Designing your dream front door – The Process

Step 1 – Configuration

Step 2 – Panels

Step 3 – Colour

Step 4 – Hardware

The first part of the process when designing your Origin front door with us is choosing the configuration.

Configuration means the combination of elements that comprise the entire front door—that is, the number of doors and any sections of glazing above and beside the doorway.

Some of the most popular configurations are

Single Door – The standard, traditional option. One door within a frame.

Double door/French door – A unit of two doors gives you twice the opening, creating a striking and impressive entrance.

Single door with sidelights left or right – Adding a sidelight to a single door not only lets more natural light into your home, but gives the illusion of a larger entryway. Sidelights can be customised so you have the option of choosing different types of glass (e.g. frosted).

Single door with sidelights on both sides – Matching decorative sidelights on either side of a single door are even more effective at flooding your home with light. Their grand and imposing appearance gives your property valuable kerb appeal. You can customise the sidelights with different types of glass (e.g. frosted).

Single door with transom – A transom is the horizontal structural beam that separates the doorway from the windowed section above it. More a decorative feature than anything else.

Single door with transom and sidelights – The best of all worlds, with glazing above and at either side of the doorway.

These are just some of the more common configurations. As a lot of today’s residential doors are custom-made to your exact specifications, you’ll often have a much wider range of choices.

Next – Choosing a panel design

Once you’ve decided on a configuration, you then have to choose the style of door, and how you want the panels to look. It’s here you need to consider how your home looks from the outside, and the property’s immediate surroundings, so you can keep everything consistent in its design.

When it comes to panel layout, there are generally dozens of styles. The main variations are in the shapes of the panels and the number and shape of any additional windows or sections of glazing.

The more common panel styles are:

Two Panels

2 Panel 2 Square – Two short rectangular panels below two long glazed or unglazed rectangular panels.

2 Panel 2 Arch – Two matching arch designs (glazed or unglazed) above two rectangular panels. This design is commonly associated with the Victorian period.

2 Panel 1 Arch – A large glazed or unglazed arch above two short and wide rectangular panels. A glazed arch allows more light into the space behind the door, but can be vulnerable to break-ins if toughened glass isn’t used.

2 Panel 1 Square – Similar to the 2 Panel 1 Arch design but with a large rectangular panel (glazed or unglazed) in the top half of the door.

2 Panel 1 Grill – Two narrow rectangular panels below a lattice-shaped panel made up of nine small squares. A great opportunity to make a statement with different types and designs of glass.

Four Panels

4 Panel – One of the simplest and most common door styles. Two long rectangular panels above two slightly shorter ones. These doors tend to be solid and sturdy, which helps with insulation and reducing noise.

4 Panel 2 Square – Almost identical to a six-panel door. Two rectangular panels in the lower and middle sections of the door, with a pair of squares (usually glazed) at the top.

4 Panel 1 Arch – Two pairs of identical rectangles below a small glazed or unglazed arch.

6 Panel – Four identical rectangles in the lower and middle sections, below a small pair of squares. Like the four-panel door, solid and sturdy, providing a high level of security. The six-panel design is the one most associated with the Georgian era.

Other Common Designs

4 Square – Four small square glass panels either centred or positioned off to the side. A modern design that helps light enter while keeping the door secure.

Twin Slide – Two rectangular glass panels at either the left or right side of the door. Often used with stained glass to create striking patterns.

Then – Choose a colour.

Deciding on a door colour means taking your cue from your home’s exterior.

In other words:

• the materials the property is built from
•  
• the style of the architecture
•  
• the surrounding landscape

Add to that your taste in design, and what you value most aesthetically. Most home-improvement choices reflect our personal styles, and choosing a front door is no different.

Lastly – Choosing hardware.

No front door is complete without its hardware—handles, locks, letterboxes and the like. And as with the other elements of the door, you have an extensive range of options to choose from.

But when picking out hardware, what must you consider? How can you tell what’s a good door handle and what isn’t? Does it really matter what hinges you choose?

Get in touch and we can guide you through the process!