carved.
I do wish that when they replaced the brass plates at the bottom of the doors, they had antiqued the brass first, but it’s still magnificent, and the knockers are just as amazing.
Door 2: A World of Depth
The various areas of relief and projection give the door of this city apartment so much depth. The round brass pulls honor this door’s simplicity and keep your eye focused on its dimension. The iron detailing at the top balances out the kickplate beautifully.
Can you imagine coming home to amazing doors like this every day??
Door 3: A Grand Entrance
While I love the symmetry and tone of the doors themselves, the arched surround is just breathtaking. It makes this entrance feel incredibly grand, as if every day was a special occasion.
Door 4: Ready for Battle
The simple corner details on each rectangle add extra dimension. And boy, those spiked studs on the kickplate feels like you’re ready for battle at any time!
Door 5: Beautifully Balanced
The combination of straight and sinuous lines here is so appealing. The outer squares paired with the inner medallions provide balance, and the brass tacks at the base provide the perfect amount of interest. You MAY just see a replica in a future BID design!
Door 6: Where Friendships Grow
And… just for fun… this is my daughter and niece in front of our apartment doors!
6 Irresistible Door Knockers
Knocker 1: The Mythical Goddess
The detail on this knocker is just breathtaking. The outer ring, made up of delicate snake skin, is attached by an intriguing upper claw. The goddess head on the interior looks both mysterious and mythical. This might just be one of my favorites.
Knocker 2: The Angry Elf
Meet the home of the angry elf. While I wouldn’t want to welcome someone to my home with this knocker, I do love its detail and could even see it translated to pulls for an edgy hall chest.
Knocker 3: The Concerned Lion
One of my faves. This guy looks like he’s blowing bubblegum! I especially like the detail in his eyes and raised eyebrows, although I wish the scale of the lion’s head was a tad larger in comparison to the knocker. The added metal button below the head ensures guests are heard loud and clear.
Knocker 4: The Playful Pup
I mean. How can you not love a playful pup knocker? Especially one from ancient Rome? I love how it’s like the dog is playing tug of war with you as you attempt to enter its home. Guests are sure to enter in a good mood. 😉
Knocker 5: The Old World…
This knocker, while certainly more ornate than something I’d use today, definitely brings an element of antiquity. You can even see the way the brass has aged differently between its base and where the oil from hands have kept it brighter. Beautiful!
Knocker 6: …And The New
This one looks like it could be current today, despite the likelihood it’s at least a hundred years old. I love the clean links, simple banding and the extra brass dot above to balance it out just so.
And there you have it — 6 incredible Italian doors and 6 intriguing door knockers to keep us inspired! Which were your favorites? And where would you love to travel to next? We’d love to hear in the comments below. 🙂
P.S. If you have finds from your travels that you’d love to display, be sure to get your hands on our guide to styling bookcases!
XOXO,
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