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Q&A with Jennifer Wagner Schmidt

Q: What have you been up to since we last worked together? Any fun projects you care to share?

A. "So much has happened in 2 years! The Elevate project was such a great experience and project to work on with everyone. JWS Interiors garnered new clients as a result of the project, which has been great!

We recently completed a whole house project here in the DC area. A unique, modern take on farmhouse style, the Piet Boon designed home was one of my favorite projects to work on. JWS Interiors was tasked with the design of the entire home. We were thrilled when Elle Decor featured it as a whole house tour this past March."

Q: Looking back, how did the Elevate project change your view on door hardware? Have you found yourself recommending it to clients?

A. "Working with Schlage was great for me a designer. I learned so much about hardware in general; the project also made me focus more attention on this important detail when designing!"

Q: Since Elevate, Schlage has launched the Schlage Custom Door Hardware line – what do you think? What is your favorite, style and finish?

A. "This was a really smart idea-it allows the homeowner or designer to really tailor the hardware to the project/home. I'm always partial to clean, modern lines, so the Custom Latitude Lever with Upland Trim was a clear winner in my book! The Matte Black finish looks amazing!"

Q: What features of Custom do you see being most useful in consumers’ homes?

A. "Anytime you have the option to customize your look--whether that relates to fabric, finishes, or in this case, the style of hardware & finish-- without spending a lot of money--is a win-win. The customer gets exactly what they want - no compromise when it comes to style or function."

Q: Lastly, a fun question, what Single Malt product did you secretly want to take home after the Elevate Design Collective loft unveil?

A. "The Hunter Ceiling Fan was really different and modern. I loved the wire caged industrial feel!"

French doors are a popular choice in homes that want to separate two interior spaces but still allow the rooms to feel connected while adding a charming touch. They can also be used as exterior patio doors allowing homeowners to seamlessly extend their personal style into the great outdoors. While French doors often speak for themselves in adding a bit of character to a home, they can quickly feel outdated if the details are neglected. We’ve teamed up with a few bloggers and designers below and gathered our favorite style tips to help you plan a French door makeover that is easy on your time and budget.

Designer Trapped

There’s no reason to be overwhelmed at the thought of updating the hardware in your home. With a few thoughtful updates at a time, you can make an impact quickly and affordably, like Tasha from Designer Trapped. The French doors that separated her office from the rest of her home were plain and uninteresting. With a new coat of paint and Matte Black Latitude Levers, her French doors became the style statement her office needed.

Two Twenty One

While Chelsea of Two Twenty One already had a gorgeous entryway full of craftsmen details and the perfect, full pane French doors, she knew there was one final touch missing – a door knob upgrade. Swapping the original, boring builder-grade hardware to Schlage’s new Custom Hobson glass knobs was the perfect finishing touch her entryway needed to truly make an impact.

Bless’er House

This home owned by Lauren of Bless’er House is definitely a French door paradise! With so many doors leading to exterior and interior spaces, we’re happy she’s sharing her best hack for stress-free French door painting. We find the contrast she created by painting all of her doors absolutely swoon-worthy!

Little House of Four

While it seems many homeowners are choosing to go lighter and more neutral with their walls, doors are quickly becoming a popular option for adding contrast and a pop of color in smaller doses. We love how Katie chose to paint all of her interior doors, including the French doors found in her basement, a dark, charcoal grey. It adds uniformity and interest throughout the home.

Honeybear Lane

When Heidi of Honeybear Lane added beautiful, white board and batten to her home’s entryway, she needed to find a place to add a little contrast. Her French doors leading into the craft room proved to be the perfect place. After painting the doors a dark charcoal grey and polishing them off with new Bright Brass knobs and hinges, her entryway quickly became a style haven. Get all the details on this project including another great hack for removing paint from French door window panes.

Polkadot chair

We’ve shared this home office refresh many times before but we’re still in love with the unique way Melissa refreshed her space. Painting the ceiling was a bold but genius move and the hardware she added to her French doors is the icing on the cake. From the outside looking in, this space has instant wow-factor.

