At 8am yesterday, Sam and James turned up to replace our front door. The one we have always had at Cornerstones is getting on for twenty years old. It is not exactly good quality, and very poorly insulated. We decided we would replace it. I hadn't realised exactly how much a new door costs, but this is a 'buy once, buy well' purchase so we chose very carefully. Wre wanted glass to let in light, but not a large translucent panel. With the old one, and the light on, it might as well have been clear glass! A secure lock, a simple, waist height horizontal letterbox [none of this kneeling on the ground stuff, or struggling to open the flap whilst pushing letters sideways...] and a knocker. Yes, we do have an excellent doorbell, but I like the appearance!
The guys took out the old door [and took it away], got the new door from the van [and stood it on the gravel to check all was well] Then they fitted the new door and cleaned up beautifullyHere we are inside and out
So very bright and cheerful. I love the patterned glass - and the way the light coming through sparkles on the wall.
When we acquired this home in 2009, the path was narrow [not wide enough for a buggy] and there was quite a step over the door frame from the ground into the hall. That trip hazard has disappeared - and we have a path twice the width now. Improvements all round. And we are already noticing the warmth in the hallway.
I much prefer the 2024 red door to the one we first opened in 2009!
Have you ever changed the door of your house?
We had a venerable oak door; it looked the part but on closer inspection it was the shoddiest but of home-made carpentry you ever did see. I was a little sorry to see it go but love our well insulated, draught proof, British Racing Green double glazed front door. We have a Downton Abbey style bell pull instead of an electric one.
ReplyDeleteI think a bell pull would be overkill on this little bungalow! Last night Bob went outside, closed the door, and rang the bell. It was loud INSIDE, but he said he could barely hear it as he stood outside. So good sound insulation as well as heat insulation
DeleteIn this house, we have had two hardwood doors and just a few months ago we had a composite door fitted. What a difference in the heat at the front vestibule and hall! This, along with the garden restructure, is all part of future proofing our home. Your new door is a smile to greet you as you walk up the path-great choice! Catriona
ReplyDeleteThis is a composite door with a solid wooden core. [made by Solidor] Yes, like you, we are buying with a view to preparing for the years ahead.
DeleteI had the door and windows replaced in the last house I owned before we moved on to a boat. When we moved in they were single glazed with bent metal frames. Not only did we replace all of them, we had the window in the back swapped for French doors. We turned the back door into a window and changed the downstairs loo into a study. We moved the downstairs toilet from the back of the house to the front.
ReplyDeleteOur French doors had misted up panels, but we were able to get those replaced
DeleteI remember when we changed our childhood home door. It was much nicer although felt a bit more flimsy! Your new red one is jolly! Kx
ReplyDeleteJolly is a great adjective
DeleteLooks so cheerful!
ReplyDeleteSo do I!
DeleteWe replaced the original wooden windows and doors of our house about 12 years ago. Our front door is similar in design to yours, except it is a dark mahogany colour, much the same as the original one. Like you, I do love the little glass panels and sometimes we have small rainbows lighting up the hallway, which makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteYes, the light patterns are gorgeous [not today, as it is grey and cloudy outside]
DeleteThat is a lovely new door and the red is terrific, so welcoming and warm. Charming and I much prefer the new one. In our old house in London we had a new front door fitted swapping an old full wooden door that let in drafts and often stuck for a new double glazed one which looking back was totally wrong for an Edwardian house but it kept the hall warm and let in light and felt secure and it was the 80's and double glazed white doors were the height of fashion! Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteMy friend in London did that too, and discovered too late that the new metal doorframe was slightly too narrow to get the buggy through without removing child and folding it up first. Not good during heavy downpours when you want to get inside quickly.
DeleteLove your red door, mine is boring green and one of the locking bits sticks sometimes but if I changed it I would have to paint the garage door too
ReplyDeleteOurs came with instructions about lubrication, and "operate the handle 6 Times" to work it round. Maybe that might help your door?
DeleteCheerful looking door, so much more welcoming than the other one. It’s amazing how much insulation there is on doors these days. Back in the 70s we had large single glazed windows and doors and North Sea oil helped to pay for it all.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteA very smart front door. Well worth the expense I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Wales x
I hope So!
DeleteI love that door it is very cheery and welcoming ❤️
ReplyDelete😊
ReplyDeleteIn our last house my husband made a Dutch door which was very solid. We loved it. The original door was quite flimsy. JanF
ReplyDeleteWhat is a Dutch door?
DeleteYour new door is lovely, it really looks smart, and yes I love a good knocker. My front door is black on the outside and white on the inside, with the same knocker and letterbox positioning as yours.
ReplyDeleteNo, we have never changed any of our front doors, we seem to move house too often to ever feel the need.
White inside adds brightness 5o the hallway
DeleteI love your cheerful red door and always good to future proof your home, especially with the way heating bills are going up. Our new house is so warm, with triple glazing, thick insulation, solar panels and a very solid front door. We haven't even had to put the heating on in the morning yet. Xx
ReplyDeleteOur solar panels are wonderful. Even in this gloomy November we've had 55% of our power from them, and sold power back to the grid too
DeleteLove your new red door! I've replaced both entry doors, front and back. The front is steel with a fake wood grain that actually looks good, and peep hole! It was expensive but I think worth it. The back opens to the basement steps, so I just got a basic solid metal white door, the cheapest yet strong steel available. My old doors were very flimsy wood and I would have nightmares about some one kicking them in! Thus the steel! Nightmares gone!
ReplyDeleteI didn't want a peephole, they were too high for me to see through.
ReplyDeleteWe painted our front door a cheerful deep pink, but when we came to replace it, I was taken with a lovely grey green door which is well insulated, has a matching frame and like the other it still has a side light which the squirrel likes to peer through when hoping for a peanut! It isn't cheerful, though, so it is important to decorate it with a colourful swag of some kind (DH doesn't like wreaths!)
ReplyDeleteMy neighbour has an attractive grey/green door too. It blends well, with her property and the trees in her garden.
DeleteYour new front door is lovely! Very cheerful color, too. I have not changed my front door, just painted the inside white. It's a varnished brown on the outside, but, you really can't see it because there is a metal security door in front of it.
ReplyDeleteI like white on the inside to brighten the entrance
Delete