Restore with authenticity — from colonial to craftsman.

When restoring a heritage home, the smallest details make the biggest difference. Your door hinges, cabinet latches, iron straps, and fasteners shouldn’t just function — they should tell a story. Choosing the right wrought iron hardware for your restoration project can elevate your space from simply preserved to truly period-authentic.

At Old West Iron, we specialize in hand-forged hardware styles tailored to historical design movements. Below, we walk through the most iconic styles and what hardware works best for each — so you can restore with confidence and integrity.

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🏛️ Colonial Style (1600s–1700s)

Design traits: Simple, utilitarian, heavily influenced by English and early American blacksmithing.
Best hardware choices:

• Hand-hammered strap hinges and H-hinges

• Speakeasy grilles and iron door knockers

• Forged clavos and rustic nails

• Textured surface finishes like raw iron or beeswax

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🎖️ Revolutionary Era (1770s–1790s)

Design traits: Hearty and functional, forged during America’s birth. Emphasis on independence and self-reliance.
Best hardware choices:

• Decorative but strong hinge straps

• Iron bolts and latches

• Hardware with "forged freedom" markings or patriotic symbolism

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🕯️ Georgian Style (1714–1830)

Design traits: Symmetry, elegance, and refined colonial detail
Best hardware choices:

• Polished iron or pewter finishes

• Delicate scrollwork and rosette-style clavos

• Decorative iron curtain rods and candle holders

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🪵 Early American / Federal Style (1780–1830)

Design traits: Understated, practical, with restrained ornamentation
Best hardware choices:

• Clean, geometric strap hinges

• Rounded or square hammered bolts

• Black or oil-rubbed bronze finishes

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🏚️ Farmhouse & Rustic Revival

Design traits: Exposed beams, natural materials, mixed wood and metal
Best hardware choices:

• Distressed and hammered finishes

• Iron shelf brackets and corbels

• Mantel straps and rustic door pulls

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🏞️ Spanish Revival & Mission Style (1900–1930s)

Design traits: Arched entries, adobe textures, iron grilles and ornamental metalwork
Best hardware choices:

• Fleur-de-lis and scroll designs

• Speakeasy grilles with door viewers

• Burnished bronze or textured black finishes

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🪟 Craftsman & Bungalow (1905–1930s)

Design traits: Visible joinery, built-in cabinetry, honest materials
Best hardware choices:

• Square iron clavos and mortise bolts

• Matte finishes like oil-rubbed bronze

• Simple iron brackets and handles

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🏡 Why Style-Matched Hardware Matters

Authentic wrought iron hardware adds more than charm — it restores the historical soul of a home. Whether you’re repairing original architecture or doing a faithful remodel, the hardware should reflect the era in both design and craftsmanship.

At Old West Iron, we hand-forge every piece in Idaho using traditional blacksmithing techniques, ensuring your restoration project maintains EEAT standards — Expertise, Experience, Authority, and Trust — with American-made quality.

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🛒 Ready to Start?

Use our Shop by Design Style tool to explore curated hardware options for your home’s historical aesthetic.

Need help choosing the right hardware for your restoration project?
Contact our team — we’re happy to walk you through period-correct options or help with custom orders.

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Written by the Old West Iron Forge Team
Crafting authentic American ironwork from our Idaho forge since 2011. Experience-backed, veteran-built, and proudly Made in the USA.