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?
justmyopinion says
I like the way the Carlysle continues the shape of the window’s grid. As far as the color, I like the blue but I think the very bright white trim color makes it look off. If the trim were the same color as the picture of the eggplant door it would flow much better. If that is not the reason, then I would choose a little more muted blue.
Lynne says
Fortuna, but a burnt orange or yellow.
Elaine says
I like Fortuna the best but there was no button to vote for it. While I love the blue color, I think the eggplant works best with this door and this house color.
marie says
The carlysle doesn’t work for me exactly because it matches the other windows. It’s just piling on more of the same. I always loved the Fortuna style doors as a kid, but the Burbank fits the house better (low and narrow).
Anything but the carlylse. Plain even.
ohHolland says
The Carlylse style echoes the proportions of the window panes — the others push the MCM boundaries too much and clash with the home’s natural cottage vibe.
For a handleset similar to the Baldwin, have a look at Schlage’s Century style. I’ve had two and they are well-made, at a fraction of Baldwin’s cost.
Larry says
I’m on board for the Carlyle. But for color, orange just seems to cry out to me. Not a crazy pumpkin orange but some sort of orange. I know you just got rid of that rust color though so orange may not fly for you. Have fun whichever you choose!
Gerry Stairet says
Larry, I thought the same thing. Another site featured a gray house with Pittsburgh paint Carrot Cake (#223-5) on the front door. Not too bright an orange.On my screen it looks similar to the orange in Pam’s Submit Comment button. I am planning to paint my ranch Pittsburgh Fog (517-3) with a Carrot Cake door next year. Oh well, another winter of beige.
About yellow doors, the blog After the Dust Clears, which is linked on Pam’s site, shows a really nice updated house with a bright yellow front door. It is so neat. They purchased the door with the 3 horizontal windows but they didn’t mention the brand name.
pam kueber says
This comment made me crave carrot cake!
Larry says
Woo Hoo…my front door is yellow!
Todd A says
Boy, this house screams for a crossbuck style dutch front door, with the board and batten siding and bow window. Think Wilbur Post’s home on Mr. Ed.
ohHolland says
Ooh, best idea yet.
KDA says
Agreed!
scott says
The Fortuna is rad.
amy pie says
I like the Carlysle best of the three, also because of the square lights in it’s relationship to the front windows and would definitely pick the eggplant over the blue. What I am seeing is not enough contrast between the roof and the body of the house, they are more or less the same level of gray. I would suggest that the house be painted a deeper shade of gray, say 2 shades deeper to give the contrast. I also think painting the body of the house a different color, say a green or a dusty yellow would be nice and work very well with the eggplant door and the trim could be painted a creamy kind of yellowy white which would give a little more warmth to the palette.
Sarah V @ Crafty Waffles says
I like how the Carlysle windows work with and highlights the bay window with its mullions