When I lived in London, I developed a fondness for door levers. Children, elbows, and slippery hands can operate levers. Plus, well-designed ones add an architectural sophistication to interiors. Here are ten favorites.

Turnstyle Designs (a UK company) offers an extensive selection of architectural door levers. Click here for a list of US dealers.

Below: Turnstyle's No. 1520 in satin nickel, $268 for passage set:

Below: Turnstyle's Solid and Square, currently available in European rosette sizing only (consult your contractor). $273 for passage set:

Nanz architectural hardware is clean, classic, and gorgeous; view the online catalog at nanz.com. For pricing information, contact the showrooms in NY, Chicago, LA, or CT.

Below: Nanz No. 2096

Below: Nanz No. 2110

Below: Nanz No. 2017

FSB, a German company, offers 30 different lever designs in either stainless steel or aluminum. Go to fsbusa.com to view styles; contact a dealer for pricing. Architects (notably, our friend Jerome Buttrick of buttrickwong.com) love the precision engineered 1108 Mortise Entry set; go to knobsandhardware.com:

Below: Rocky Mountain Hardware's Round Escutcheon Lever is rugged, modern and substantial. Model E417/L108, $406 at Lock USA:

Italian manufacturer Valli & Valli's Fusital line is handsome and functional.

Below: Fusital Adamello Lever from Valli & Valli, $312 in satin stainless (also available in polished stainless) at Hardware Hut:

Below: Valli & Valli's Fusital Bernina Lever, $219 in satin stainless at Hardware Hut:

Below: The John Pawson–designed Valli & Valli Fusital VNV-H343-RQ, in satin or polished chrome, $374 for passage set from hardwarehut.com:

Finally, some more moderately priced options:

Below: Techno CR14 and R64 Rosette from Cifial Techno; $92 at Designer Hardware:

Below: 12PR from Omnia, $89 at Designer Hardware: