Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
Big news: A mass-market door manufacturer has finally introduced a line of mid century style doors. Yes, Therma-Tru has introduced a new line of retro style front doors. The new “Pulse” line of doors — available in oak grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable) fiberglass, and steel — come in four styles: the Ari, Echo, Linea and Solei. The doors are made in Indiana, Therma-Tru told us.
Introduced in late March (2013), these mid century doors from Therma-Tru are available in several sizes, two finishes of fiberglass(wood look or paintable) or in steel and have quite a few glass options.
Following is the news release from Therma-Tru on this new product launch:
Therma-Tru Launches Pulse™ Line of Entry Doors
Therma-Tru, the nation’s leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of entry doors, has introduced the bold and inspired new line of Pulse™ modern-style doors.
Accented with clean lines and crisp angles, Pulse entry doors cater to homeowners seeking to celebrate their own special sense of style. The contemporary door styles reflect four aesthetic feelings that many homeowners wish to capture in their home entry areas: Eclectically Chic, Mid-Century Modern, Retrospective and Distinctively Modern.
“These were the show-stopper doors in our booth at the 2013 International Builders’ Show,” says Derek Fielding, senior product manager for Therma-Tru Corp. “Pulse doors capture a modern feel, but at the same time bring you back to the 1940s through 1960s when door styles were simple.
“The Mid-Century Modern style is reflected in architecture, design and even furnishings found in the home from roughly 1933 to 1965. The goal during the post-war era was to bring modernism into America’s suburban areas. For homes, the emphasis was on creating open floor plans with lots of opportunities to bring the outdoors inside. A great example is the classic home found in the old Brady Bunch television show. The interior of the home was spacious, and the front entry door had a sleek, retro style to accent the home.”
Pam gasps: No inserts like this, please, if you’re trying to be true to mid century style.
Fielding also cites the simple, pure living of Distinctly Modern styles that the Pulse doors complement in the home. “Whether you’re a homeowner with a funky, personalized living space or a completely modern open style of home, these doors are ideal for you,” says Fielding. “Pulse doors deliver a unique blend of geometric glass shapes and door that can be combined to take cues from the past and future so that homeowners who crave artistic expression can select their own special door style.”
Available in oak-grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable) fiberglass and steel, Pulse doors come in both 6’8″ and 8’0″ heights. Therma-Tru offers the Pulse door line in four different styles — Ari, Solei, Echo and Linea. The doors all have four Privacy Glass options (Chord, Chinchilla, Rainglass and Granite) along with Clear Low-E and Internal Blinds. The Linea style is available with these same glass insert options plus decorative glass options of Blackstone®, Crystalline™, Sedona, Salinas®, Element, Maple Park®, Avonlea®, Saratoga™, Texas Star, Arden® and Crystal Diamonds™.
Pam says: I’m not so keen on the rain glass either. Just get the CLEAR glass.
“The new Pulse product line gives design-conscious homeowners the opportunity to select an entry door that was inspired by the simple styles developed originally by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the United States and the Bauhaus design school in Germany,” says Fielding. “These influences are timeless. We’re finding that homeowners are once again embracing this upbeat living architectural movement as they make a statement on their home with a door that complements feelings of modern sensibilities, retro glamour and fashionably chic.”
Check tax credits when you buy an Energy Star door
Tip: When you’re checking on cost, see if this door qualifies for a federal tax credit related to energy savings.
About fiberglass doors
Since neither Pam nor I have had experience with fiberglass doors — and are not sure how they measure up against wood and steel entry doors — we asked Therma-Tru for info on this, as well. Kathy sent us this (excerpted):
… The polyurethane foam core [of Therma-Tru’s fiberglass doors] offers up to four times the energy efficiency of a wood door and contains no CFCs. A solid hardwood square edge for strong performance that reproduces the look of a real wood door surrounds the foam core and a wood lock stile runs the entire length of the door to add structural integrity and heft. Covering the insulation materials is a door skin. Fiberglass door skins can be made to replicate real wood (which can be stained and finished easily) or come in smooth, paintable surfaces. The fiberglass door skin resists denting, cracking, splitting and splintering. It also resists rust, shrinking or swelling with temperature changes, or warping.
Barbra said: “I’d like to relate some horror story to show the pain and suffering I endured to justify that I waited THREE years to do this, but it was embarrassingly easy.”
