Nanette (of Nanette and Jim’s new pink bathroom and new blue bathroom fame) wanted to replace the heavy, drafty, worn — and scary — garage door that was a defining feature of the front of their house. Taking a chance, she walked into a local garage door company and sure enough, the company was happy to work with her create a custom design with the look of midcentury modern garage doors, but using 21st Century functionality.
Nanette writes:
Replacing our garage door was something we talked about doing for many years but wanted something period correct and just couldn’t find anything available on the market to replace it with. We were in love with the style of the original “Swing Up” door even though it was semi-functional, so we just lived with it for the past 17+ years. Then last year, I turned our garage into my art studio, and it became crucial to have an insulated garage door that would seal so we could heat and cool the space.
Above, the “before” door. Nanette explains:
We’ve loved the original door visually, but it needed restoration and it was pretty difficult to use. It hung at an angle creating large gaps which allowed a “nice” flow of air into the space. The old door was also really heavy and difficult to use — swings up, one large unit with massive springs. I needed a helper to get the “swinging” started in order to open it.
Precautionary Pam reminds: Old garage doors may be another thing in old houses that may present safety hazards. As another example: In our house, the original garage door — which was electrified — did not have the modern electronic eye sensor that would prevent it from closing if something — or someone — was underneath. We changed the door out almost immediately for that reason. And of course, be aware of the potential for lead paint, safety glass, golly, there may be other issues. I am not the expert >>> talk to a pro! For more info see our Be Safe/Renovate Safe page.
Nanette continues:
A friend told me about this company called PacDoor — Pacific Overhead Door — that she had used for a recent install, and as it turned out they were located very close to my house. I decided to just head down there with photos of my garage door and a print out of garage door styles from the Retro Renovation website in hand and see what they could do for me. I was kindly welcomed by Peter, he pulled out some brochures of stock doors but told me right away that he thought I would be happiest with a custom door. He took me into the shop right next to the salesroom and gave me a tour. He showed me other custom doors they were working on, nothing like what I wanted to do but it certainly planted a seed. He told me they could make a door that looked exactly like our old door. He asked me to email him the dimensions and a photo of the garage door and he would work up a mock up and a price. l loved this idea but figured a custom door would be way out of our price range. A few days later I got back a bid with a scale drawing of our door including the raised details like the old one at a very reasonable price. We were over the MOON!!
Adding raised trim to get the look of midcentury modern garage doors
I decided I wanted to change up the design a little from the original door and sent Peter some new drawings. One key element in the new design is the placement of the raised horizontal details. I placed the raised design elements just above the segments the roll up door is composed of. This detail helps to create the illusion of a solid swing up door by disguising the segments. Once we worked out the details it took about a month to have it installed.
We were jumping up and down when we saw the photo of the door in the wood shop. Just couldn’t believe how awesome it looked!
Painting the garage door to make the midcentury detail pop
And finally — the project comes together — with a paint-color twist. Nanette says:
We finally finished painting the garage door so this story could happen any time now.
We got it all primed last October but then it started raining, and life happened, and we just now finished painting it.
Originally I had planned to paint it just like the old door, dark green with minty details. But after seeing it white we got attached to it that way.
For now it’s white with minty trim. The big issue with painting it all green is there’s this bendy plastic trim that seals the door and that stuff can be challenging to paint. That plastic trim is white so it was easiest to leave the door white for now. I did find products out there that say they will adhere to plastic and a local resource that could help, some suggest pre-treating the plastic with some special stuff before painting. (Plus we need to paint our house soon so we figured we’d wait to do anything crazy until that happens).
We just LOVE it. I no longer need help opening the garage door and it’s noticeably much warmer and cooler in the garage/studio now. Thanks so much PacDoor for helping make our garage door dreams come true!
~nanette
Beautiful, Nanette! You really did recreate the look of midcentury modern garage doors! And, the square detailing on the garage door kind of reminds me of breeze blocks! Thanks for sharing!
See our Midcentury Modern Garage Doors archive — including the story Nanette used for ideas — here.
