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| Pinterest Craftsman Home |
Chicagoans claim the craftsman
style home as a part of our heritage – after all, Frank Lloyd Wright is one of
the fathers of the architectural movement. The style, circa 1890’s, popular
into 1930, is enjoying a revival today.
Whether
you’re fortunate enough to own an old original craftsman style home or are building
a new home, the craftsman entry door is a key architectural element to focus on.
The craftsman door is almost always
reached by way of a porch, which accentuates the door’s uniqueness. Craftsman
doors are interesting contrasts of simple lines, warm woods, understated flat
casings, decorative glass panes and a classically ornamental dentil shelf.
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| Simpson Doors Warm Wood |
Homeowners can select less
expensive painted fiberglass or steel doors to compliment a craftsman style
home, yet an all wood door creates an unmatched striking focal point. Good
design always creates focal points that allow the eye to naturally absorb the
view. Without a focal point, the eyes wander and the brain struggles.
The craftsman home is perfect for a
wood door because of the protected porch entrance. Although wood is a great
insulator and can withstand harsh weather, it needs an enduring finish and a
building overhang for protection. Wood doors by Simpson can be used in tough exposures as
long as they are made of especially weather-resistant woods such as: Douglasfir, Sapele Mahogany and Nootka Cypress.
he beauty of wood is that no two pieces look exactly the same. The grain patterns, color variations and textures create a work of art. Frankly, it’s a stark contrast from a painted fiberglass or steel door, which can appear flat and lifeless in comparison. There are places for the less costly door; a wood craftsman entry door is the place to splurge.
Glass Panes
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| Therma Tru Doors with Sidelites |
It’s not uncommon for entry doors
to be placeholders in an architect’s design. Meaning its definition will be
provided later. In the craftsman style this is often so the architect or
designer can line up the views from the entry to a focal point inside the
house. This might be an interior wall or
an exterior back yard.
The craftsman style entry door
typically has glass in the upper door, sidelites or in a transom above the
door. Well positioned, glass can bring natural day light to a dark foyer or let
the moon and street light glow, flood the entry at night. If security is a
concern consider glass transoms.
Simplicity and Originality
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| Jeld Wen Dutch Door |
The American craftsman style was a response
to the ornate Victorian style homes that were common at the time. It stood in
stark contrast to the highly decorated eclectic Victorian. Adopting an arts and
crafts artistic sensibility, the style typically uses local handcrafted glass,
wood and metal work. The colors are usually a natural palette so that the homes
blend with nature. You might find the Dutch door an original
interpretation of the traditional craftsman door.
Imagination
If an all-wood door is outside the
limits of your budget, don’t despair. Check out doors by Therma-Tru for fiberglass
doors that mimic wood. Or if you love painted doors, check out the options for wood, fiberglass or steel painted doors by Jeld Wen in a variety of colors. Or if space allows you can create a double door
entrance. Beauty lies in variation, so use your imagination to get the
craftsman look on any budget.
