For a house with a strong, distinctive character, the balustrade is less about the product itself and more about the building it will be installed on. In this customer project, a wrought iron railing in a custom green shade tied the entire façade together, and the choice of colour proved to be more important than the choice of model.
How do you choose a balcony balustrade that complements the style of your home?
The house in the project is a rendered house with a red tiled roof, glazing-barred windows and deep green joinery throughout. Window frames, front door, shutters and porch share the same green. The balcony sits centrally in the gable on the upper floor, symmetrically above the entrance, and is the first thing you see from the drive.
This makes the balcony balustrade one of the most visible design choices on the property. The balustrade needed to define the boundaries of the balcony, but also to blend in with a façade that already has a strong visual identity. A balustrade with the wrong design language – one that was too modern, too heavy, or in a colour that disrupted the green line – would have altered the entire look of the building.
Why was Retro chosen in a custom green shade?
We chose Retro, our powder-coated aluminium wrought iron railing with a classic design. Three choices determined the outcome.
- Classic design language
- Vertical spindles with spear tips, ornamental details in the lower section and a top rail that finishes the balustrade with a clean horizontal line. It is a wrought iron style that belongs on houses with a classic character.
- Custom colour
- The balustrade was ordered in a deep green shade to match the house’s existing woodwork. The result is a balustrade that does not look like it was added later, but rather like an original part of the architecture.
- Aluminium instead of iron
- Powder-coated aluminium offers the look of wrought iron without requiring the same maintenance as traditional wrought iron.
A black balustrade would have served as a boundary, but it would have introduced a new colour into a palette that is already set. On a façade where everything else harmonises, a contrasting colour stands out more than you might think, and a matching colour has a greater impact.
Wrought iron or aluminium – what’s the difference when used outdoors?
Traditional wrought iron has exactly the design aesthetic this house calls for, but it requires more effort on the part of the homeowner. Retro achieves the same visual effect with aluminium.
The look comes with more maintenance
- Iron can rust, especially on an exposed balcony.
- The surface often needs to be repainted.
- The balustrade needs to be inspected regularly.
The same look with easier maintenance
- Aluminium does not rust like iron.
- Powder coating is a durable finish that typically requires little maintenance.
- Cleaning with water is usually sufficient. Follow the product's instructions.
The difference is especially noticeable over time. The green hue complements the house’s woodwork without the homeowner having to spend much time on the balustrade. The balcony is also furnished with a bistro table and chairs in the same shade of green. Despite the limited space, it creates a cohesive outdoor living space, as the colour and design language are consistent across the balustrade, furniture, and house.
What should you consider about height and spindles on a balcony balustrade?
The height of the balustrade and the spacing between the spindles affect both safety and appearance. The spindles should be spaced so that children cannot crawl through, and the balustrade should have no horizontal parts that give a foothold for climbing. Retro’s vertical spindles therefore suit well, as the protection is built into the design itself.
Height is particularly relevant when renovating older houses, where existing balustrades may be lower than today’s requirements. A new balustrade is then a chance to renew both the façade and the protection in one go. Here the height was adapted to the existing proportions of the balcony opening.
What should you consider when choosing a wrought iron railing for your balcony?
If you have a house with classic architecture, three questions will guide your choice of balcony balustrade.
Three questions to answer first
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What architectural style suits this house?
Wrought iron style with ornaments and spear tips ties in with classic architecture. Glass and aluminium are more often at home on modern buildings. Let the house decide.
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What is the colour scheme of the façade?
A standard colour works well on many houses. If the house has a consistent colour scheme for its woodwork, a custom colour can make the difference between a balustrade that’s simply attached to the house and one that’s an integral part of it.
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How do the balustrade's proportions affect the façade?
The level of detail in the ornamentation and the height of the balustrade must be proportionate to the size of the balcony opening and the scale of the façade.
A wrought iron railing that is part of the house
The project shows that a balcony balustrade on a house with strong character is about finding the most fitting solution, not the most impressive one. Retro in a custom green is not a complicated solution, but it is well judged: design, colour and proportion start from the building instead of competing with it. The balustrade should not be the star. It should make the rest of the façade better.
