Mid century modern front doors can really improve your mid century home’s curb appeal — and we’ve found 14 places where you can find them. My list includes doors made of wood, fiberglass, and steel. And, I spotlight three DIY options to consider, too.
Reminder: As with other products, remember to check with professionals regarding state and local building codes and other such requirements before you order.
4 companies with mid modern front doors made from wood:
1. Simpson Doors
We first spotlighted Simpson Doors when reader Doug tipped us to their midcentury Early American (aka “Cool-onial”) style doors. Several months later, reader Mitch saw that the company also had 9 mid century modern front door styles tucked in their catalog. All of the mid century door styles Simpson Doors offers are made of wood in the USA and can be custom ordered in a variety of sizes, wood species and glass styles. The company also offers many helpful tools such as their door test drive tool and glass taste test and per a comment from reader Kristine this Contemporary Flush door design tool.
2. Frank Lumber — The Door Store:
Frank Lumber has been in business in the Pacific Northwest since 1948 — and they stock eight models of solid birch wood doors, with many available options for customization in different wood species, glass and sizes. The doors themselves are made just up the road in Marysville, Washington, by Kylemont Custom Wood Doors, their partner company. Frank Lumber also prides themselves in giving expert customer service and advice for your door project — however if you are too far away to visit the shop in person, they will ship doors.
3. Rogue Valley Door makes mid century modern front doors:
Rogue Valley Doors offers three styles of handcrafted, made in the USA mid century modern front doors from domestically manufactured components. According to reader Virginia, who tipped us off to this company, prices for Rogue Valley Doors are comparable to other companies we’ve featured — such as Frank Lumber and Simpson Doors.
4. Mai Doors fancy wood mid century door designs
Mai Doors, based in Wylie, Texas, says, “Since 1981, MAI has been making doors of the finest quality Mahogany, Andean Walnut, and Knotty Alder.”
4 companies that make mid century entry doors from fiberglass:
1. Therma-Tru Pulse fiberglass mid century modern front doors:
It was big news a few years ago when we discovered that the very first mass-market door manufacturer — Therma-Tru — had introduced a new line of midcentury modern style front entry doors. The doors are part of their “Pulse” line — which comes in a variety of styles with lite variations — and are available in oak grained fiberglass, smooth (paintable fiberglass) and steel.
Getting a new door of any brand installed can be easy, or not so easy. We wrote about reader Barbra’s super easy experience with her new Therma-Tru midcentury modern front door installation, but also heard the long saga from reader Scott, who initially found it difficult to find someone to install a Therma-Tru door for him.
2. GlassCraft Door Company
Marcia discovered another source for midcentury style fiberglass entry doors. She writes:
I’ve got another manufacturer who has mid century modern front doors: GlassCraft Door Company in Houston, TX. The dealer in Temple where I found these quoted me about $1600 for the 6’8″ Beverly door on p 123 of their catalog, about $300 less than their online price list, so maybe the dealer gets a discount? That’s prehung, with brickmold & hinges, and unfinished, with choice of glass. Doesn’t include installation or handle sets. There are 8 factory finishes available (all wood tones), and 4 glass options. They show 377 dealers across the US. Not cheap, but maybe a good option for some folks.
3. Escon Doors — fiberglass mid century modern doors
Escon Doors jumped on the mid century modern design revival in 2016. It offers 16 different designs, with the door lights varying in number, size, and direction. Like the Therma-Trus, Escon’s midcentury doors also are in fiberglass, which some homeowners prefer for climate reasons. And, they come with matching sidelight options — kind of cool!
4. Builder’s Choice mid century modern fiberglass front doors
You can order three different styles of mid century modern front doors in fiberglass through Home Depot’s website. The doors are made by Builder’s Choice and are available pre-finished in a handful of colors — including candy-apple red and skylark blue. Depending on the chosen features, these doors retail for between $599-$959.
5. MMI fiberglass doors
Mid century doors in steel:
1. Home Depot steel mid century doors by MMI — four designs:
It’s been my experience over 12 years that hotlinks to product on Home Depot and other large stores change a lot. So if this link doesn’t work, use their search box to get to mid century style steel doors from MMI. I see four designs — swinging right or left — in a prepainted lollipop rainbow of colors.