Jewelry for her home

Treat her to an interior design upgrade – if you choose door hardware as your focus, it won’t be as expensive or time-consuming as it sounds. Next time she’s out of the house for a few hours, consider updating door hardware and hinges to coordinate finishes between other interior accents like kitchen plumbing and cabinet hardware – it only takes a few minutes with a screwdriver to replace a door knob or lever. Step up to premium door hardware (like Schlage Custom locks) and add a fresh coat of paint for a door makeover that will bring every room in the home to life. You can even add an electronic lock to the front or garage door, allowing her to track when the kids come and go and even ‘accidentally’ delete the in-laws’ access codes when she needs some quiet time.

Get personalized

Jewelry and perfume are fairly traditional gifts, but these days it’s easy to add a much more personalized touch. Whether it’s a necklace with an engraved pendant or an artisanal scent customized to her unique body chemistry, look for a gift that no one else can have. If a special perfume sounds perfect for her, you can get some city-based recommendations here – we love New Orleans’ Bourbon French Perfumes because they do a body chemistry analysis, but there are options on both coasts and in the Midwest.

Classic luxury

Is there anything softer or more luxurious than silk? Think pillowcases, robes, slippers, eye masks – you can even find silk-infused shampoo, conditioner and body lotion for the ultimate in softness.

A relaxing bath kit

This time, skip the quick and convenient supermarket buy and put a little more time into crafting your own version. Keeping in mind her favorite scents and flavors, put together a bathtub relaxation kit: a bathtub caddy to keep items dry, a well-made journal where she can record her thoughts and reminisce over memories, a good bottle of wine, a yummy scented candle, and a skin-softening bath bomb.

Peaceful getaways

Take the bath kit a step further and let the professionals handle it – send Mom on a spa getaway! For the ultimate in luxury, a trip to Amangiri is one she’ll never forget – it was recently featured in a Forbes’ Top 10 luxury gift list as one of the most private and peaceful locations in the world. If she’s the more active type, send her on an adventure tour for a taste of the traveling life – there are lots of options available, ranging from wine tours to wildlife viewings and meditation retreats.

Smart is in

Smart home technologies are becoming more mainstream by the day. In fact, nearly 45% of all home owners expect to either buy or invest in smart home technology. And more than half of prospective home sellers said they were planning to purchase home automation products specifically to sell their homes faster and for more money.

Do the math

Three out of four millennial homeowners said they’d be happy to pay between $1,500 and $4,000 to make their homes smarter. A $4,000 investment could increase your home’s asking price by 5% – not to mention turning your house into a smart home. And there are so many connected technologies you can employ that cost much less.

The smart lock: A smart, affordable solution

The NAR trend report revealed that home security was either somewhat or very important to more than 85% of those surveyed. It’s no wonder smart locks are the number one purchase consideration, followed by automated lighting and smart thermostats. Smart locks make your home attractive to prospective buyers, and they also provide peace of mind as realtors and others are going in and out of your home.

Smart security at work

Installing a smart lock on your front door is a simple and affordable first step toward making your home “smart.” Now, instead of leaving your door unlocked or hiding a key under a planter or in a fake rock, you can install a smart lock to keep your house secure. You can even use your smart phone to allow convenient access to those you trust. The Schlage Sense app allows you to program new access codes into the lock, even setting schedules for when those codes can be used. And because you’re notified when codes are used, you can keep a better eye on who is in your house and when they were there.

The best is yet to come

With millennial home buyers now representing the largest potential audience – with two-thirds of them being new home buyers – you can’t ignore the attraction of smart home technologies in appealing to this significant market. In total, the smart home market is expected to reach close to $120 billion by 2020. As this wave crests, it’s sure to continue to sweep through the real estate industry, impacting home prices and influencing home buyers.

Schlage smart locks

When it comes to choosing the smartest smart lock, you can count on Schlage. One of the drawbacks of early electronic locks was that they were bulky and not particularly stylish. Schlage smart locks prove that strength, smarts and style are no longer mutually exclusive. In fact, the premium style of Schlage smart locks will actually add curb appeal to your home. They are also easy to install, requiring just a screwdriver and a little free time to get the job done.