Links to these products, and our archive of mid century curb appeal ideas:
These styles are great for true MC modern, not so much for MC modest which is the home I have. As others have commented, it’s the weather stripping on doors that’s most important especially in cold climes. Since my door is solid wood and still airtight, I haven’t made an effort on replacement. I don’t want a fiberglass door and new solid wood doors have become expensive. You can still obtain them through old fashioned lumberyards. It seems most people have bought into the marketing of steel and fiberglass doors for insulation and security.
Yeah in the Philadelphia area I’ve almost never seen flush doors on midcentury houses. My grandfather’s split level had flush interior doors but paneled exterior. I have a friend who lives in a very mid-century modest “air lite” rowhouse in the city, with a door made of V grooved planks with three rectangular glass panels at staggered heights. It sort of reminds me of a hybrid between MCM and (much fancier) 1930’s tudor.
Sarah g (roundhouse)says
The linea right and left put together as double doors looks just like my doors that we made custom for my front porch makeover!! I couldn’t find anything MCM or even just modern when I was door hunting locally, nice to know there will be more options for the next person.
Last summer, my husband retro-fitted our plain Jane 1954 original wooden front door to make it look very retro for about $200. He found a place in our area who sold 12″ x 12″ square door lites and bought 3 of them. He turned them to a diamond shape and spaced them evenly down the length of the door. They came with clear glass but we needed more privacy so we took them to a mirror and glass shop and had a textured glass cut to fit. Hubbie then took out the clear glass and installed the textured glass himself. I was very nervous when he made the first cut into the door to install the door lites, but after a new paint job, our door looks just like a Crestview door at a fraction of the price. Something to consider for all your DIYers!
Natesays
Janice, I’m sure that looks great. I’ve thought about doing something similar myself. Unfortunately I don’t have a plain door to start with. I’ve looked for plain doors and even have my neighbor looking for me (he is a manager at one of our HFH ReStores). It’s weird to thing that plain, solid doors are so hard to come by. Sounds like you got lucky to start with a blank surface!
pam kuebersays
I am thinking you sent me photos of this, Janice. Am I remembering correctly? I will go look and try to show the project. Thanks for the reminder!
Janicesays
HI Pam, yes, I think I did send pictures when we finished the project. Let me know if you can’t find it and I’ll see if I can locate them on my end. Thank you!
Natesays
I’ve been looking for a replacement to the horrible fiberglass door that is on my rental ranch. I’m trying to bring back some of the MC charm that people have deleted in the past. I’ve researched Crestview and decided that I would eventually purchase a plain door from them and a door light kit and do it myself. Much more cost effective that way. This story got me quite excited. Maybe this would be an even cheaper alternative. So, I did a little searching and come to find out, one of the big box stores that we’re all familiar with sells Therma-Tru doors. Actually, they sell the door that I have.
Well, it looks like their doors range anywhere from $700 – $850. I would assume that since this is a new style, pricing will probably be on the high end of that if not higher. Crestview looks like it will be the most cost effective option for me, despite any insulating benefits from the fiberglass door.
Nate – Doors (outside of air sealing) are one of the things everyone gets up in arms about replacing for insulating needs…but it is one of the smallest contributors to energy loss under most circumstances. If you have a decent wood door that has good weatherstripping (piping on sides, channel strip on bottom that mates to the threshold correctly) and a storm door you will only see very small to moderate benefits from stepping up to an insulated door. Windows are the same way – a good single pane with with a good storm is nearly as insulating as a brand new double pane insulated glass window. Window replacement payback (cost vs energy savings) is very tough to make work.
For the purposes of energy efficiency, money is almost always better spent sealing the rim joist (if you have a basement), adding insulation (dense pack cellulose to walls and loose in attic) and air sealing (easily the most important.)
pam kuebersays
Readers, I remind: Consult with a properly licensed professional on these issues.
Interesting and definitely worth watching to see how these doors do in the marketplace. I’ll have to admit that I’ll always be a Crestview fan. I love the story of how they started the company and they’re such nice people.
Nathansays
Although it does read as a bit more contemporary, the Solei style pictured above is nearly identical to the original design of all the secondary doors in our ’52 modern ranch. I could certainly see this being used in situations where maximum light or views are needed.
Jason Morelandsays
I see Solei style doors on the mid century modern homes here in Palm Springs all the time. Folks have been installing them since before Crestview was in business. We were a bit early to the trend here in PS though….
pam kuebersays
Thanks! Good to know!
pam kuebersays
I just removed my initial caveats re Solei and Ari. I will take your word for seeing Solei style originals in your neighborhood, and I was just paging through a 1956 magazine and I saw a front door very similar to the Ari. So they both do look to have solid links to the past.