Felicia Alexander says
Beautiful, and the minty/aqua trim on white is very tasteful and classically MCM. Thank you for sharing your project with us!
Carolyn says
What a completely perfect change! I like it better than the original door, as it has movement and yet keeps the midcentury cues. We’re in Portland (are you?) and I see Pac Door has an office here…you’ve given me new hope about a badly-needed custom garage door for our 1978 a-frame.
(and I went to your FB page — saw the pic of the older ladies celebrating in the pool — LOVED it too – I swim laps at our local pool and often I’m there when the older ladies’ shallow-water aerobic class is there…they are the cutest, moving along to “Uptown Funk” or whatever…I always feel really good swimming and watching them be free in the water before they have to clamber out back onto land…you completely captured it. Whoever would have thought to capture the older ladies with such love and respect in their moment of victory–brilliant.)
Nanette Wallace says
Thank you Carolyn! Yes I am in Portland, give PacDoor a call when you are ready to replace your door they were wonderful to work with.
Thank you for the kind words about my artwork as well. As it turns out the ladies swimming called “Bosom Buddies” are on display through September at Multnomah county Central library downtown, 3rd floor, in the Collins Gallery. It’s a great show if you happen to be heading to or are around the library I’d encourage you to check it out. Here’s a link for the show: https://multcolib.org/events/high-art-hand-pulled-printmaking-exhibition/72750
(If you want to sign up for my newsletter head to my website and shoot me a message, I’ll add you). nanettewallace.com
carolyn says
Congratulations on the show! I’ll definitely stop by the library soon. And I’ll go sign up for your newsletter too. Thanks.
Pbyrdberard says
LOVE it!!!!!
Kelly Montano says
Love the door Nanette! After a hail storm in May we are having to replace almost everything on the exterior of our 1962 ranch. We have a single car garage and I am trying to figure out what to do to jazz it up a bit and give it a more streamlined less tiny box feel. I love the raised horizontal details on your door. Were they constructed with wood? Thanks for sharing your story!
Elizabeth says
That is beyond cute.
Mark says
Man I love that! I have two doors I need to re-do on my 57 roman brick ranch and am having a hard time coming up with something. This helps!
Great job!
Allison says
We did something similar with our new insulated garage door. We just glued magnet strips to the back of wood trim pieces…which were cut and placed in a design that corresponds with our Creatview door. We can take them down easily, if needed and change it up if we want to do something new down the road… We live in a mid century historic district and it helps us stand out a little.
Allen says
That’s a great idea! I’d love to see a photo of that.
Karin says
Great job Nanette! I love how the new white door seamlessly blends in with the long low mid century look of the house. The horizontal trim design is a fun space age element that complements the siding. I always enjoy looking at the homes of artists. Thanks for the post.
Nanette Wallace says
Thanks so much! I did spend some time messing around with design options before settling on the final design. The house was built in 1945, the garage and part of the kitchen were added in 1952 so I decided to stay away from designs that looked more 60s like diamonds etc., even though I love that style. My goal was 40s meets 50s with a little acknowledgement of the 30s. Thanks for the compliments and noticing the connection to the siding, I was totally playing off that too! You have a good eye.
Nicole Oliveira says
Swoon, Nanette, swoon! Just beautiful. The white door makes the house look much larger and the minty detail adds the perfect mid century pop that really stands out! I wish we had someone in our town (Melbourne, Fl) that did custom garage doors…I would steel your idea in a heartbeat!
Nanette Wallace says
Thanks Nicole! I agree about the white making the house look larger. I have to tell you I had no idea the place I walked into made custom garage doors. I was just hoping they could help me find a stock door that might work for me that I could paint cool or decorate. I was surprised and somewhat skeptical when he said they could make one just like my old door. So happy I took the initiative to just go ask. I’d encourage you to call any garage door installer, if you have one and see what they might be able to do for you!
Jay says
Very nice! Nanette, glad you found someone willing to bring your envisioned design to fruition.
Pam, I experienced the same issue after moving into my house. My opener started to act up and I was told that non-compliant units could no longer be repaired, replace w/new only.