1. Which Schlage smart locks are compatible with Amazon Alexa?

The Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt and Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt are compatible with Amazon Alexa. To connect your Schlage Sense lock, you will need the Schlage Sense Wi-fi Adapter. To connect with Schlage Connect or the Connected Keypad locks, you will need a Wink or Samsung SmartThings hub.

2. How does the new voice unlock feature for Amazon Alexa work?

The unlocking feature is disabled by default. Users must use the Amazon Alexa app to log in and enter their password to enable the feature first. Then they will be required to set a 4-digit PIN which must be spoken before Alexa will unlock the door. When the user says “Alexa, unlock the front door,” Alexa will ask for the PIN. If the PIN is correct, Alexa will unlock the door. After 3 attempts to unlock the door with an incorrect PIN, Alexa will disable the unlock feature and the door will remain locked. Users can re-enable the feature by logging into the Amazon Alexa app and repeating the process.

3. You said you were not including voice unlock functionality because of your commitment to security. What has changed?

At the time of the initial integration, Amazon Alexa had no method in place of authenticating the user’s identity when using a voice unlock command. Now that Alexa requires users to enter their password to enable the unlocking function initially within the app, as well as speak a 4-digit PIN before Alexa will unlock the door, it is possible to offer the voice unlock function with proper security in place.

4. What should I do if my spoken PIN is compromised?

Log into the Amazon Alexa app to change your PIN as needed. We recommend changing your PIN at regular intervals just as you would a computer password.

5. What technology do I need to connect my lock with Amazon Alexa and allow for the new voice unlock feature?

Samsung SmartThings and Wink will enable this functionality with the Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt. The Schlage Sense Wi-Fi Adapter will enable this functionality for the Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt.

6. Can the unlock feature be used with Amazon Alexa smart home routines?

Currently, there is no plan to support routines for operations that affect the security of your home (unlock, disarm, open.)

7. In which countries will the Amazon Alexa voice unlock feature be enabled?

This functionality is currently launching in the United States only.

French doors offer a great way to create an open, bright space in your home while still maintaining the option for privacy. They often feature glass from top to bottom and are an easy way to add a little charm and character. But how do you purchase the right door hardware for French doors? Here’s what you need to know before you head out to the hardware store.

Pre-shopping checklist

Before you choose your hardware, there are a few things you will need to note about your door. First, notice how it has been prepped. Are the bore holes already drilled into the door or is the panel where the hardware will be placed solid? This will help you choose the function of your hardware. For doors that do have bore holes, check out this door prep checklist to ensure your door has been prepped to standard measurements.

If you are planning to purchase a lever with a curve, you’ll want to note the handing of your doors. Since you will have both a left and right-handed door, be sure to choose both a left-handed lever and a right-handed lever.

Interior french doors – no bore holes

Interior French doors are often used to separate an office or den from the rest of the home when privacy or noise control are needed, while still giving the space an open feeling. You can also find them as a formal entrance to a master suite or even in large closets. They are sometimes referred to as double doors and can be solid or feature head-to-toe glass.

For double doors that do not have bore holes, you can choose to use non-turning or dummy function hardware. These are often used as decorative door pulls when the ability to latch or lock the door is not needed. For shallow closets, you can get by with installing door hardware only on the exterior side of the door. For larger rooms you can actually walk into, make sure to purchase enough non-turning door knobs or levers for the interior side.

Interior french doors – with bore holes

For rooms you would like to be able to lock or just prefer to have a working knob or lever that latches, you will want to purchase French doors that are already drilled with a cross bore hole on one side and a latch bore on the other. Let’s say the cross bore hole is on the right handed door. If you want to have the option to lock the door, choose a Bed & Bath / Privacy function for your knob or lever. If locking is not necessary but you would like the door to latch, choose a Hall & Closet / Passage function. You can then choose a non-locking/dummy lock for the left-handed door.