On our house the front door has an offset side lite (like a Crestview) but the other doors (kitchen and rear) are a simpler half window wood door – three panes on top and raised panel on the bottom, very similar to what Tallulah describes. I did a lot of hunting and found a place that makes wooden doors that are similar to that still – http://www.simpsondoor.com
pam kuebersays
Thanks for the tip, Doug! I went and looked quick — and yes, Simpson Door looks like they have some great alternatives. Their half-lite door with the crosshatch on the bottom looks just like my original 1951 front door! Thanks — I see another followup supplier story is in order!
You’re welcome! I did a little searching and found some base pricing – they aren’t cheap doors ($800 and up it looks), but they are real wood doors to give a real authentic look. (in my opinion.)
Also, not sure if you had a chance to look at our house blog with how busy you are, but we’d be honored if you wanted to add it to the blogroll on your site. We chronicle all sorts of stuff like that for our house.
Zoesays
Pam, where did you find a half-light cross-buck door on the Simpson website? That is exactly the kind of door I am looking for (want to restore both front and back doors, which had been replaced with ugly steel doors with tiny windows with caming — totally wrong for this mid-century modest cottage!), but I can’t find them.
Hey Doug, thanks for the tip about Simpsons Doors. I’ve been looking for a replacement door for the side door next to my kitchen – a half light door. Simpson has my dream door – a half light with diagonal glass panes. I’ll have to add it to my wish list.
I just received my new Crestview front door, the Woodrow. It’s beautiful. Haven’t installed it yet but it’s going to look gorgeous. For those who’ve commented that the Crestviews are a bit pricey, I managed to order mine during one of their sales – 20% off and free shipping. If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get notices of their sales.
Robin, NVsays
Oops – I ordered the Grover not the Woodrow.
Jaysays
Robin, “Grover” is the style of my front door except it’s the original door from 57. I think it was probably the most common door out there in the 50/60s.
Robin, NVsays
My house epitomizes “mid century modest.” The Grover is the perfect door for it. I played around with Crestview’s “Door-o-Vision” and found that the Grover looked just right. The few houses in my neighborhood that retain their original doors have either a Grover-style door or a single diamond shaped light. The front door that came with my house is just a plain slab. It’s in terrible shape and is a hollow core door so I’m finally replacing it with something sturdier. I am keeping the original hardware though. The escutcheon around the knob isn’t fancy but I like it.
Mindysays
Hi Pam, my husband and I have a 1949 ranch and two years ago we had the Therma-Tru Element door installed. Once we saw this design, we knew it was perfect for our house. We looked at other doors but kept coming back to this one. The Element glass was designed by a student at the Milwaukee School of Art and Design. We love this door! We did the whole center of the door with the glass, and put a full length glass/screen door from Andersen in front of it so you see all of the glass detail on the door.
pam kuebersays
Thanks for the tip, Mindy, we’ll go take a look!
Tallulahsays
I really like these doors, however- If I want an almost identical energy-efficient replacement for my 1955 doors, Crestview is the only one to able to come the closest to replicating them: three horizontal panels on the bottom half of the door and three horizontal glass panes on the top half of the door. Both my front and back doors are like this. (My house is a 1955 cinderblock ranch, 963 sq ft., originally built as a week-end home at a lake.) Crestview is too expensive for my budget, so I guess I will have live with my original doors.
What part of your doors is drafty? Weatherstripping and stormdoors are easy fixes, and then you can put screens on your door when it’s nice out.
teresasays
We improvised a mid century door in 2011 by ordering a fiberglass door from our local building supply company – with a sidelight as window. Similar to the center light Linea, our door was around $450. Ironically, it took several years and several visits to the building supply to find the door. No one believed that we really wanted a plain Jane door, and few could understand our desire for a long skinny glass insert. Finally, I found someone who suggested the sidelight option, and it worked perfectly!
Big news: A mass-market door manufacturer has finally introduced a line of mid century style doors. Yes, Therma-Tru has introduced a new line of retro style front doors. The new “Pulse” line of doors — available in oak grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable) fiberglass, and steel — come in four styles: the Ari, Echo, Linea and Solei. The doors are made in Indiana, Therma-Tru told us.
