✉ info@paulrichardsignwriter.co.uk
☎ 07464 789943
☎ 07464 789943
Hand-Painted House Names & Numbers
Bespoke hand-painted house names and numbers, including genuine 23ct gold leaf, reverse gilding and traditional signwriting for distinctive homes.
A Finishing Touch Made Specifically for Your Home
From elegant house numbers to individually designed house names, each commission is created to complement the character of your property.
Traditional hand-painted lettering, reverse glass gilding and genuine gold leaf can be used to create something far more individual than an off-the-shelf plaque or vinyl number.
Every design is produced specifically for the property, with lettering, colour and finish carefully considered before work begins.
House Names & Numbers Made to Order
Reverse-Gilded House Names
Traditional lettering applied to the inside of glass using genuine gold leaf, giving exceptional depth and brilliance.
Gold Leaf Numbers
Individual house numbers created using genuine gold leaf for a distinctive entrance.
Painted House Names
Traditional hand-painted lettering for glass, doors, panels and architectural surfaces.
Bespoke Designs
Lettering developed around the period, style and character of your individual property.
Featured Commission — Seventeen, Hartlepool
This Hartlepool commission involved creating the house name SEVENTEEN above an existing blue entrance door.
The lettering was designed to sit naturally within the traditional architectural surround and complement the brass door furniture, using genuine gold leaf to create a finish that changes subtly with the light.
Rather than looking like an applied sign, the finished lettering becomes part of the entrance itself.
Designed, laid out and gilded individually by hand.
A successful house name should look as though it has always belonged to the property. The aim is not simply to add lettering, but to create something sympathetic to the building, proportions and existing architectural details.
Design
Lettering is drawn and proportioned specifically for the available space and architecture.
Setting Out
A full-size pattern allows the position, spacing and alignment to be transferred accurately to the glass.
Gilding
The lettering is prepared and genuine gold leaf applied using traditional gilding techniques.
Finishing
The work is carefully backed-up and detailed to protect the gilding and create the final appearance.
Genuine gold leaf has a brilliance that imitation metallic finishes cannot reproduce.
When applied to glass using traditional techniques, the gold reflects light through the surface, producing exceptional depth and clarity.
It is particularly suited to house names and numbers where a refined, long-lasting finish is required and works beautifully on both period and contemporary properties.
- Genuine gold leaf
- Traditionally applied by hand
- Exceptional depth and brilliance
- Designed specifically for your property
Watch the Commission Come Together
From the initial setting-out to the finished gold lettering, this short film shows the Hartlepool commission taking shape.
Other House Name Commissions
Every property calls for a different approach. House names can be faithfully restored from surviving original lettering or designed afresh to complement the architecture and character of the building.
Ridley House – Restoration
The original gilded house name was carefully recreated using a template taken from the surviving lettering, preserving the proportions and character of the original design rather than replacing it with modern typography.
Norham House – A New Design
A completely new design created to replace the deteriorated previous house name. The new gilded lettering was designed specifically for the proportions of the transom and to sit naturally with the stone frontage and traditional entrance.
Before – the deteriorated previous lettering
Perfect For
Period Homes
Victorian & Edwardian Properties
Traditional Entrances
Contemporary Homes
Transom Windows
Door & Glazed Panels
A house name should feel like part of the architecture — not something simply attached to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Every commission can be designed specifically around the property, available space and style you prefer.
Yes. Genuine gold leaf is available for reverse-gilded house names and numbers, giving a depth and brilliance that imitation metallic finishes cannot reproduce.
In many cases, yes. Existing transom windows, glazed panels and suitable doors can be assessed before work begins.
Absolutely. Anything from a single number to a full house name can be designed and traditionally painted or gilded.
Every commission is individually designed, so prices vary depending on the size, materials and whether traditional painting, reverse gilding or genuine gold leaf is required. Please get in touch with a photograph of your entrance and an idea of what you’d like, and I can advise on the options and provide a quotation.
Yes. I undertake commissions throughout the North East and can travel further afield for suitable projects.
Whether you already know exactly what you’d like or would prefer help developing the design, I’d be delighted to discuss your property and ideas.
Every commission begins with a conversation.