Exterior Patio French Doors - with bore holes

Exterior French doors are most commonly used to access outdoor living spaces, like a sunroom or patio. They offer a stylish way to make the transition from one space to another seamless. You can also choose double doors for the front of your home as an elegant entryway.

You can choose an exterior set of doors that is prepped similarly to the interior doors with bore holes on one side, but if you want to add a little extra security, make sure you have a second bore hole to house a deadbolt. A single cylinder mechanical deadbolt will do. Some homeowners prefer to install a double cylinder deadbolt for even more security with glass doors. Beneath the deadbolt, you can choose a keyed knob or lever.

Exterior Double Doors - with 3 bore holes

For a more formal look, choose a handleset. For the inactive side of the door, you can choose to install nothing at all but if you want to complete the look, install the non-turning/dummy function of the same lock combo you chose for the active side.

Exterior Double Doors - with Electronic Locks

What about electronic and smart locks? All of our electronic and smart locks are compatible with any standard door so that means you can install them on your French or double entry doors just the same as you would a mechanical deadbolt. The double entry door above features a Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt paired with the Camelot style front entry handle. If you only have two bore holes, you can add a passage knob or lever below your smart or electronic lock.

Last April, we explored some budget-friendly tips for getting your front porch in tip-top shape each Spring. Creating first impressions. Making your porch a living space. Simply dressing up your front door. There’s no end to the simple, affordable and stylish ways to welcome the season–and the world–to your home.

Where did it all begin? And what can we look forward to as front porches make a major comeback as both a functional and fashionable statement?

For some insight, we turned to Ted Roberts, the Style and Design Chief at Allegion. A passionate architectural historian, Ted talks about the evolution of the front porch in America, its up and down history and its recent renaissance. He also shares his vision for the future of front porches and their role in creating a sense of community.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

Q: What can you tell us about the historical significance of the front porch?

A. “Homes, throughout history, have always reflected our cultural and practical needs. In colonial times, there weren’t many porches. It wasn’t until after The Revolutionary War that they began to appear in the South, driven by the need to escape the heat. The porch served a function. It was a comfortable part of the house because of its cooling breezes and protection from the sun. But it was also a meeting place, a comfortable place to socialize. And the nation was growing.”

Q: That was the beginning, what happened next?

A. “Over time, the porch evolved, getting more expansive and becoming an even more functional meeting space. This continued into the 1920s. As our cities and towns grew, porches became a social phenomenon because homes were being constructed so close together.”

Q: And then the popularity started to decline?

A. “Yes. The 1920s into the 30s saw a drop-off, mostly due to new technologies. With the automobile, people simply weren’t at home as much. Also, the dirt and noise from the roads made porches less inviting. On into the 1950s, you had the advent of radio and TV which tended to keep people in the house. And then came air conditioning! Now you didn’t even have to go outside to catch a cool breeze.”

Q: When did the front porch start to make a comeback?

A. “While there was a slight comeback in front porches for a time between 1970 and about 2000, we saw many home designs dominated by garage doors. Technology had again forced a design shift that put the front porch on the back burner and two-car garages at the forefront.

Two things are leading today’s comeback. We’re becoming more social, number one. And number two: home delivery. We once had the milkman making deliveries, but that faded as communities grew and small local grocers became big chain supermarkets. Now it has come full circle with technology allowing for everything from meal services to package deliveries. The result: a functional need to have a protected place for such things. This simple need has contributed to the morphing of the front porch into a useful and social showplace for the home.

Q: Where is the porch going?

A. “Based on what we’re seeing, it’s not going anywhere. The porch has become a unique space and a showcase for one’s fashion sense and is important to the curb appeal of a home. While it’s not your living room, people are bringing the same design sense to the space. Plants, furniture, ceiling fans, outdoor televisions, the traditional porch swing, occasional tables, built-ins – these are all now part of the front porch landscape. And will continue to be.”

Q: How has this impacted the front door, itself?

