A vertical window extends this home’s entryway, allowing the d…
A vertical window extends this home’s entryway, allowing the door to act as a piece of the façade’s play on geometric cutouts. Project: Hampton Lane House, Bethesda, Md.; Architect: Robert M. Gurney, Washington, D.C.; Builder: Freedom First Homes, Bethesda, Md.
Jim Bartsch
Torn between her desire for rich color and her want  to maintai…
Torn between her desire for rich color and her want  to maintain the modern home’s neutral palette, this home’s owner found a clever way to have the best of both  by adding splashes of color inside the laundry room and on closet doors.Project: Private residence, Venice, Calif.; Architects: Abramson Teiger Architects
Jim Bartsch
Matching translucent doors create a sense of privacy and transit…
Matching translucent doors create a sense of privacy and transition between the street and this home, without being unwelcoming. Project: Private residence, Venice, Calif.; Architects: Abramson Teiger Architects
Bill Timmerman
Inexpensive steel studs mounted onto metal apertures offer a hig…
Inexpensive steel studs mounted onto metal apertures offer a high-end custom look at low cost — a durable option for areas facing extreme heat. Project: Private Residence, Tucson, Ariz.; Architect: Ibarra Rosano, Tucson.
James F. Wilson
Sliding doors set at a 90-degree angle offer an updated take on …
Sliding doors set at a 90-degree angle offer an updated take on the traditional French door style enclosure, without sacrificing the ability to open the space up to the rest of the home. Project: Builder 2012 Concept Home, Orlando, Fla.; Architects: Canin Associates, Orlando; Woodley Architectural Group, Denver; Builder: Centerline Homes, Coral Springs, Fla.
Daniel O'Connor
This sliding barn-door entry, made of slats of Western Cedar, pr…
This sliding barn-door entry, made of slats of Western Cedar, provides privacy and access to street views and sunlight. Project: Cragmoor Residence, Boulder, Colo.; Architect: Arch11, Boulder; Builder: Buckner Construction, Boulder
Emily Minton Redfield
A curved front door echoed by an undulating awning offer a pitch…
A curved front door echoed by an undulating awning offer a pitch-perfect welcome to this cozy mountain cottage. Project: Mountain Cottage, Denver area; Architect: TKP Architects, Golden, Colo.
Matthew Carbone
Red punches up this sliding barn-style door. The bright hue adds…
Red punches up this sliding barn-style door. The bright hue adds interest while staying in character with the home’s Midwestern farm house aesthetic. Project: Woodland Hall House, Columbus, Ohio; Architect: Meyers + Associates, Columbus; Builder: Ghiloni Custom Builders, Granville, Ohio
It’s spring selling season, which makes us think of spiffing things up to ensure a good first impression. Often the first point of contact with a home, a door offers that initial opportunity to beckon a potential buyer inside. And because they require physical interaction, doors allow builders to demonstrate the quality of the product. (Nothing can make a home feel flimsy faster than a shoddy door, while a hefty one says “quality.”
We’ve collected some of our favorite front doors, back doors, and doors in between—all of which offer a unique entry. So come on in; the possibilities are wide open.