Jay says
These styles are great for true MC modern, not so much for MC modest which is the home I have. As others have commented, it’s the weather stripping on doors that’s most important especially in cold climes. Since my door is solid wood and still airtight, I haven’t made an effort on replacement. I don’t want a fiberglass door and new solid wood doors have become expensive. You can still obtain them through old fashioned lumberyards. It seems most people have bought into the marketing of steel and fiberglass doors for insulation and security.
Chad says
Yeah in the Philadelphia area I’ve almost never seen flush doors on midcentury houses. My grandfather’s split level had flush interior doors but paneled exterior. I have a friend who lives in a very mid-century modest “air lite” rowhouse in the city, with a door made of V grooved planks with three rectangular glass panels at staggered heights. It sort of reminds me of a hybrid between MCM and (much fancier) 1930’s tudor.
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
The linea right and left put together as double doors looks just like my doors that we made custom for my front porch makeover!! I couldn’t find anything MCM or even just modern when I was door hunting locally, nice to know there will be more options for the next person.
pam kueber says
Here’s the story about Sarah’s round house, in which she shows how she had her solid slab doors adapted to feature lites made by a local glass company: https://retrorenovation.com/2012/11/05/a-groovy-front-porch-makeover-on-a-budget-for-sarahs-1964-round-house/
Janice says
Last summer, my husband retro-fitted our plain Jane 1954 original wooden front door to make it look very retro for about $200. He found a place in our area who sold 12″ x 12″ square door lites and bought 3 of them. He turned them to a diamond shape and spaced them evenly down the length of the door. They came with clear glass but we needed more privacy so we took them to a mirror and glass shop and had a textured glass cut to fit. Hubbie then took out the clear glass and installed the textured glass himself. I was very nervous when he made the first cut into the door to install the door lites, but after a new paint job, our door looks just like a Crestview door at a fraction of the price. Something to consider for all your DIYers!
Nate says
Janice, I’m sure that looks great. I’ve thought about doing something similar myself. Unfortunately I don’t have a plain door to start with. I’ve looked for plain doors and even have my neighbor looking for me (he is a manager at one of our HFH ReStores). It’s weird to thing that plain, solid doors are so hard to come by. Sounds like you got lucky to start with a blank surface!
pam kueber says
I am thinking you sent me photos of this, Janice. Am I remembering correctly? I will go look and try to show the project. Thanks for the reminder!
Janice says
HI Pam, yes, I think I did send pictures when we finished the project. Let me know if you can’t find it and I’ll see if I can locate them on my end. Thank you!
Nate says
I’ve been looking for a replacement to the horrible fiberglass door that is on my rental ranch. I’m trying to bring back some of the MC charm that people have deleted in the past. I’ve researched Crestview and decided that I would eventually purchase a plain door from them and a door light kit and do it myself. Much more cost effective that way. This story got me quite excited. Maybe this would be an even cheaper alternative. So, I did a little searching and come to find out, one of the big box stores that we’re all familiar with sells Therma-Tru doors. Actually, they sell the door that I have.
Well, it looks like their doors range anywhere from $700 – $850. I would assume that since this is a new style, pricing will probably be on the high end of that if not higher. Crestview looks like it will be the most cost effective option for me, despite any insulating benefits from the fiberglass door.
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
Nate – Doors (outside of air sealing) are one of the things everyone gets up in arms about replacing for insulating needs…but it is one of the smallest contributors to energy loss under most circumstances. If you have a decent wood door that has good weatherstripping (piping on sides, channel strip on bottom that mates to the threshold correctly) and a storm door you will only see very small to moderate benefits from stepping up to an insulated door. Windows are the same way – a good single pane with with a good storm is nearly as insulating as a brand new double pane insulated glass window. Window replacement payback (cost vs energy savings) is very tough to make work.
For the purposes of energy efficiency, money is almost always better spent sealing the rim joist (if you have a basement), adding insulation (dense pack cellulose to walls and loose in attic) and air sealing (easily the most important.)
pam kueber says
Readers, I remind: Consult with a properly licensed professional on these issues.
Eartha Kitsch says
Interesting and definitely worth watching to see how these doors do in the marketplace. I’ll have to admit that I’ll always be a Crestview fan. I love the story of how they started the company and they’re such nice people.
Nathan says
Although it does read as a bit more contemporary, the Solei style pictured above is nearly identical to the original design of all the secondary doors in our ’52 modern ranch. I could certainly see this being used in situations where maximum light or views are needed.