A. “Your front door is not just for wreaths anymore. It’s a space where you can make a statement. A reflection on “who owns this house.” You can dress up your door with things like pictures frames and family crests. You can refinish an old door or transform it entirely with large-pane glass or fancy cut glass with black muntin separating the panes – a huge trend right now.

“Perhaps the easiest and most cost-efficient way to update your look is with new door hardware. And with so many styles available, you can complement everything from traditional to farmhouse to modern decor. Your front door can set the tone of your home, whatever your style. Quickly. Easily. Affordably.”

Q: What does this mean for Schlage?

A. “We’ve built our business by keeping pace with the needs of our homeowners. For instance, as front doors have become larger, we’ve included an assortment of oversized handlesets in our Schlage Custom™ Door Hardware line that will come out later this year. We also offer a broad assortment of knobs, levers and electronic locks that can be paired with a range of Schlage products depending on the style or door application.”

Schlage didn’t invent the lock. But founder, innovator and visionary Walter Schlage certainly perfected it in ways no one could have imagined when he founded the company in 1920. From his first patent in 1909 – a door lock that could also turn the lights on and off – through the decades of innovation that followed, Schlage literally reinvented the door lock as well as the category of door hardware.

One of the first things a visitor notices when entering parent-company Allegion’s headquarters is a wall with 826 patent certificates proudly displayed. It stands as a testament to the lasting commitment to problem solving, customer security and satisfaction, and a spirit of innovation that has stood the test of time.

Who better than Ted Roberts, Allegion’s Style and Design Chief, to speak to this spirit? Ted reflects upon the many technological and stylistic advancements that have made Schlage what it is today – and the man who started it all.

Q&A with Ted Roberts

Q. Where did Schlage begin and where is the company now?

A. “The company has been around for a long time and has quite the history. It all started with Walter Schlage, an immigrant lock maker, who brought some very original ideas with him to America which then became patents and the foundation of Schlage. Dynamic, interesting and creative, Walter was what you’d call a “tinkerer.” His very simple goal, when you boil it all down, was to solve problems.

“That’s really our goal today. Whether we’re talking engineering challenges, keeping up with the latest style trends or making our door hardware easy to install and use, everything we do is designed to afford our homeowners the best possible experience. It’s no surprise, with this kind of heritage, that people expect a lot from us. We want to exceed those expectations.”

Q. Where do you see things going?

A. “I don’t see our mission changing in the future, this perfect harmony of style and function. I see us continuing the melding of aesthetics, innovative product features, reliability and performance that continues to delight our customers. We have some big shoes to fill. We take that responsibility – to our heritage and to our customers – very seriously.”

Q. What are some of the specific innovations Walter – and Schlage – are known for?

A. “With over 800 North American patents alone, there are a lot of them. Walter was really the grandfather of the smart lock. His first patent was for a lock that turned on your house lights when you entered. It’s so ironic how that very first innovation was the precursor to the entire generation of smart locks we’re introducing as we speak.

“Another that’s relevant today is Walter’s process of attaching glass to metal to create a glass door knob. They’re popular again today and are prominently featured in some of our newest collections. Taking something old and making it new again while remaining faithful to its origins – that’s a great example of true timelessness. And that goes for the products we make as well as our company as a whole.”

“Walter also improved the cylindrical lock by adding his push-button innovation. which is still in use today. Again, we started with Walter’s desire to make life easier for people and that continues today with the products we make.”

Q. What has changed the most with the company over the years?

A. “In a word, scope. The more we’ve looked at keeping the promises we’ve made to our homeowners over the years, the more new designs, styles, products and technologies have been explored.

“We’ve grown so much as a company and as innovators. Mechanical and electronic locks. Exit devices. Card readers. Biometric interfaces. Door hardware. I don’t even think Walter Schlage could have envisioned what his homegrown company would one day become.”

Q. What do you think Walter Schlage would say if he saw you now?

A. “On one hand, I imagine he would be in awe of the size of the company, today’s technology and, like I said, the sheer scope of the products the brands create. I also think he would still want to tinker with everything – see what’s going on inside and what makes today’s products tick.

