Decorative and architectural hardware, when chosen carefully, isn’t merely utilitarian. It elevates the look and feel of a home and expresses the owner’s personality.
Renee Genereux, co-owner of Brandino Brass, enjoys seeing fine products work their magic for clients. “I always say that hardware is the jewelry of the home,” she says.
Brandino Brass is known throughout the Southeast as a go-to destination for top-quality door and cabinet hardware, fireballs, custom-brass shelving, bathroom accessories, interior and exterior lighting and more.
The store carries unique, high-end makers and vendors, with some products available only at Brandino Brass, and their customers aren’t the only people taking advantage of this selection.
The store’s employees — including Renee and fellow co-owners Eric Brandino and Jessie Isom — rely on the incredible stock at Brandino Brass in redoing their own houses.
Renee and husband Anthony Smith redid the 1970s-vintage house in Inverness where they live with daughters Grace and Joelle in mid-century modern style.
In their kitchen, they used handcrafted cabinet hardware from Classic Brass in Jamestown, N.Y.
“For clients, I typically do traditional knobs on doors and pulls on drawers, but for my house, I went with all pulls to get a contemporary look,” Renee says.
For door hardware, Renee used chrome levers by Deltana, another contemporary touch. “It’s a simple, sleek lever, as opposed to a knob,” she says.
Renee and Anthony went with Ashley Norton hardware in their master bath and Alno in their daughter’s hall bath.
For exterior lighting, Renee chose copper lights made by 14th Colony Lighting in Memphis. “The lights have clean lines and a beautiful patina,” she says.
The home uses electronic deadbolts from Emtek. “It’s easy for me and my family,” Renee says. “We don’t have to keep up with keys anymore.”
The renovation reinforced Renee’s conviction that hardware is the home’s jewelry. “Friends and family notice the door or cabinet hardware,” she says. “Being an owner of this company, it makes me proud that someone notices the beauty and quality.”
Jessie Isom and wife Leigh live in Alabaster in a two-story home with Emtek door hardware and 14th Colony Lighting. However, they’re moving to a one-story home in Wilsonville after completing renovations there.
The new home will have Ashley Norton door hardware, Classic Brass cabinet hardware and 14th Colony Lighting.
“I chose the materials in both houses based on quality and pricing,” Jessie says. “The materials in each house complement the style and bring cohesion to the home.
“It’s interesting to see the difference small changes can make,” he says. “Selecting the right hardware changes everything.”
When Jessie bought the Alabaster house, it had “cheap door hardware,” which he upgraded. “Now it’s the first thing guests notice and comment on when they visit.”
The Brandino selection “makes it difficult, because there’s so many options,” Jessie says. “I try to keep myself in check so I can stick to my budget.”
Eric and partner Sharon Bolt live in a 1940s-era bungalow in Bluff Park where they added a 1000-square-foot master wing with a bedroom, bathroom and closets, and a bar in the bedroom.
The vanity hardware is from Ged Kennett Contemporary Metals, a U.K. manufacturer. “They’re hand-forged, polished stainless steel, made in a custom size for us,” Eric says.
For the entry doors, Eric chose hardware from U.K.-based Frank Allart.
Brandino Brass is known for its custom work, including brass shelves in Eric’s bar. “They’re scraps from a metal shop that works for us,” Eric says. “They look really good.”
Eric and Sharon also did a basement bar and used pulls from Omnia and knobs from Turnstyle Designs. “We needed commercial-size appliance pulls that weren’t too big, and the Omnia just fit,” Eric says.
In doing the project, Eric got to see the design process through a customer’s eyes. “It’s difficult to pick out your own stuff — more difficult than you think,” he says.
He sees things more objectively when helping customers. “When you do it for yourself you get blinders on,” he says.
It’s fun for the Brandino Brass staff to work in a store with so many beautiful, high-quality products.
“That’s what gets me up to go to work every day — helping people find the jewelry for their house,” Renee says.
“It’s gratifying to educate my clients on the options available and explain in detail the quality of each manufacturer,” Jessie says. “That allows the customer to make the best decision for their home.”
Even after 27 years in the industry, Jessie enjoys the process.
“I get to work on projects all over the country because Birmingham is a hotbed of talented architects, designers and contractors,” he says. “Many people around the country come here for their custom hardware needs.”
“We have a really good team,” Eric says. “It’s easy coming to work. It can be challenging, but it’s fun. We like it, and each day is different.”
