Esmailjee Moosabhai. That’s where. It is my favourite little shop to buy handles and hardware.

I’m sure everyone loves certain parts of their job, and hates others. I have my loves and hates of interior design too. The planning and design, selection of fabrics, furniture, wallpaper, lights, basically all the design parts… these are my loves. The biggest and most absolute hate is the billing. Soooo boring! Checking quantities, rates and bills… I wish there was a way around it.

Selecting bathroom fittings, handles and hardware fell somewhere in the middle. Not the most exciting part of the design at all, till I discovered Esmailjee Moosabhai many years back. It is located at Lohar Chawl and you can see the address on the topmost pic above.

It’s like walking into a sea of handles. I usually walk the entire length of the shop once just to get an idea of what’s where. Then I walk the length again, one panel at a time, actually taking in all the different designs. But they say a picture speaks a thousand words. So let the pictures just take over… this post needs few words!

Handles:

Esmailjee Moosabhai has an extensive range of handles and knobs for wardrobes and units in different finishes and styles.

This includes a vast range in crystal…

… and a kids range too.

Mortise handles for doors.

Main door handles to match any style you choose for your home, from sleek and simple to decorated and ornate.

I especially loved these two versions of the tree of life.

You’ll find slide bolts and vintage locks too.

Other Hardware:

I also come to Esmailjee Moosabhai to pick up accessories like bathroom fittings. This includes bath and vanity shelves, towel racks, tissue holders… and all the little things that go into every home.

Clothes hooks for example… a large variety for every little thing.

You know how you sometimes go to a shop, and after having seen the collection you feel like you need to go to a few more places so you’re sure you’ve seen everything? So that you’re sure you’ve made the most informed decision possible. At Esmailjee Moosabhai I’m happy to see, select, order and leave. It’s never possible to see it all, but I always feel like I’ve seen enough.

They also have accessories like curtain rods…

… and these lovely brass motifs.

So suppose, for example, you had to make an ornate door like this…

Pic: Source

… you would use one of those pretty brass motifs on each of the panels.

Project Comeback Doors – Sneak Peek:

We’re not doing anything that heavy for Project Comeback, but I did make a trip to Esmailjee Moosabhai to select, among other things, the handles for all the doors. I ended up liking BOTH these a lot!

As you can see, they’re both completely different styles. One is sleek and silver, with that beautiful walnut detail. I’d be happy to design the whole home around this handle! And the other is a delicately ornate design in a brass finish. One would fit in well into any contemporary design while the other will agree with more elaborate details. Which is what finally tipped the balance in favour of the brass handle. Though we’re generally using a contemporary classic style for Project Comeback, we do have elements of fine detailing too. These would be enhanced by the brass handles.

So this is our door design, simple and classic.

And this is what will be going into it. A dark walnut finish, with that beautiful moulding and those pretty handles. The moulding is unpolished yet, but will be polished to match the walnut.

Can’t wait to see it all finished!

In the mean time, I have a few more trips scheduled to Esmailjee Moosabhai, before I’m done with all the handles and hardware required. You’ll get all the details on those right here.

Until then,