“But he’d find a lot of familiar ground too, just in the way we approach our jobs and our commitment to security, safety and product performance. He’d also recognize in us a certain familiar entrepreneurial spirit and our company-wide desire to always look for and achieve the next best thing.”

Q. In your role as Style and Design Chief, how does this sense of history impact you, personally, in your day-to-day duties?

A. “I think I can speak for all of us when I say we feel like torch-bearers in a sense. Technologies change. Needs change. Styles certainly change–and then change back. We have to be in tune with that, just as Walter was in assessing his own customers’ needs way back when.

“That’s really our goal today. Whether we’re talking engineering challenges, keeping up with the latest style trends or making our door hardware easy to install and use, everything we do is designed to afford our homeowners the best possible experience. It’s no surprise, with this kind of heritage, that people expect a lot from us. We want to exceed those expectations.”

“As a designer following in his footsteps, I’m constantly aware that design is more than appearance – it’s a harmony of function as well as style, with each enhancing the other. Walter’s example guides us, as a company, to continue to look at what we do, holistically focusing on our customer and his or her positive experience with our products.

“For me, personally, I want us to continue our mission of keeping people safe and secure where they live, work and visit. We’re designing products that people rely on, so we need to get it right. If Walter saw us today, I would want him to recognize and appreciate that and feel as much pride as we do in making it happen. And, maybe a little selfishly, I’d like him to be impressed with our passion for design.”

The Schlage Connect™ Touchscreen Deadbolt with alarm combines advanced features and compatibility with your home automation system — allowing you to control your lock from anywhere and freeing you from the hassles of lost keys, getting locked out, or hiding a spare for trusted friends and family. Because it is open-platform, the Schlage Connect lock works with most Z-Wave® smart home hubs, including Samsung SmartThings.

Here are ten features you can expect to unlock when you pair your new Schlage smart lock with a Samsung SmartThings hub.

1. Remote accessibility

Gone are the days of worrying whether or not you left your door unlocked when you left home. Simply check the status of your lock through the SmartThings app. If the lock is unlocked, you can command it to lock within the app no matter where you are, eliminating the need to turn around and go home.

2. Smart home routines

SmartThings allows you to create routines that are triggered by a certain action – like a goodnight routine that locks the doors, closes the garage and turns off all electronics. Setting up automation with other smart devices is fast and easy since you can do everything straight from your smartphone.

3. Create unique access codes

Quickly create a code for a family member or trusted friend and disable it when it is no longer needed through the SmartThings app instead of the lock’s touchscreen. You can also receive alerts from SmartThings when your Schlage Connect is unlocked using one of the access codes, so you always know who is coming and going.

4. Easily share access codes with visitors via SMS

Once you’ve assigned a new access code to a visitor in the SmartThings app, you can conveniently share that code via SMS. No need for you to leave the app and no need for temporary users to download anything new to gain access.

5. One convenient place to check the status of all your locks

Have more than one smart lock installed? Whether on your home property, vacation home or AirBnB, SmartThings allows you to check the status of each lock in one, convenient place.

6. Lock all smart locks in one click

Did you leave all your doors unlocked? You don’t have to command your Schlage Connect deadbolt to lock one at a time. SmartThings allows you to lock them all with a single tap.

7. Rename or delete an access code

No need to pull out your programming guide to delete an access code through the touchscreen of the lock. SmartThings allows you to edit and delete access codes all through the app.

8. Check access codes added across all the locks in one place

Keeping track of all active access codes across multiple locks is easy. Easily view which family members and friends have access to which locks.

9. Receive updates on lock activity

SmartThings offers a little more peace of mind with your Schlage Connect lock by letting you know precisely when your lock was manually locked, manually unlocked, unlocked using code, updated or deleted.

10. Pair your smart lock with Amazon Alexa

Add even more convenience to your home automation set-up by pairing an Alexa-enabled device with Samsung SmartThings. Easily check the status of your lock or command it to lock by asking Alexa.