Friday, February 25, 2011

New door fever

I found a new toy on one of my favorite sites, and I've been playing with it like a kid on Christmas morning. It's Door-O-Vision on the Crestview Doors site, which allows you to try great mid-century doors on your own house. If you haven't found this tool yet, I think you'd enjoy it too. You can see all their styles in a number of paint and stain colors, as well as a choice of clear or reeded glass.This is fun, even if you're not planning to replace your door anytime soon, but if you are, this should really make you impatient to get the project started. The good news is that Crestview sells DIY door kits online, so you don't have to live in Austin, Texas, to have wonderfully authentic mid-century doors.


My existing blah door,
redeemed only by cool hardware

After seeing pictures of my transformed house, getting a new door moved up several notches on my To Do list.  These are just a few of the  possibilities if I replaced my door with one from Crestview Doors:

Carlysle in Mocha

Street view of Carlysle in Mocha

Langston in Rose

Street view of Langston in Rose

Dupont in Black

Street view of Dupont in Black

Allandale in Pumpkin

Street view of Allandale in Pumpkin

Throckmorton in Mocha

Street view of Throckmorton in Mocha

It was helpful seeing the orange and rose doors, because I was considering painting, but now I think I need a more subdued color like the mocha or black with my wood blinds. I like the style of the Throckmorton, because my house was built in 1950 and doesn't look as wildly mid-century as some of the other houses in my neighborhood built in the late 50s. The Throckmorton seems to bridge the post-war ranch with later styles. 

I also have to consider the multi-paned floor-to-ceiling windows across the front of my house. The Throckmorton seems subtle enough not to compete with the windows for prominence. Some of the styles I tried gave the front of the house the appearance of being too "busy." 

Finally, I like the Throckmorton from a security standpoint. I live in a large urban area, and while my neighborhood is very safe, break-ins aren't unknown, and the glass is high enough not to be near the deadbolt. I love the Carlysle, and I think the Langston in mocha would look great too, but I'm a little concerned about the glass placement.  What do you think?
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27 comments:

  1. Mr. ModtomicFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Langston in black. But for real, your digs has some great curb appeal whichever door / color you choose!

    As far a deadbolts and all that...locks only keep honest people honest.

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  2. VingtFebruary 25, 2011 at 6:17 AM

    Your home has such a lovely curb appeal:)

    I for one LOVE the Carlysle door.

    I think the door fits well with all the windows and the lines of the house.

    Its the door I have and I absolutely LOVE it.

    Good Luck!

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  3. Tanya from Dans le LakehouseFebruary 25, 2011 at 6:21 AM

    I think your door is actually pretty. You're right, the hardware is super nice, but the door looks good also. The second options is so gorgeous. It looks expensive! I'm so jealous - I live in a condo and can't change my door. When you can't change something, it makes you want to change it more . . .

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  4. staceyFebruary 25, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    I like the Langston in rose or black on your house, but that's just me. I'm surprised I am not going crazy over the pumpkin color on your house, I think it needs a stronger contrast color. The current black door is A+ I think! :)

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  5. SherryFebruary 25, 2011 at 8:01 AM

    Your home is so beautiful!!! I think the first one is stunning! I like them all realy. :o)

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 25, 2011 at 9:18 AM

    Carlysle in Mocha! Yep, that's my pick!

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  7. Rhan VintageFebruary 25, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Your house is so adorable. I LOVE those trees you have too, wow. Any door you go with will look good but I think you're right: Throckmorton. I also love Langston.

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  8. Curtains in My TreeFebruary 25, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    I loved that feature. I bought a new door last spring and would have loved to have seen that before I made my decision

    janice

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  9. Krazy4ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 10:51 AM

    I think the Carlysle in pumpkin would be gorgeous. The design compliments versus competes with your window style. Your home is gorgeous inside and out. With the earthy colors on the exterior, I think the pop of pumpkin would showcase a beautiful door. All of these door designs are drool worthy. If the glass pane locations make you anxious, do what I did. My deadbolts have to be locked / unlocked with a key from the inside as well as outside.