3 ways to DIY your own mid century front door with Door Lite Kits:
1. Make It Midcentury door light kits:
Make It Midcentury is the newest player in the market for door lite kits, and they have an expansive, super stylish set of offerings. Indeed, I count 69 — yes, 69! — different exterior door lite styles. If you are an individualist who wants a front door with next to zero chance of looking like anyone else’s in the neighborhood, this company and its options are for you!
2. ODL door lites
Emily tipped us to this company, but it took me a while to figure the company out. It makes door lites. Check the materials they are framed in — I think it’s fiberglass, but check. See the diagrams above — find a retailer, and you can order the door lights and install them yourself or have a contractor do it.
- Go to “Spotlights” collection for the mid century modern sized door lights.
- ODL main website, including where to find retailers
3. Make your own, affordable midcentury door lite kits
Inventive reader Sarah — owner of the fabulous Gilbert Spindel designed round house — shared the steps she used to make her own mid century modern front doors using a plain wood slab door and her local glass shop. For just $30 — she did her own carpentry — Sarah was able to make the door above, a perfect complement to her 1964 home. Note: Get with your local building inspections department to ensure the glass and other materials you are using meet building codes. See more info below on what Therma-Tru told us about safety glass.
- Read our coverage on how you can make your own DIY mid century front doors
Find vintage mid century modern front doors:
1. Search out vintage mid century front doors:
And of course: You can always seek out vintage, salvage midcentury front doors. I see them at my ReStore quite often, and as I recall, they typically cost $40 or less. Thing is, ya gotta get the fit right, and I am not an expert on issues related to current life safety codes — that is, do old doors meet today’s building codes, fire codes, etc.; on this, get with your own properly licensed professionals to assess what you are dealing with so that you can make informed decisions. For example, see the info below from Therma-Tru about today’s requirements for safety glass.
— Safety glass and the “blaze” issue, —
Note: Glass on new doors lites may have a “blaze”:
We also want to add this learning: When Scott bought his Therma-Tru door, he discovered that each pane of glass on the door had a watermark that he found distracting. We asked the helpful team at Therma-Tru about this, and they explained:
….By federal law, safety glass must be used in doorlites and sidelites, no matter who the door manufacturer may be. This same law requires that each individual piece of glass must be clearly marked with a visible code number. This is generally called “the blaze” within our industry and is required as a federal safety regulation. Most manufacturers also choose to put their company name on each glass panel.
While this coding is not required on most windows, it is required on every individual piece of glass within a door and/or sidelite. When the glass is larger or has a decorative design, the blaze is not very visible. However, when the glass pieces are smaller and/or completely clear, the blaze does tend to stand out a bit, as Scott has experienced.
We understand that Scott has replaced our glass, and we’d like to suggest that he make certain that the auto glass installed meets the federal safety regulations, both to comply with the laws and for his family’s safety. He can check on this with the person who supplied the glass, or look for the code numbers on each pane of glass.
Finally, we want to thank Scott for his feedback. We are committed to providing the best product possible and appreciate his comments as we continue to look for ways to improve our products.
So note, dear readers: It sound like, no matter where you buy a new door like this — no matter who the manufacturer — you’re going to get a watermark “blaze” on each pane of glass… although the manufacturer’s logo may or may not also be on there, depending on their practice.
It’s great to see the growing number of options for front doors. Cuz, as they say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression!
Fred says
Menard’s Mastercraft line has a 5 lite, 3 lite and a narrow offset full height single light. Primed and pre-hung they are about 50% less cost than Home Depot if you’re on a budget (buy you have to paint them). I have a 5 lite on a modern shed that was around $250. You can customize them a bit on their website too.
Pam Kueber says
Thank you, Fred — when I get a moment I will add this sto the list!
Joel says
Those MCM doors are beautiful, but a lot of them are unsafe. If you break the glass near the door knob, you can put your arm through and unlock the door from the inside.
Pam Kueber says
Again, I don’t normally want readers to advise on safety/environmental issues — readers should get with their own properly licensed professionals — but I will approve this one as another issue for readers to consider/assess/do their own research on.
valvashon says
That’s part of the reason I decided to move my diamond shape windows over to the hinge side. For that matter, if somebody wants in there’s plenty of windows all around your house. If you’re that concerned you could put wired glass or high strength safety glass in your door.
valvashon says
Timely update- I am going to Frank Lumber tomorrow morning to pay for my new MCM door and sidelight. Imagine the door with the three diamond shapes, above, in their listing with the diamond shapes off to the hinge side and the knob and deadbolt with a 5″ backset to accommodate the Rejuvenation Hardware MCM doorknob “star”. It’s going to be beautiful and I can’t wait to send in some pictures of the before and after!
