FABULOUS FRONT DOORS
by Michelle Gilles

If you're thinking of giving your entry pizazz, Boulder County is home to a variety of artists who can turn your front door into one that says "wow" in addtion to "welcome."

When a guest walks up to your house, what do they see before you answer the doorbell? The front door, of course. And when you open it, a door provides their first glimpse into your home.

Doors do more than provide security and protection. They welcome visitors, reflect your home’s style and reveal the tastes that make a home your castle. A front door plays so many roles, it’s easy to see why some consider it a home’s signature welcome.

If you’re considering sprucing up your entry, options can vary from a $15 can of paint to a $30,000 artistic marvel. If you want a simple, inexpensive way to make a quick impression, high-quality primer and acrylic paint can perk up any door. For added glitz, install new hardware. Door handles, kick plates and knockers in pewter, brass or polished nickel can add a sophisticated touch.

You can always replace your front door, too, but it’s no easy task. Hanging doors takes more than experience, says J. R. Corbae, production manager of The Door Depot in Denver. “There’s a true art to installing a door and unless it’s a new construction, its pretty tricky,” he says, “especially for an older house that’s already settled. The proper way to do it is basically yank it [the door and jamb] out and start afresh.”

Starting from scratch requires the right skills and tools, including a power saw, chisel and shims, and it means putting in new framework, installing new weatherstripping and replacing the threshold. If this do-it-yourself project is not your cup of tea, consider turning to the professionals. If you provide the door, the cost for removing the old door, installation and labor typically runs around $350, Corbae says. The cost for hanging a new door with no jamb work—known as a retrofit—starts at around $150.

Add A-door-nment with Custom Doors

If you’re looking for a door with artistic flair, Boulder County is home to incredible door artists who work in many mediums. Custom doors can be retrofitted, but they’re usually seen in remodels and new construction. Architects, interior designers, contractors and other professionals, are often involved, and can collaborate with the door maker and make suggestions to the homeowner as to style and shape.

If wood is your medium of choice, Boulder’s Anne Shutan takes solid wood doors in a new direction with her decidedly modern flair. Using her band saw like a pencil, Shutan carves sensuous curves and willowy lines into mahogany, allowing the wood’s movement to shine. “There’s something about the curves,” says Shutan, who puts a twist on the traditional wood door by using vertical panels rather than the customary frame style with horizontal pieces.

Read the full article in the Fall 2004 issue of Boulder County Home & Garden magazine. Subscribe today, and receive the Home & Garden Card™!