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  10. Mr. ModtomicFebruary 25, 2011 at 12:11 PM

    K4M - Keyed locks from the inside can be tricky in an emergency. If the house is on fire and the fire is between you and your keys, how do you get that door open?

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  11. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:47 PM

    Mr.M: You sound just like my SIL. He's always kidding me about being so security-conscious. He says if someone wants to get in badly enough, he will, and that's probably true.

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  12. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    @Vingt: I like the way the Carlysle looks with my windows too. I think the house is going to look best with something that echoes the panes of the windows in some way.

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  13. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:50 PM

    @Tanya: I don't really hate my door. I just think it doesn't have a lot of personality...and the person who put in the peep hole was at least a foot taller than I am, so I can't see out unless I stand on a stool...LOL

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  14. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    @stacey: I think I'd like the Langston in black too. I've enjoyed the door black, but the reason I'm toying with the idea of mocha is that the ceiling of my porch is stained wood (rough cedar, I think, but stained dark brown).

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  15. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:53 PM

    @SherryBaby: Decisions, decisions. They're all so beautiful that it really is hard to choose. Thanks for the compliment, by the way, and welcome to the blog. :)

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  16. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:55 PM

    @Ashly: Good to see you comment. I noticed that you signed up to follow the other day. Welcome! Your vote for the Carlysle is duly registered. :)

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  17. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    @Rhan: I'm so happy to have such big, old trees, but they can present a landscaping problem. My back yard is so shady that it's hard to get anything to grow!

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  18. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:58 PM

    @Curtains In My Tree: It really is a useful tool, in addition to just being fun. It helped me eliminate some doors I thought I really liked till I saw how they looked in the street view. Welcome to the blog! I always love it when new people comment.

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  19. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    @Krazy4Mod: Another vote for the Carlysle. Looks like it and the Langston are front runners!

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  20. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 2:00 PM

    @Mr.M: Yeah, I guess it really doesn't accomplish much to keep the key hanging in the deadbolt, huh? :)

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  21. DearHelenHartmanFebruary 25, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    So jealous of your curb appeal! I remember friend's houses with those slanted windows (we had 70s mod) my vote is for the Langston.

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  22. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    @DearHelenHartman: Wow, another vote for the Langston. It looks like you guys are narrowing the field for me really well. Thanks!

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  23. adrianeFebruary 25, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    Once again, your house is so gorgeous! Personally, my gut reaction was also for the Throckmorton. I think the mocha looks so pretty with your roof color, and I love the windows. When I read your points about it, it convinced me even more. Also, how fun would it be to tell everyone who compliments you on your amazing door that it's the "Throckmorton." I just want to say that word over and over.

    What a nice tool that is, by the way. Crestview is such an awesome company.

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  24. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 25, 2011 at 10:05 PM

    @adriane: I like the way the mocha looks with my roof too, and I think that is as much of a consideration as how it looks with the blinds. Picturing you saying "Throckmorton" over and over was one of the best laughs I got today. :)

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  25. Pauline WilesFebruary 26, 2011 at 8:11 PM

    The Throckmorton was far and away my favorite, too.

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  26. Krazy4ModFebruary 27, 2011 at 8:55 AM

    As an emergency room nurse for 30+ years, safety and security are planted in my brain. I have my keys hanging close to my doors but not within reach should someone break the glass. If I had a fire, I'm crawling out the closest window. As Mr. Modtomic said, locks only keep honest people honest, but, a keyed deadbolt on both sides makes a thief have to work much harder to get in.

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  27. Dana@Mid2ModFebruary 27, 2011 at 10:40 AM

    @Krazy4Mod: All joking with Mr.M. aside, I had double-key deadbolts at my last house, and to be honest, I did feel like that house was more secure. I kept the keys in the hall closest near the front door where I could get to them easily but they couldn't be found if someone did manage to get inside. If I get a door with glass right beside the handleset, I'm sure I'll go back to that type lock.

    And, like you, going out the nearest window is my safety plan in case of a fire too.

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