What front doors say about us

Front doors make a statement don’t they? As Matthew Hague mentions in his piece in the Globe and Mail (May 8th 2014) they are a “sly signifier of luxury” and they can actually alter the presentation of your home from the curb, significantly.
The larger and heavier the door the bolder the statement and as Hague emphasizes “the portal pops” on the best homes.
But just how does one go about having the front door pop? The question is often about scale, thickness, material, as well as hardware, glass or no glass, kinds of hinges and of course the threshold.
It is like being well dressed. It is not just a beautiful suit that drapes perfectly. It is also about the shirt, the tie, the belt and shoes that accessorize a beautiful garment and when combined produce a finished and complete look.
The front door then, can be an expression of your style. The front door accessorized with beautiful hardware and hinges, together, will make an opening statement about what is beyond the threshold.
When you are trying to define a distinctive look a front door change can make all the difference.
If you are starting from the drawing board then the scale of the opening is the beginning. If your home has high grand ceilings, and the entrance will accommodate it, a taller than “standard” height door is a good option. Tall doors command attention and do make a statement about what to expect beyond.
Steel doors are practical but they are common and therefore lack the punch a wooden door delivers.
If choosing a wooden door you need to consider the climate you live in. Here in Ottawa we experience dramatic temperature changes which can cause doors to warp, so you will need to do some research.
I did a renovation on a home that had a dark covered entrance way. I wanted to lift the feeling of the house as it felt dark and dreary in the entrance way. I chose a beautiful walnut door with a large beveled glass opening accompanied with strong door hardware and hinges.
The door was heavy and the glass allowed the daylight to flood into the vestibule. Every time the door closed you could hear the heavy “clunk” and that somehow made me feel safe.
I renovated another house in the same neighbourhood but this time I gutted it from top to bottom. It is in a heritage district so I felt it was important to lend a bit of history to the new building. I hunted salvage places in Toronto and came across a stunning 2 1/4″  inch thick wooden door with a large glass panel and wrought iron casing. It definitely had character and added an interesting dimension with the Rocky Mountain door hinges and custom threshold.
There is no question that a front door can be an asset to your home’s curb appeal and add that certain “je ne sais quoi” to the appeal for a buyer. But remember, it is just like a well dressed person; it is not just the front door, it is the whole package that makes the picture perfect. If you would like to read more please see Matthew Hague’s article in the Life section of today’s Globe and Mail.