Fancy Handles: The Brothers Behind Katonah Architectural Hardware

For high-end knobs, handles and latches, Katonah Architectual Hardware is known world-wide.

Started by Andrew Baren 10 years ago, the Katonah-based business has a second outpost in Chicago and a couple of more-casual hardware store counterparts: Katonah Paint and Hardware and Lewisboro Paint and Hardware, both owned by Andrew. 

Katonah Architectural Hardware started when Andrew Baren bought the Katonah Paint and Hardware store from his father in 1987. Today, the store is owned and operated by Andrew and his brother Ian, who is vice president. 

"We expanded the business from across the street," Andrew Baren said. "My father was an architect, and he had the idea about architectural hardware." 

Hearing his father explain how difficult it was for architects to find the right hardware inspired Andrew to offer a solution — and Katonah Architectural Hardware was born. 

"He came up with the idea," Andrew said. "I just ran with it." 

Today, Andrew and Ian do everything from New York brownstones to Tokyo Disney. They import hardware from all over the world, and have shipped it to countries ranging from China (for a yacht) to Ireland (for a rockstar's castle home). 

But despite all the places they do business, they're proud to call Katonah home. 

"Katonah's the kind of town where a locally based business can thrive and grow beyond the local market," Ian said. 

Andrew and Ian are familiar with everything local. They grew up in Westchester and continue to live in the county: Andrew lives in Goldens Bridge and Ian lives in Lake Kitchawan. 

"Ten, fifteen years ago before technology, we were more local," Andrew said. "And there was a lot of building going on in an 100-mile radius of where we're sitting."

Now, as land plots have already been filled and homes are more often renovated than constructed, Katonah Architectural Hardware relies on phone calls and the Internet to connect with customers around the world. 

"Because of technology, we've developed a way of working internationally," Andrew said. "We can just as easily work on a job on the West Coast as we can in Greenwich, Connecticut." 

While most customers don't ever step foot into the store-front showroom on Katonah Avenue, placing all orders online and through architects and designers, the wall-to-wall knobbed showroom does take appointments. A large dining room style table, strewn with handles and knobs, provides a place to sit and browse. And options are everywhere — covering each wall, floor to ceiling. Some handles resemble billiard balls or display a certain NFL team logo. Others are plain, some are intricate. They even boast a "signature knob," a simple yet elegant metallic. 

Ian describes the business as a fine restaurant without a menu — customers explain what they want, and Andrew and Ian make it happen. If they can't find a part or if it doesn't exist, they get it made. 

"We're not in the business of saying 'no'," Ian said. "Doorknobs are us."

When Andrew and Ian aren't working alongside decorators and builders, or ordering artistic knobs and latches from around the world, they're refilling the water cooler and coming up with even more creative hardware ideas. 

"We're constantly looking for ways to grow and advance and look at different markets," Andrew said.