Remember Gabe and Amanda, who found a vintage blue heron screen door insert in sad shape on a house in their area, inquired about purchasing it from the owner and ultimately got it for free? Not everyone can be this lucky, but if you love the look of vintage style screen doors and want an easier solution, you’re in luck.
Updated 2021: I know of two manufacturers for this style of retro insert, with a variety of styles, including some that are close to Amanda and Gabe’s vintage blue heron.
1. PCA Products: Complete aluminum screen doors with insert
PCA Products sells complete aluminum screen doors inclusive of the aluminum insert. Check their website for product features.
PCA Products shows a variety of insert designs. Pam sees other options — including a flamingo — on one of their retailer’s site.
The door/design can be oriented for either right- or left-hinge hanging.
Links:
- PCA Products vintage style aluminum screen doors
- Check PCA Products’ website for instructions to find a local dealer. Meanwhile, we found this one that shows a few additional designs, including the flamingo: Door Depot (PCA Products dealer) — shows a few additional designs
2. ScreenDoorGrilles on etsy.com
Update March 2021: I heard from this etsy seller — ScreenDoorGrilles — that they sell screen door inserts. The site says, “Every piece of our art is truly individually handcrafted. Each art piece, tree topper and screen door grille is cut, shaped, finished and/or powder coated (if applicable) by us, in our shop.”
There are a variety of styles.
Cynnamon’s grandparent’s door — displayed as art
Above: Ooooh, we couldn’t resist showing this gorgeous vintage screen door insert — adorned with a swirly tailed peacock. The door belonged to reader Cynnamon’s grandparents. She saved it, and now uses it at wall art — beautifully! Thanks, Cynnamon, for posting this on our Facebook page, and for giving us permission to archive it here.
More links:
- For mill-finish aluminum screen doors — 6 places to find mill finish screen doors
- For midcentury front entry doors — 14 places to find midcentury modern entry doors + DIY tips
J D Log says
I wish something like this was available in Sydney a few years ago. It took me a few years to find a steel insert for the front door and patterned aluminium door for the back door to restore. I like the Star burst steel door insert and the Pineapple aluminium door. Good to see a couple of companies are reproducing these.
There are still a few of both types of fly doors in my area but have been steadily disappearing as the houses are getting torn down or modernised. I find most of them get chucked with the rest of the house or scrapped. A few of the steel inserts are being used in the garden for climbers. I have a couple of rough plain ones and I am thinking of doing this.
I have a few catalogues on these if you want me to scan them for you Pam.
Laurie Louise says
This is such a relief! I’ve been coveting a nearby swooshy screen door with a bucking bronco and trying to get up the nerve to approach the homeowner. Now there’s a Plan B, which just might be a better Plan A. This would be for our back door. A family friend has offered us a swoosh with a bird, similar to HH/MSL’s, which will go on the front door. It’s from the Queen Anne cottage across the street from the house I grew up in. Now we’re taken care of. Thanks for spreading retro sweetness and light, Pam and Kate!
Beth says
Any idea where I might find a large mid-century metal letter for the wall beside my front door? I’d love to hang a “P” on the wall! 🙂
pam kueber says
Watch ebay and etsy like a hawk. They come up. I got my “K” from ebay.
Scott says
I shouldn’t otta have looked, just dying over that sailfish/swordfish.
LollyBrubs says
we bought a 1957 time capsul home a month ago and I found all kinds of goodies in the attick including the insert for a screen door that has a bird on it much like the one with a swallow above. There is currently a storm door on the house and I have been trying to decided how to add it to that or if I want to take the storm door off and add it to another door.
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com says
Mod B is a huge fan of these and definitely wants one to be added to the Hacienda – perhaps this is the sign she needs to get it done this year. Thanks for the reminder, Pam!
Marcia says
I’ve been looking at newspaper archives and found only one item that seems to be about this kind of decoration. I wonder if it’s a matter of terminology? I’ve plugged in variations of “decorative screen door / grille / guard” with no success. Most of the decorative screen doors are wood with wood louvers or decorative inner corners. The one ad I found was from a Lumber-Home Improvement place called Chambers, Inc. in Lubbock TX in 1950. It reads in part: Ornamental Screen Door Grilles – Popular “Bucking Bronco” and “Sea Gull” designs in cast aluminum – won’t rust – fits all size screens. This week only $12.95 each.
pam kueber says
Thanks, Marcia. Readers: Marcia sent me the link — it turns out you must have a subscription to see the pages. She also sent me a screen shot just to eye for historical purposes. Indeed: Circa-1950 these were for sale for as little as $6.95 — inserts. Thanks, Marcia!
Mary Elizabeth says
Hmm, Sarah, you remind me of one I saw when I was a kid that had a girl or woman in a bonnet–maybe Bo Peep with a crook? It must have been at a friend’s house. I also remember some kind of sheaf of wheat on another door. Is it possible that in the height of the popularity of the aluminum screen doors there were artists or home crafters out there making their own unique screen door decorations? Also, I think different styles must have been popular in different parts of the country, although I believe herons and flamingos were fairly ubiquitous. If anyone runs across a source for the history, let us know.
Roundhouse Sarah says
There’s an old house on hwy 171 that I pass by often and it has the silouhette of an antebellum couple. I’ve never seen that variation anywhere else. There was an estate sale there recently but the screen door wasn’t for sale.
Mary Elizabeth says
These decorative screen doors bring back many memories. I especially remember the heron and sailboats from my childhood. Unfortunately, we live in the Northeast and use combination screen and storm doors. The top half of the glass door pulls down and rolls out a screen. I don’t think these inserts would work with that door.
Danielle Backer says
We have the same here in Northern Colorado. We’re working on bringing back our 1957 ranch back to its heyday. Sigh. Guess we’ll have to keep looking!