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
Barbara LeJeune says
Do you all sell just the insert. I am interested in the one with the pelican. If you sell just the insert, what is the cost?
Thanks,
Barbara
pam kueber says
Barbara, you need to contact the companies directly…
Amy Richcreek says
I need this insert for a patio door! Our ever-watchful dogs keep blasting through the screen. I am amazed no one has ever marked this wonderful retro style with various doggie themes to the pet lovers’ market.
Christian says
I believe you’ve solved a mystery for me. A few years ago, I picked up a bag of aluminum swallows at a yard sale but had no idea what they were for. They look like something intended for outdoors, so I attached 5 of them to my chain link fence (my mom has the other 5 since we split the find). What do you think? Here’s a picture.
http://i1026.photobucket.com/albums/y327/Christian_Mericle/IMG_0971_zpsfrgxxsng.jpg?t=1433447223
pam kueber says
Sure looks like it — what a great find. Hey, I’m digging the Taylor Kitsch photo, too *heartthrob*
Christian says
I’m a Friday Night Lights fan. Watched every episode. Thank you for solving the mystery of the aluminum swallows.
pam kueber says
Yes, we LOVED that show! LOVED IT!
Mary Elizabeth says
Christian, I love the way you used those swallows! As I remember, some people who can’t use the inserts on their screen doors have used them as wall decorations.
Christian says
Thank you, Mary Elizabeth. They go well with my fence. My mom plans to use her 5 as wall decorations when she redecorates her bedroom.
Trish says
I have loved these since I was a kid! there was a house near my grade school that had one with flying ducks and cat tails on it. I am in Washington state so that’s more like something you might actually see here than a flamingo or pineapple. Drove by that house several years ago and it was gone. Such a shame, wish I had had the nerve to approach the owner to see if they wanted to sell it. Guess it never occurred to me that maybe someone would dislike it enough to take it down, I thought it was very cool!
Mary Elizabeth says
Trish,
Flying ducks and cattails were also spotted at the New England shore in the ’50s and ’60s. Now I am also remembering swans.
Bonnie says
That palm tree is for me! Wow!
Joe Felice says
I am partial to the flamingo. Can anyone tell me why Italians love flamingos so much? I don’t think they live naturally in Italy. The only ones I ever saw there were in the zoo. My grandparents had a vintage Turner flamingo mirror which I circuitously acquired many years after their deaths. It is proudly displayed in my dining room.
Trish says
Joe I have a Turner flamingo mirror I bought for $5 at an estate sale back in 75 or 76 when I was still a teenager, oh the good old days! About 5 years later a good friend bought an old house, found a Turner egrets picture in the garage and gave it to me. Both are hanging in my bedroom, the colors go well with the blue walls. Have you ever looked for these on EBay or Craigslist? Pretty pricey nowadays!
Joe Felice says
Yes, I have priced them, just for kicks. Mine belonged to my Italian grandmother, and hung on the wall next to their front door for 30 years before she passed. My sister took it, but, years later, when I got the mid-century fever (not to be confused with boogie fever), I made a trade with her and had it sent up here from Florida. I happened to find out how treasured it was from an ebay correspondent, who advised me how to authenticate it, which I did, and was a giddy as a school girl when I found out. My sister, on the other hand, was not so pleased. So I feel like grandma’s spirit is with me whenever I look lovingly at the mirror and proudly tell its story. NOTHING is more delightful than to have a vintage item with personal history. And, I must add that it was my sis who got me started on the mid-century kick with a cat statue, which led to my wanting more, including the iconic “crouching black panther” that every home seemed to have back then, followed shortly by the TV lamp of the 2 Siamese cats, another ’50s icon. Do you know why those little lamps were so popular? Back then, people believed that TV was to be viewed in a dark room with a small light above and behind the TV set. Whoever could have foreseen what TVs have become!
Mary Elizabeth says
Yes, Joe, every TV in the 1950s had room for a doily, a wedding photo, and a lamp and/or planter. My favorites are the mallard duck ones, some of which had planters attached.
There is no room on top of today’s flat screen TVs for anything of the sort.
Joe Felice says
. . . so I put a shelf above my TV for my Siamese-cat lamp. And yes, they were available as planters, and it seemed like everyone had a philodendron creeping along. Plus the avocado seed suspended by toothpicks in a glass of water.
Kathy says
Thanks for the links! The plain Coppa Woodworking one is only $111 plus shipping. The other ones they have are too Spanish Revival/Hollywood Regency for me but might be perfect for someone else. Door shipping for most manufacturers is typically around $200 for the first door and around $100, but just the door insert should be less.
I live up north, and everyone has a storm door here, so I think it is worthwhile to invest in a nice one, since that is what you see first, no matter how nice your door is. I’ve been coveting a real wood combination screen/storm door for ages, and Coppa Woodworking is one of the big manufacturers, along with Vintage Woodworks and others.
Poplar is the least durable option–if you can, go for ponderosa pine, straight-grain fir, or cedar (roughly in order of durability). Mahagony is the best, especially for exposed locations, but is quite expensive. Also look for mortise and tendon construction. If you go for a wood door, don’t forget to get the hardware, which can be pricey.
I have looked at just about every wood storm door there is out there and I think the best price/decent quality budget option is from the Combination Storm Door Company in Fond Du Lac, WI, with their standard hardware set. Their doors are Douglas Fir. If you stick to the simple styles, which are better for mid-century homes anyway, they are not much more than a top of the line Larson storm door.
Unfortunately, you can’t buy directly from them, so you have to use their website to find a dealer or order online from screendoors.com, builder’s series, but they don’t carry the hardware anymore.
I checked, and I am able to order it at from my local lumberyard with the hardware at a considerable discount from online prices , and without the shipping charge. Whoo-hoo! I’m going to paint it a nice bright color to go with my house and to make it last (I hope) a long time…
Diana says
I just love these inserts, they add so much. There’s a 1920 home not too far from us with one that I’ve always admired and coveted. We thought we were lucky when we got just a plain wrought iron insert from friends who remodeled an old house and didn’t want it. But these are really special.
Janice says
I was looking for wood screen doors and happened across this company that sells the swooshy insert without the bird/cowboy/etc, at a pretty good price. There are other styles of inserts too.
I want one with a flamingo.
pam kueber says
You mean a whole ‘nother company? Do you have the link?
Janice says
I thought I posted it. Sorry.
http://www.coppawoodworking.com/wroughtIronInserts.html
lisa in Seattle says
They are all nifty, but for some reason I covet the marlin one the most…