ALVO Solid Brass Hinge

The ALVO is a solid brass butt hinge with a decorative ball-tip finial on the pin. It is a small detail that most people will not notice consciously, but it lifts the edge of the door above standard hardware. The leaves are heavy-gauge brass with countersunk screw holes and square corners, designed to be morticed flush into the door edge and frame.

Three finishes are available: satin brass, antique brass and matte black. Satin brass and antique brass suit traditional and transitional interiors. Matte black gives a sharper, more contemporary look, especially on lighter doors. Unlacquered brass will develop a natural patina with time.

How many you need

Most internal doors take three hinges, set at the top, middle and bottom. A light door, or one under about 900mm wide, will sit happily on two. Heavy or tall doors should always have three.

Buy a single hinge, a pair, or a pack of three for a whole door. The price per hinge falls as the pack gets larger, so a pack of three works out cheaper than three singles. Every hinge comes with its own matching screws.

Where it works best

• Internal doors throughout the house, especially where handles and other door furniture are in matching brass finishes
• Period and heritage properties where ball-tip hinges are an expected detail
• New builds and renovations looking for a step up from standard pressed-steel hinges
• Bathroom, bedroom, and hallway doors

The square-cornered leaves are a period detail that sits well with mortice locks and lever handles in the same finish. Match with other brass door hardware in the same finish for a coordinated look across the house.