Dreaming of a Door - 8/7
From LoveToKnow Interior Design
When I was growing up, all of our doors were made of painted particle board; they all had round brass doorknobs; and no one gave them any thought (until my father ran his fist through one, but that's another story, completely). My friends' houses all had those doors, too. It didn't matter whether the house's decor was modern, colonial, or traditional, they all sported boring, white (or sometimes unpainted) doors.
Imagine my surprise when, 30 years later, I'm shopping for new doors for my latest remodeling project and discovered the plethora of doors now available! There are pine, walnut, and oak doors. There are Art Deco-inspired doors, French country-style doors, and traditional doors, just to name a few. I wanted them all.
A Door for Every Decor
The best way to choose a new door is to make it with your house's period and your decor. We've all seen those 50s-style doors with the little row of windows on top marring the curb appeal of a classic bungalow or a clapboard Cape Cod house. For instance my neighbor has a 1920s two-story brick house. They are lucky enough to have the original door (pictured at top), but if they weren't there are dozens of 1920s style doors available. My house tends towards French country decor. I chose pine 15-light (those are the squares) doors (one of which is pictured at left) in a honey stain to give the rooms that warm Mediterranean feel.
Ordering a Door
Ordering a door from a lumber yard or a home remodeling store is easy if you bring the correct information. You'll need to have the following information:
- Measurements of the opening - I suppose you measure this twice, if not three times. Get the width and height.
- Do you want it pre-hung? - You most likely do, until you're doing something unusual with the door. This means that the door has the hinges already attached and is mounted in the door frame.
- Door Hardware - Some doors are available with the door hardware already installed. Opt for this only if the hardware makes your decor. There are a lot of other hardware options and they are relatively easy to install.
- Left or Right Hinged - Often city building codes will dictate which you need to order. Otherwise, take a good look at the space to determine which is most functional.
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