When it comes to receiving parcels and post, some homeowners think outside the conventional box. Today’s mailbox manufacturers offer numerous traditional and modern designs both for wall- and stand-mounted models. That makes finding the right mailbox to fit the bill — along with holiday greetings, catalogs and small packages — even easier.
“When a mailbox has an aesthetic that also fits a house’s style, it can say a lot about homeowners and how they care for their home,” says Kenneth Workman, an associate with RWA Architects in Cincinnati and chairman of the American Institute of Architects’ Housing Committee. “Choose a box that has the same finishes or style as the architectural details of a home.”
For example, if you have mail delivery to your door, Workman suggests hanging a mailbox that looks compatible with the outside light fixture. If you have curb delivery, incorporate elements found on the house, such as stonework, into the support structure of the mailbox.
“When it comes to your mailbox, you also have to work within postal guidelines,” he reminds. U.S. Postal Service regulations can mandate the placement and general style of a mailbox.
“If you receive your mail curbside, you can’t just hang a new mailbox onto your house and expect the mail carrier to go door-to-door, and vice versa,” says Sue Brennan, a Postal Service spokeswoman. “Before installing a new mailbox, make sure it’s where it needs to be and that it’s approved by the Postal Service.”
Postal Service regulations governing mailbox design are meant to protect the mail from weather. Mailboxes also should be user-friendly, with no sharp edges, and well-kept in appearance. Brennan says it’s easy to spruce up an existing mailbox by repainting it with an oil-based paint or remounting it on a new stand.
But for some homeowners, it’s time for a major mailbox makeover. Brennan recently updated the mail receptacle at her home in Springfield, Va. After removing a small mail slot, Brennan placed in the same vicinity a large, green-colored, traditional-style mailbox made to accommodate more letters and packages.
“Bigger and better” is today’s mailbox mantra, according to Taryn Quigley, customer service manager for Mailboxixchange, based in Scituate, Mass. The Web-based business sells hundreds of mailbox styles and ships them all over the world. Mailboxes come in a variety of styles and finishes with the average price running about $100 to $300.
“Mailboxes with a modern feel and contemporary lines are really popular,” Quigley says. “And, more people are opting for lockable mailboxes, where the carrier puts the mail into a large slot and the homeowner has the key.”
Modern mailboxes with a locking device include the streamlined, wall-mounted Knobloch from Germany (starting at $200) and the Finnish arched Bobi box (starting around $550).
Mailboxes can be constructed of galvanized steel, die-cast aluminum or copper. Popular finishes include oil-rubbed bronze or antique brass for a more traditional look and a satin finish or stainless steel for more contemporary appeal. Design Within Reach’s Cadrona mailbox (around $530) creates a colorful contrast with a fire-engine-red powder coating over galvanized steel.
Workman says before buying a new mailbox, make sure it’s large enough to accommodate the amount of mail you receive. A larger mail slot also can be one of the easiest and most secure ways to receive your mail.
“On a home with a door-to-door delivery route, we’ve installed a mail slot that, when used, deposits mail into a closet in the entryway,” he says.
But, there’s no need to return to sender the iconic, traditional tunnel-shaped mailbox. The Whitehall Streetside mailbox (around $500) is a stately specimen that comes in bronze, black or white finishes with matching sturdy posts and decorative newels. For curbside delivery, the company professionally engraves house identification information per Postal Service regulations and includes a newspaper box.
“There seems to be a renewed interest in the outside details of a home — like the mailbox,” Workman says. “Getting the mail is a ritual, and especially during the holidays, the mailbox can be the focal point of good cheer.”
Outside the box
For some homeowners, their mailbox is a piece of folk art. Postal Service-approved creations range from mailboxes made to look like lobster traps in Maine to a carved-wood bear holding a mailbox in Wisconsin. To view, visit the National Postal Museum’s Web site at .
Other online resources include:
Chiasso in Chicago, . and search “mailbox,” or call 1-877-CHIASSO.
Design Within Reach in San Francisco, . and search “mailbox,” or call 800-944-2233.
Mailboxixchange in Scituate, Mass., ., or call 800-448-2870.
Restoration Hardware, restorationhardware.com, search “mailbox” and click the “store locator” link, or call 800-910-9836.
Whitehall in Montague, Mich., ., click on “mailboxes” and “find a retailer” links, or call 800-728-2164.
