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A front door with sidelight proves the power of a first impression
DIYer Cass Smith gives her front door a refresh as the final step in an exterior renovation.
Cass Smith had already taken on some major exterior renovation projects. The inspiring DIYer behind Cass Makes Home had painted her exterior a creamy white and her garage door an inky black. She had widened her front steps and given them a facelift with a layer of warm red brick pavers. Everything was updated and polished, except the front door. It was a solid black door without a window or much ornamentation at all. The only light that shined into her entryway was through a small sidelight window. Cass decided a new front door with sidelight was what she needed to complete her exterior refresh and transform the entrance to her home. Keep reading to find out how she went about selecting the perfect door, right down to the last detail.
Where she is now (left) and where she started (right):
The new front door features lots of glass and sleek contemporary hardware for an updated look, while the grilles add a touch of tradition.
The new front door features lots of glass and sleek contemporary hardware for an updated look, while the grilles add a touch of tradition.
Where to begin picking out a new front door
Cass knew she wanted a door that blended “traditional and modern” styles. To figure out just the right door, she spent time on Pinterest searching for inspiration. As she was perusing, she kept the big picture in mind. How would her new front door work with her exterior color, accent color, brick walkway and landscaping?
Considering all these factors, she decided to stick with the existing color. A black door would keep her high-contrast color scheme going, but she also wanted an updated door style. “I knew that clean lines and a modern style was the way to go because we have a lot of traditional elements on the exterior of our house,” she said. With this as her starting point, she began digging into the details.
Considering all these factors, she decided to stick with the existing color. A black door would keep her high-contrast color scheme going, but she also wanted an updated door style. “I knew that clean lines and a modern style was the way to go because we have a lot of traditional elements on the exterior of our house,” she said. With this as her starting point, she began digging into the details.
Door style
Cass chose a Straightline 181-style front door with a glass panel and a sidelight for an updated look that also brightened up her entryway. She mixed in traditional (grilles) and contemporary (hardware) elements to create the right look.
Did you know? Our front doors are handmade of wood. They can be painted, stained or clad in aluminum on the exterior (for weather resistance). They come in both single and double-door options and can be configured to swing outward or inward. Learn more about our front doors.
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The new sidelight (left) next to Cass’ front door starts at the floor and features an ultra-narrow frame to maximize the amount of natural light in her entryway.
