Entrance doors aren’t just a way of getting into and out of your property. They should be designed in such a way that they fit in with the other architectural elements of the house. There are several different factors that can affect the appearance of entrance doors, such as the material that they are made from, the type of finish that is applied to them, the color and the style of the door itself. Each of these factors needs to be carefully considered when choosing new entrance doors, as selecting the right door can add curb appeal to your property and potentially increase its value.
While you may have several entrance doors on your property, during this article we are going to focus on some of the most popular styles of front entrance doors in order to give you an idea of some of the options available to you.
Popular Styles of Front Entrance Doors
Front entrance doors are highly visible to anyone that walks past your home and is typically the feature of the property that grabs your attention. One of the following styles may be just what you are looking for.
Victorian
Adding a Victorian style entrance door to your Toronto property can help to take you back in time and give your property a classic look and feel. The Victorian period (1837 – 1901) was heavily influenced by the industrial revolution and the rise of mass production. The range of available styles for front entrance doors quickly grew and was characterized by an attractive style of paneling and glass panels that often contained intricate design patterns. This style of door is often accompanied by a porch, which protects any visitors you have from the elements as they wait for you to come to the door. It also acts as a sort of bridge between your home and the outside world; not quite inside, but not quite outside either.
Colonials and Capes
Around since the 17th century, Colonials and Capes don’t feature the intricate detail seen on Victorian era doors and don’t integrate glass into the design of the door itself. They are generally much simpler and made from solid wood with a number of raised panels. Traditionally, the number of raised panels on the door indicated how elaborate the house was. Standard configurations are four or six panels. As no light is able to pass through the door itself, it’s common for symmetrical sidelines and above-the-door transoms to be installed along with the door, which allows light to filter through and illuminate the property’s hallway during the day. The shape and size of this transom will depend on the windows that are installed at the property.
Bungalow
Bungalow style entrance doors, which were commonly installed from the start of the 20th century until the mid 20th century, are relatively simple in design and don’t possess the same level of detail as Victorian doors. The door features glass, which in some cases almost covers the whole area of the door and flat wood panels. While the amount of glass and number of panels can vary according to the design, one of the most popular configurations is six small panes of glass towards the top of the door, and two long, vertical wood panels below. This allows you to see who is at the door while retaining a certain amount of privacy. Bungalow entrance doors are often smaller than other options (such as Colonials and Capes with their sidelights), which makes them perfect for less spacious properties that have especially narrow hallways that lead to the front door. Just as Victorian doors, Bungalow entrance doors are usually accompanied by a porch.
Modern
Modern style doors have been around since the 1930’s and are not the correct choice if you are looking for an elaborate focal point for the front of your home. The Modern style is very minimalistic but can work well if the rest of your property is designed in much the same way. The door itself features very little detail, with no raised panels or intricate design elements, but does sometimes contain simplistic glass panes. Modern entrance doors are often complemented by an asymmetrical sidelight or a transom (or both).
Direct Pro Windows & Doors has been one of the most trusted names in the industry for a number of years and has successfully produced and installed entrance doors for thousands of clients in the Toronto area. Choosing the right style of door for your home can be a bit of a minefield if you’ve never had to do it before, but that’s what we are here for. Our design team can help you to find a new entrance door that looks great, and then our production team can manufacture it to your exact specifications.
For a free consultation in Toronto, call a member of Direct Pro today.
