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We interact with them daily and seldom think twice, but do-it-yourselfers have found plenty of reasons for us to focus more on doorknobs (especially the vintage ones often found in flea markets, thrift stores, and architectural salvage yards). With creativity, you can reuse doorknobs in ways that are quite distantly removed from their original purpose. Check out our five favorite doorknob DIY projects, and see these uncomplicated, utilitarian pieces of hardware like never before.
1. HOLD PICTURES
Create a unique presentation for photographs, invitations, or other printed items of sentimental value. It’s a simple matter of threading metal wire around the base of a doorknob and into a coiled shape at the opposite end. So easy and affordable, you could complete a trio of these doorknob DIY projects within a single morning.
2. HANG TOWELS
Secure antique doorknobs to the wall in mudrooms or entryways as a handsome means of hanging coats, hats, and bags. (Alternatively, take this doorknob DIY project into the bathroom, using it for towels.) For a modern look, choose a uniform group of doorknobs; for an eclectic effect, opt for a mix of knob styles.
3. PAVE PATIOS
Set your patio apart from others by paving with such miscellany as doorknobs and stovetop burners (like designer Matthew Levesque has done here). Once embedded in the ground, the vintage chrome and brass knobs not only look remarkable, but also provide a surprisingly stable surface on which to walk or stand.
4. TIE CURTAINS
For an offbeat yet sophisticated addition to your window decor, mount an old doorknob where a curtain tieback would normally go. The knob—choose one that accentuates your treatment—works as satisfactorily as a traditional tieback, even while serving as the sort of small, thoughtful detail that makes a house a home.
5. CORK BOTTLES
Do you like to give wine as a hostess gift? Next time, complement the cabernet with a doorknob bottle stopper. To make one, simply drill a hole in a replacement cork (available at most kitchen stores). Next, sink in the screw from a doorknob, having first covered it with epoxy. If that screw is too long, you can shorten it with a hacksaw.