If you really want to make an architectural statement, say it with doors. Whether inside or out, the type and style of doors have a major impact on the overall appeal of a house. Doors are more than a wall opening for moving from one room to another. They express architectural character.
Older houses are renowned for their doors. First of all, the doors were taller, and this, combined with nine-foot high ceilings, made a greater impact upon entering a room. Old-fashioned doors are called stile and rail type, with recessed or raised panels. Stile and rail doors were available in many patterns, giving each house its own unique character.
The door frames in older houses were sometimes more impressive than the doors. Wide, ornamental mouldings surrounded a door opening, celebrating the entry point to a room. Front doors were further enhanced by elliptical transom windows overhead, with glass subdivided by a lead tracery design.
Hardware, too, contributed to the architectural character. Hinges, doorknobs, latches, locks, and even door stops, all had a degree of style. When viewed as a whole, the doors, frames and hardware created much of the architectural interest in a house.
Not so much today. New contractor-built houses have a bland sameness to them. They all look alike, inside and out. The word “style” is virtually nonexistent in the builder’s vocabulary. It’s only when the owner makes a definite decision to build with a certain style in mind that a house develops a unique character. Select a door style in the same way as you would a house design – start by collecting ideas. Look at other houses, read design magazines, and talk to an architect to help you coordinate the doors with the overall scheme of your house. Once the options are narrowed down to your favorite style, carry the theme through all finish components of your house: ceiling corner mouldings, baseboards, half-wall height dado strips, window trims and kitchen cabinets.
For a unified appearance, choose exterior doors in conjunction with the windows. Match style, proportion and color to achieve the visually strongest facade. Over the front door, do something different. Make it say “entrance.” An arched window above, sidelights with accented trims, or an ornamental pediment helps attract attention. Even on the tightest budget, the door can be painted a contrasting color!
Besides defining architectural style, doors serve the practical purposes of weatherproofing, security, lighting and acoustics. Even more crucial, doors provide fire escape and protect adjoining dwellings from the quick spread of fire. A common door between dwellings in a two-apartment house is considered a fire separation, and must be of solid-core wood construction. The cheaper, hollow-core wood doors are suitable for rooms within a single household, but they have no fire-rating or acoustic value.
Doors are the key to freedom of movement, or if poorly sized and placed, an obstacle to be overcome. For people with physical limitations, especially those who use wheelchairs, adequate door width, and clearances around it, are critical for ease of movement. Three-foot wide doors, with lever handles in lieu of doorknobs, are best for wheelchair accessibility.
In spite of their frequent use, and sometimes abuse, doors must still look good. Durability is everything. To reduce maintenance, throw away the short screws which come with new hinges. Install longer screws penetrating at least halfway into the wood studs behind the door jamb.
Look for doors which serve both your aesthetic and practical purposes. Remember though, for spatial flow and a sense of openness, sometimes the best solution is no door at all!
