Window Furniture Explained: A Guide to Casement, Sash, Fanlight and Espagnolette Hardware

Supplied by Trade Door Handles, trusted UK supplier of architectural ironmongery since 1976, with quick nationwide delivery.

Window furniture is the collective trade term for the hardware and ironmongery fitted to a window - the handles, stays, fasteners, catches, lifts and pulleys that let a window open, close, lock and stay secure. It is easy to confuse the phrase with curtains and blinds, but in the ironmongery trade window furniture means the working metalwork on the window itself, not the soft furnishings around it. Getting the right window furniture keeps a window operating smoothly for decades and quietly finishes the look of a room.

At Trade Door Handles we stock and supply a large range of window furniture for timber, metal and uPVC windows, in locking and non-locking options, and in finishes to match any decor. Below we walk through the four main window types - casement, sash, fanlight and espagnolette - so you can identify the parts you have and choose suitable replacements. This is a plain-English overview of window furniture, and each section links to a dedicated collection so you can go straight to the products.

A casement window is hinged at the side (or top) and swings open like a door. Its window furniture works as a pair: something to hold the window open, and something to pull it shut and keep it there. Our full range of casement window furniture covers stays, fasteners and the smaller accessories that keep everything working. The three key groups are set out below.

A casement window stay is the arm that holds the window open at set positions and stops it slamming in the wind. The most common pattern is the peg stay, where a perforated arm drops over one or two pins, though friction and telescopic stays are also used. A window stay is the part most homeowners recognise as the flat bar along the bottom of the frame, and it is one of the fastest-wearing pieces of window furniture, so it is a frequent replacement.

A casement fastener - often called a cockspur or a wedge fastener - is the handle that pulls the window tight against the frame and locks it in the closed position. Cockspur fasteners suit metal and timber casements, while mortice and hook-plate patterns suit thicker frames. Choosing a fastener that matches your frame depth is essential, as the reach of the arm has to seat correctly on the keep. Locking casement fasteners add a small key for extra security, which we cover further down.

Beyond stays and fasteners, casement window furniture includes the small parts that make a window work properly: stay pins and pin plates, stay locks, fastener keeps, packers and matching screws. These accessories are easy to overlook but they are what let older window furniture be repaired rather than replaced. Keeping a few spares in a matching finish means a worn part can be swapped without changing the whole set.

A sash window slides vertically rather than swinging open, so it needs a very different set of window furniture from a casement. Traditional timber box-sash windows in particular rely on a family of specialist parts. Our sash window furniture range gathers the fasteners, lifts, pulleys and accessories that period sash windows depend on, and the main groups are below.

A sash window fastener - the fitch fastener or Brighton fastener being the classic patterns - is the catch mounted where the two sashes meet, drawing them together and locking them shut. As well as security, a good fastener pulls the sashes tight to cut draughts and rattle. The fitch fastener is the most popular style because its cam action pulls the meeting rails firmly together, making it a mainstay of sash window furniture.

Because a sash has no side handle, you open it using a sash lift or a sash hook. A sash lift is the cupped or bar handle screwed to the bottom rail so you can raise the lower sash, while a sash eye and pole hook let you reach the top sash on tall windows. These small pieces of window furniture are often the first things to be lost or painted over during redecoration.

Hidden inside the frame, sash pulleys carry the cords and counterweights that make a box sash glide up and down and hold its position. When a sash refuses to stay open or drops on its own, a seized pulley or a broken cord is usually the cause. Replacing the pulleys is a common part of any sash window restoration, and matching the wheel size to the original is important.

Sash window accessories complete the set: sash cord, sash pole hooks, sash stops for restricted opening, D-handles and matching screws. Together these let a traditional window be brought back to full working order using period-correct window furniture rather than modern substitutes. Choosing the same finish across fasteners, lifts and stops keeps a restored sash window looking authentic.

A fanlight is the small opening light above a door or larger window, often set high up and operated from below. Its window furniture is all about controlling a hard-to-reach opening safely. Our fanlight window furniture range covers the catches, openers, stays and winders used on these lights, described briefly below.

A fanlight catch is the fastener that holds a top-hung fanlight closed, usually with a ring or lever that a pole can hook into from below. Because fanlights sit above head height, the catch has to be reliable and easy to operate at a distance, which is why sturdy cast patterns remain popular in this part of the window furniture range.

Where a fanlight needs controlled opening, a fanlight opener, window winder or gear mechanism does the job. A window winder uses a geared handle to wind the light open and closed smoothly, which is ideal for heavy or high lights. These openers give precise control and hold the window firmly at any position.

Quadrant arm stays and roller arm stays are the curved and sliding stays that guide a fanlight or top-hung light as it opens, keeping the movement controlled and preventing over-opening. A quadrant stay follows a fixed arc, while a roller arm stay slides in a channel. Both are core pieces of fanlight window furniture and are chosen to suit the weight and swing of the light.

Espagnolette window furniture is the modern multipoint system found on most uPVC and aluminium windows, and on many newer timber ones. Turning the handle drives a rod up and down the frame, throwing several locking points at once for a tight, secure seal. Our espagnolette window handles come in straight, left-hand and right-hand versions to suit the gearbox in your window.

Espagnolette handles are handed, so the direction the handle points and the position of the spindle matter. A straight (inline) handle sits vertically, while cranked left-hand and right-hand handles are offset to clear the frame. Measuring the spindle size and the fixing centres before you order avoids the most common fitting mistake, as a 7mm spindle and set screw centres have to match the existing gearbox for the new window furniture to work.

Window furniture is made to be seen, so finish matters as much as function. The most popular options are:

• Polished and satin brass - warm and traditional, ideal for period timber windows.
• Polished and satin chrome - crisp and neutral, suited to contemporary rooms.
• Matt black and pewter - on-trend for heritage and industrial looks.
• Antique and aged finishes - for restoration work where new should look old.

For the longest life, look for solid brass or stainless components rather than plated pot metal, especially on coastal or exposed properties where salt air attacks weaker materials. Matching your window furniture to your door furniture ties a whole property together, which is why many customers order both in the same finish.

Security is a natural concern with any window furniture. Lockable options run right across the range: key-locking casement fasteners, lockable espagnolette handles, and sash stops or dual screws that restrict how far a sash opens. Window restrictors and safety catches are also worth fitting where child safety matters, as they cap the opening while still allowing ventilation. If security is your priority, choose window furniture that is clearly marked as key-lockable and keep the keys consistent across the house.

Not all window furniture is interchangeable, so it helps to weigh the main choices:

1. Locking vs non-locking - locking window furniture adds security but costs a little more; non-locking suits low-risk internal or upper-floor windows.
2. Timber vs uPVC vs metal - traditional stays and fasteners suit timber and metal casements, while espagnolette systems suit uPVC and aluminium.
3. Standard vs bespoke - most homes are served by standard ranges, but listed buildings and restorations may need handmade window furniture from specialist UK makers such as Samuel Heath, Frank Allart, Croft Hardware and Kirkpatrick.

We supply window furniture from leading brands including Carlisle Brass, Zoo Hardware, Heritage Brass, From The Anvil, ERA and Fab and Fix, alongside those handmade British ranges. Browsing our wider architectural ironmongery section shows how window and door hardware sit together as one coordinated system.