Reader Maureen’s lovely ranch home in the woods is in need of a front door makeover. She’s looked at all her options locally and decided that none of the available doors styles would complement her house like a mid century door from Crestview Doors. She has decided on a few styles and color choices, but needs our help to narrow them down and pick a winner.
Update: Crestview Doors is now closed. But over the years many more companies have come into this market. See our roundup story — 14 Places to Buy or DIY a Mid Century Modern Front Door.
Maureen writes:
I have been in my house 2 1/2 years. It is nestled in the woods on a dead-end street. The exterior was a jolting pumpkin/rust. Now it is painted a soft gray. I couldn’t decide on trim color (a darker gray?) or what to include in trim. So I left it white for now. I have simple window boxes to try to help those 2 awful little windows (I removed the unsuitable little shutters). I love the big bay window!
I need a good-looking door, full lite or 3/4 lite. I have seen the trend toward bright colors for doors, but I thought I would like something more serene. Maybe charcoal, black, or a lilac which is more the color of my birdbath. The ones available locally are more suitable for victorian, colonial or craftsman. Milano Doors are nice, but pricey! But I came across Crestview Doors and think these Mid-Century Modern styles might work! I like The Burbank, The Fortuna, and especially The Carlysle. I am thinking I would like contemporary/modern door hardware.
My style inside is a mix of antiques (buffet and round dining table) mixed with modern mirrors and accessories. Tables in the living room are slabs of marble on Ikea bases. My chairs are slipper chairs recovered in brick red leather. Sofa is dog-friendly khaki microsuede with burgundy piping. I guess I like a casual elegance!
Please help me with ideas for entry door style and color and hardware.
Thanks!
Using Crestview’s* very fun Door-O-Vision tool, I was able to apply all three styles of door to Maureen’s house — in the purple color she wanted. Maureen, I think you are absolutely right — you have a mid century ranch that is in need of a mid century style door. I also agree with you, that of the three Crestview door styles you mentioned, the Carlysle is best suited to your house. Since most of your windows — especially your front bay window — are more square than rectangle shaped — the square windows on the Carlysle door will repeat this square motif and make sense with the style of your home.
As far as door colors go — you mentioned painting your new door lilac. I think pale lilac would be too light and not create a focal point on the front of your house. Since you painted the house a light gray, and the trim is white, I would add some contrast and go dark for the front door. A charcoal gray door might be too blah — why not stick with the purple idea — how about a deep eggplant shade of purple. When you add the window boxes under your windows, you can then plant purple flowers (like petunias or pansies) in the window boxes to repeat the purple in other areas around the front of your house.
I also looked at Sherwin William’s Suburban Modern paint palette suggestions and found a color palette that may work for you — though you would have to reverse the Westchester (darker gray) with the lighter Chelsea Gray on the palette — since the bulk of your house is already light gray. Using this historically accurate paint palette, you could paint your trim Westchester gray (or leave it white) and your door Stratford Blue.
Regarding door hardware, Maureen mentioned she wanted something contemporary and modern. This handset by Baldwin — with a squared off design — would be a great modern touch to her new mid century front door. I would choose the Venetian Bronze finish (which almost looks black) so it will coordinate well with the black mailbox and metal porch railings.
So there you have it Maureen, I hope this helps you in your quest to find the perfect configuration of front door, paint color and hardware.
Readers — which door would you recommend for Maureen’s house?
Marta says
Adorable house! At first, I went with the Carlisle because of the window shape and the extra lighting, but after further consideration, I changed to the Burbank. It just weaves in with the look of the whole house better than the Carlisle. Also, after I looked at the Carlisle again, together with the bow window it made that half of the house seem ‘heavier’ than the other half.
Of the two colors, I prefer the eggplant, but would really like to see a very dark navy so brighter colors could be added seasonally with decoration.
Jaydub says
I’m finally compelled to comment on this blog! We just installed Crestview lights in an old 42-inch-wide entry door on our ’58 ranch (Allandale, for our very horizontal home), and we love it. I voted for the Burbank because of the vertical flow of the siding battens, and think you need a BANG of color–so the blue works best for me. Eggplant (at least in these renderings) seems too muted.
We also used a lockset VERY similar to the one you’re considering, and like it a lot (but we did brushed metal on the exterior, and antique bronze on the inside). We painted our door a really vibrant green on the outside, then a very dark brown inside–the dark lockset is almost invisible–but when you view the door/apertures from the INSIDE, all you see are these glowing windows of light. The dark door disappears.
Don’t forget how the house will look from the outside at night (entertainment- and guest-time), too, with those door choices. Your main window muntins are very square, and the Carlysle might look better at night repeating those.
For what it’s worth, we also did something else fun. We took our slab garage door, painted dark gray rectangles that mimicked–in proportion–our Allandale windows, and then applied molding and plexi over the gray. It looks like we have the same type of Alandale windows in our garage door–without cutting any holes in it. The plexi gives it the final shiny-reflection illusion, and balances the main door’s special-ness.