Pam Kueber says
Wow! Yes, be sure to send me before and afters!
Eileen says
Do any of these companies do a dutch door in mid century flair? I know its not a traditional look for MCM, but I’d really like to have the ability to open it without the doggies getting out on nice days.
Pam Kueber says
When I was going thru all these companies again, I noticed some dutch doors. Not mid century modern — mid century modest/colonial/traditional.
Sara says
I replaced my old front door with a Therma Tru Pulse Echo three lite about a year ago. I don’t think I would’ve discovered these doors if it wasn’t for Retro Renovation! So…thank you very much! The cool mid century style looks great on my little 1950 cottage-y ranch. Interestingly, the retailers I worked with when I was researching this door insisted I needed a pre-hung door. My installer (my dad) insisted we did not, and neither of us wanted to tear into the door frame, exterior siding, etc. to install a pre-hung door. The clerk at a certain big box store actually told me I had no idea what I was doing and laughed at me, telling me there was no way that slab door would ever work out and I’d be sorry. Well guess what, we did know what we were talking about it and with a few little trim adjustments, it fit just fine! This door is great if you’re on a budget too as I believe the slab door only cost me around $350.
Pam Kueber says
Yes, I remember when the Therma-Tru story first came out. They were the first mass-manufacturer to do mid century modern front doors — so it was a big splash!
Sara says
I would say that the quality is good but the windows are not perfectly level, which drives me a little crazy because I obsess on straight lines, but probably no one else has noticed it. Although I absolutely recommend these doors, I do think you get what you pay for and some of the gorgeous wood options are likely overall nicer doors. I think it’s fabulous that there’s an affordable option out there for folks like me…mid century modest house, 21st century modest income, retro mid mod affordable doors…it’s all good!
Susan Halla says
It is 100% U.S. building code that all glass in a door or within 18” of a door (as in sidelites) must be tempered or laminated glass and must have a permanently etched bug. (Bug is the lingo I am familiar with in the industry.) There is one caveat – if the pane is small enough that a 3” sphere cannot pass through, then it does not have to be a form of safety glass.
Our bugs are about the size of a penny and are really not noticible.
If you do not have a tempering bug in the glass of your door at the time of sale of your home, a good inspector will flag this and require it to be changed to safety glass.
That’s it for today’s safety lesson! Thank you for the shout-out!
Pam Kueber says
Thanks, Susan. Note, I don’t normally approve comments in which readers give safety advice. But, Susan is the owner of Make It Midcentury, one of the companies profiled here, AND she is pointing to a very high safety standard — so I will approve this comment as a suggestion to all readers to research this issue on your own — get with your own professional — for example, talk to your local building inspector/department about complying with your local/state building code.
See the info in the story as well with Therma-Tru’s explanation of this issue.
Joe says
Hey all – just wanted to let you know that Menard’s now carries several steel mid century modern style doors starting at less than $200 bucks. You can see what the doors look like on my blog here > https://midmodminot.blogspot.com/2017/11/finally-affordable-mid-century-modern.html
Really pretty good quality, adds a nice bit of light to the inside of the front entry, and really finished off the front of our house!
Grant Bylsma says
Hi! Just wanted to extend great thanks on behalf of Tri-Supply Company for mentioning our ODL Spotlite series of retro doors.
We also provide the other doors you referred to from Glasscraft, Rogue Valley Doors, Therma-Tru and many others. as well all tons of modern light fixtures. Here’s a peak: http://lights.trisupplyhometeam.com/Mid__Chandeliers/Contemporary_Modern/ . We just revamped our Austin showroom to display that type of lighting exclusively.
Thanks again. We love this website!
Scott Alllison says
In the end I went with a ThermaTru linea door from the pulse range. Looks great! I would share a photo but I don’t think I can here.
Scott Alllison says
I also found some cool modern doors from the Urban Door Company in LA: http://www.urbandoorscompany.com/product-category/contemporary/ Pricing is on the website. I did check with them and they can ship to non local customers via freight too.