Here’s another source for relatively affordable mid century style front entry door maker: Frank Lumber, which has been in business since 1948, in the heart of the woodsy Northwest. These look nice!
Thanks to this tip from reader Brian, who wrote:
Right up the street from me in Seattle, there is a store called Frank Lumber. They have mid century doors and you can customize as much as you want with different glass, positions etc… They have more glass then what’s pictured.
Prices are not on their site, but the doors pictured are $580 and pre hung in a frame about $760. If you are local you can bring your old door in and they will cut it down, match the hinges and install them on your new door. Don’t know if they ship or not.
Eight designs of mid century modern front entry doors
Yes, Brian, we checked, and they will ship.
Frank Lumber’s Door Store stocks eight models of mid century doors in 11 different sizes. The doors are made of birch wood and have three glass options listed online. But: I did find many more glass options on their glass page. The store gets all of their doors from Kylemont Custom Wood Doors, a partner company located in Marysville, Washington, that makes every part of the door in house. Kylemont Custom Doors can make you a door to fit your exact needs and specification from nearly any wood — up to four feet wide by ten feet tall.
Here is what the Frank Lumber website has to say about their doors:
Our standard exterior wood doors are 1 3/4” thick, with insulated glass and extra thick “Energy Guard” panels in most models. We stock our exterior doors with wider stiles so that a broader spectrum of hardware will fit, and to improve sturdiness of the lock area. We work with manufacturers so that the doors we carry are built with the best technology available to ensure maximum strength and resistance to the elements. Custom exterior doors can be built up to 4 feet wide, 10 feet tall, and 2 1/4” thick in almost any wood.
Frank Lumber, “The Door Store”TM is a major, dependable source for doors, locks and related products. We have warehouses full of inventory- hundreds of combinations of models and sizes on hand and ready to ship now. We have 1000’s of doors in stock at both locations, interior and exterior.
Also, Frank Lumber, “The Door Store”TM is the exclusive dealer of Kylemont Industries custom made doors. Kylemont doors are hand built in Marysville Washington by skilled craftsmen. Imagine, doors custom built to your specifications within two to three weeks. Every imaginable style of door can be seen at our stores. We stock a wide variety of period style leaded glass doors to match your homes’ original design.
Frank Lumber’s team of expert sales-people provides you with personalized service and advice for all of your door projects. Odd sizes and out of the ordinary doors are our specialty, we welcome them. Custom homes, remodels, commercial projects, or single door replacements- we’re here to help you right now.
Frank Lumber’s Door Store and Kylemont Custom Wood Doors can work with you to find the right mid century door — or build a custom door — to fit your needs. If you are in the market for a mid century door, give them a call. They also have a handy how-to to help you measure for a new door.
Mega thanks to reader Brian for pointing us in the direction of yet another source for mid century style front doors.
More research:
TC says
I bought a circa 1951 ranch. The front and back doors are original to the home. I would like to sell my back door (as I have another vintage door I want to hang that my next door neighbor gave to me I actually like better than mine (parents passed and he is renovating to sell…lucky me!). The one that up in my home is awesome as well, but I think want to sell it and am wondering about how much I could get for it (in very good shape….just needs some minor sanding because paint slightly peeling, but in great shape…solid with no dry rot whatsoever. Three 8-10 inch horizontially paned windows at upper half. Help and thanks.
kaela d. says
My name is Kaela and I am a door stalker too. I creep around my neighborhood and the neighborhoods on my way to work wondering how underappeciated those doors are and if someone would let me buy theirs! Especially after Crestview ditched the DIY option. SO EXCITED about this. I’m a single young lady who doesn’t have tons of cash to dish out but this just might have to be a Christmas present to myself. THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!! 🙂
pam kueber says
Door stalkers unite!
Barbara Bowman says
I just clicked on a link a reader posted above and I saw the exact door that is so prevalent in Sacramento on all our 50’s-60’s ranch homes!! I might be able to get the replacement doors (original style!) for my 1966 custom home!!! I drive around town and drool over all the original wood doors in town and now I can get the correct doors for my house and ditch the big box colonial style someone put on! Thank you so much for passing this company on!!!
hazeldazel says
This is awesome! My midcentury ranch has a h****** [edited] box store door (the kind with the half-moon window at the top) that evidently the previous owners put stickers on since I can still see the residue. SMH The crestview doors were pricey even before but these are great doors at great prices.
Brian Landreville says
Glad I was able to give Frank’s a little shout out, and thanks to Kate for taking the lead. They certainly are known as THE place in Seattle for any type of door, very helpful and a very active member of my community (I live a few blocks away) Those doors are very nice, I have seen them in person, they are very heavy and well made.
pam kueber says
Thanks for the tip, Brian!!
Scott says
Great selection of doors, including a few styles I’d never seen before which is always fun.
I thought I was keeping my original 1954 door until last week when the mortised box gizmo inside self-destructed. I really appreciate RR showcasing so many options, your timing couldn’t be better! 🙂
Scott says
PS The Frank Lumber sign is truly magnificent. Wow.
ash says
Well, this is just awesome news! The front door on our bungalow is trashed and we really need a new one! Thanks!
Jason says
Great information, have to show my contractor! I just had my exterior done and the contractor said again the other day when I said I was going to paint the door to match the new shutters – why keep this old door? I said because I love it and I need what goes with this house. I had told him how a replacement had gone way up in price previously when he asked. Since he asked again I said, the window kits aren’t available, etc. and he said oh the windows, you don’t care about the door – no problem – he was ready to have windows made as in your last article and put them in a new door. And/or have a door built with the window openings there. He even offered to take the windows out of this door and put in a new door, if I didn’t want new windows – so it can be done! I told him it would have to be a next year project.
I’d be interested to know the history of my door – everyone in the neighborhood has them – they are wood veneer and hollow! But, yet they are an exterior door – but made more like an interior hollow door. The backdoors are solid wood with the 3 rectangular glass panels up top, very strange! Anyone else have hollow core front doors? Must have saved them money even then!
Robin, NV says
Yep. My front door is hollow as well, although it’s not veneer. It’s pretty banged up, so I’m replacing it. I’m keeping the escutcheon for the door knob though. My side door is hollow too. Hollow exterior doors seem like a bad idea in areas where we get extremes in temperature. Also not great for security.
pam kueber says
Check local building codes!
Jason says
Strange huh? It’s only my front door, veneer is easy to tell as it’s chipped along the bottom edge on the backside – the front has been painted. I know it’s hollow because in the back there is a small dent like someone hit it with their foot and you can tell it caved in like an interior door. Weight wise its heavier than an interior door, but definately not as heavy as the wooden back door.
Jamie D. says
YES! Thank you so much for finding these. This is perfect for a mid-century modest post-war like my house. Custom sizes will be handy for our narrow back entry door.