Which Crestview door for Maureen’s ranch house? Let’s vote!

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?