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custom backplates nickel

Posted on April 16th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These polished nickel plates were fabricated for the interior of Marvin french doors.  The project is in Quincy, Illinois.



custom outlet plates

Posted on April 14th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

Here is an outlet – receptacle plate that is ready for a polished nickel finish.



custom pull concepts

Posted on April 11th, by gbettenhausen in Featured Frontpage, Recent Projects. No Comments

We are working on a large project that require entry pulls to coordinate with interior hardware.  These sketches were completed by our artist for review by our client.  From here we will be sculpting a positive to create a mold for production.  Watch for more photos – this is going to be fun…



1937 – 75 years

Posted on April 10th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

Al Bar Wilmette has been around since 1937. We are in celebration mode around here in Wilmette.  Burt Allen and Walter Barron, Esq. started this little finishing shop with hopes of doing finishing work for a more local clientele — because of cheap shipping and the internet over 50% of our work is completed outside of Illinois.  Here’s to you Burt and Walt!



mod squad

Posted on April 9th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This is another great roll out of our mod cabinet hardware sweet (sp!).  We are doing another fab install on the lake in wilmette, illinois.



embrasure doors

Posted on April 7th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This is a great example of an pair of embrasure doors.  The harmon hinge is the only way to provide a clean appearance when the doors are both opened (pocketing inside the millwork and closed).



woodbine levers

Posted on April 6th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These levers are currently in the finishing room and will be shipped off to Michigan soon.  The rosette is turned from brass and the lever is a casting that is affixed to a turned shank.



good design requires…

Posted on April 2nd, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

A good design requires great hardware – often we see clients wait until they ‘feel’ certain spaces prior to final hardware selection.  If you need to wait on certain locations (and don’t mind blue tape) we are here to help!



drawer pulls polished nickel

Posted on March 30th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These pulls have exposed fasteners (and are a lot of work to install), but have a new old look that is really fresh and new.  They were machined and finished by our folks in Wilmette.



city kitchen

Posted on March 28th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This city kitchen features polished nickel plated hardware that is everything but off the shelf.  Come by our shop in Wilmette to see the difference finishing, quality metal manufacturing and design really make.



custom pulls polished nickel

Posted on March 24th, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These pulls have a step detail that surrounds the ‘d’ shape.  They are on standoffs and were designed to have a walnut infill to contrast the polished nickel.  Don’t settle for standard off the shelf cast white metal hardware for your custom kitchen (por favor).



custom shelf brackets

Posted on March 21st, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These polished nickel shelf brackets were designed by a Chicago firm for a local project.  They were machined from solid brass and support a wood veneered shelf with a stone band.







a few of our latest projects...

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