Maureen says
See my composite comments re your great ideas
Sarah g says
Re-did my door a la crestview way but instead had my local glass company make the little double paned window boxes and still installed them into the door myself. This option proved much cheaper and I really could get a custom look. Dimensions are then up to you my local glass place had more textured glass options as well.
Maureen says
Great idea! We have some great glass companies here in Portland, ME
Sarah g says
Also… I really wanted the cool escutcheons of the era so I fabricated my own. I have double doors in the front so I had a local metals place cut me a circle in half, so each half goes on its own door (spraypainted bronze) then used cool long vertical appliance pulls that had a vintage flair to them as handles. The door is only really locked with the deadbolt. It’s not the most practical doors because it’s either unlocked and swings open or it’s shut and locked… But geez does it look awesome! Also the doors are painted pale orange and the walls under the porch are covered in mosaic tile (some gold!) My neighbors jaws dropped when we unveiled the end result. People drive by and the almost get whiplash turning their heads to see it ! Lol
KDA says
She has a mid-century ranch, but I wouldn’t call it modern and all those door styles seem more MCM to me. I don’t think any of them work that well with her house, which is more cottage-style. As for the color, I really like the eggplant.
gsciencechick says
Our 60’s brick ranch that is not MCM has an original front door like the Carlisle. I see quite few in our neighborhood and also the Fortuna style.
Janet in Ct says
I went with the Carlysle. I liked the other two better but thought the Carlysle was a contrast to the siding and went better with the square panes in the bow window. If it is a matter of more privacy, it is not the best choice. I do like the eggplant or similar hue a bit darker might work too. I have been seeking out the doors on fifties houses around here and am amazed at some of them I have found. I literally want to knock on these doors and ask them to call me if they ever replace them. Such a shame they are no longer made!
Ruth says
Love the Carlysle door. The three window panels balance the weight of the Bay window. Visualy the bay window pulls the eye. To help make the door the focal point, try adding wide side trim painted in dark charcoal. The eggplant door will have a high contrast from the side trim, door handle and porch railing. Then your eye will be drawn to the door. To finish the look add a mid century modern porch light. I hope this helps.
leslie says
I love all of them but the Burbank is my choice (which is really Fortuna on Crestview’s site) both colors are beautiful. Fun to look at doors with my first cup o’ joe!
lynda says
You are right. The Burbank is the Fortuna on the Crestview website.
Don’t want to confuse anyone!
Kate says
Thanks for pointing that out — I’ve just fixed it!
Ben says
*reading this after my second post above* …maybe it WASN’T lack of coffee that made me mix the doors up?
Kate says
Nope, it wasn’t you Ben — it was my lack of coffee! So sorry for the confusion!
Rascal says
The Carlysle relates to the bay window and Lynda is right– the Burbank relates to the siding.
Lynda says
I think the eggplant is a great choice for this house. I like the Burbank door because it repeats the look of the vertical siding. Hardware choice is attractive too and would go with the vertical lines.
Ben says
I think the Burbank door works well with the vertical trim on the house. The off-center design also works with the asymmetrical facade of the house, I just think it brings out a different character which suits the house and will help make it more lively.
I’m not really wedded to either blue or purple for the color, but would be tempted to do one of the following:
1. Try a completely new color scheme. Consider a medium green in there, and a bold trim.
2. Take a nod to the “jolting” color scheme and try them (or similar shades) as minor trim colors to keep something of the original flavor (although that flavor may just be too distasteful, it still deserves consideration before dismissal)
3. Use a bold color door/trim over the existing grey. Midcentury often stands out and that gray seems so quiet, especially when you look at the vertical details in the trim…this house seems to have been built for strong colors. Maybe not JOLTING strong, but a two-tone with all the vertical stripes and trim in, say, the Westchester grey above; then the front door and garage door in the Stratford blue. Also, consider a garage door with windows (or paint dark blocks to match the windows in the front door).
Whatever you choose–make sure you enjoy it, it’s the house you get to come home to every day, if it’s not special it’s not worth it!
jaydub says
Whoops–commented about what we did with our garage door before reading your post, Ben–you beat me to the idea! We love the illusion of windows in our garage door. I concur with the color suggestions too–give it some POP!
Jody says
I concur 100% on the Burbank. I love the Carlysle door, but I think it’s too vertical with the siding, and the square windows just don’t “fit” with the rest of the rectangular motif. Burbank keeps the rectangles while lengthening the house horizontally.
Jody says
Er, I mean the vertical of the Fortuna!
Ben says
d’oh! I’d meant the vertical of the Fortuna too! I hope I didn’t vote for the wrong door as well as typing it…need to have coffee BEFORE I comment!
Rebecca@midcenturymodernremodel r says
I really like the Burbank and the blue a lot. The door hardware is perfect as well.