Jason Moreland says
I see Solei style doors on the mid century modern homes here in Palm Springs all the time. Folks have been installing them since before Crestview was in business. We were a bit early to the trend here in PS though….
pam kueber says
Thanks! Good to know!
pam kueber says
I just removed my initial caveats re Solei and Ari. I will take your word for seeing Solei style originals in your neighborhood, and I was just paging through a 1956 magazine and I saw a front door very similar to the Ari. So they both do look to have solid links to the past.
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
On our house the front door has an offset side lite (like a Crestview) but the other doors (kitchen and rear) are a simpler half window wood door – three panes on top and raised panel on the bottom, very similar to what Tallulah describes. I did a lot of hunting and found a place that makes wooden doors that are similar to that still – http://www.simpsondoor.com
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, Doug! I went and looked quick — and yes, Simpson Door looks like they have some great alternatives. Their half-lite door with the crosshatch on the bottom looks just like my original 1951 front door! Thanks — I see another followup supplier story is in order!
Doug Camin @ House on Rynkus Hill says
You’re welcome! I did a little searching and found some base pricing – they aren’t cheap doors ($800 and up it looks), but they are real wood doors to give a real authentic look. (in my opinion.)
Also, not sure if you had a chance to look at our house blog with how busy you are, but we’d be honored if you wanted to add it to the blogroll on your site. We chronicle all sorts of stuff like that for our house.
Zoe says
Pam, where did you find a half-light cross-buck door on the Simpson website? That is exactly the kind of door I am looking for (want to restore both front and back doors, which had been replaced with ugly steel doors with tiny windows with caming — totally wrong for this mid-century modest cottage!), but I can’t find them.
pam kueber says
Here you go: http://www.simpsondoor.com/door-products/search/results/?doorStyle=Exterior&glass=&fullLite=&threeQuarterLite=&halfLite=yes&quarterLite=&paintStain=
Go to Doors… Exterior… Half lites
Robin, NV says
Hey Doug, thanks for the tip about Simpsons Doors. I’ve been looking for a replacement door for the side door next to my kitchen – a half light door. Simpson has my dream door – a half light with diagonal glass panes. I’ll have to add it to my wish list.
I just received my new Crestview front door, the Woodrow. It’s beautiful. Haven’t installed it yet but it’s going to look gorgeous. For those who’ve commented that the Crestviews are a bit pricey, I managed to order mine during one of their sales – 20% off and free shipping. If you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get notices of their sales.
Robin, NV says
Oops – I ordered the Grover not the Woodrow.
Jay says
Robin, “Grover” is the style of my front door except it’s the original door from 57. I think it was probably the most common door out there in the 50/60s.
Robin, NV says
My house epitomizes “mid century modest.” The Grover is the perfect door for it. I played around with Crestview’s “Door-o-Vision” and found that the Grover looked just right. The few houses in my neighborhood that retain their original doors have either a Grover-style door or a single diamond shaped light. The front door that came with my house is just a plain slab. It’s in terrible shape and is a hollow core door so I’m finally replacing it with something sturdier. I am keeping the original hardware though. The escutcheon around the knob isn’t fancy but I like it.
Mindy says
Hi Pam, my husband and I have a 1949 ranch and two years ago we had the Therma-Tru Element door installed. Once we saw this design, we knew it was perfect for our house. We looked at other doors but kept coming back to this one. The Element glass was designed by a student at the Milwaukee School of Art and Design. We love this door! We did the whole center of the door with the glass, and put a full length glass/screen door from Andersen in front of it so you see all of the glass detail on the door.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, Mindy, we’ll go take a look!
Tallulah says
I really like these doors, however- If I want an almost identical energy-efficient replacement for my 1955 doors, Crestview is the only one to able to come the closest to replicating them: three horizontal panels on the bottom half of the door and three horizontal glass panes on the top half of the door. Both my front and back doors are like this. (My house is a 1955 cinderblock ranch, 963 sq ft., originally built as a week-end home at a lake.) Crestview is too expensive for my budget, so I guess I will have live with my original doors.
Chad says
What part of your doors is drafty? Weatherstripping and stormdoors are easy fixes, and then you can put screens on your door when it’s nice out.
teresa says
We improvised a mid century door in 2011 by ordering a fiberglass door from our local building supply company – with a sidelight as window. Similar to the center light Linea, our door was around $450. Ironically, it took several years and several visits to the building supply to find the door. No one believed that we really wanted a plain Jane door, and few could understand our desire for a long skinny glass insert. Finally, I found someone who suggested the sidelight option, and it worked perfectly!