What colors are best for modern iron doors?

Of our six finishes, Charcoal, Slate and Burnt Copper are the most popular finishes for modern iron doors. Considering that some of our clients who have chosen modern designs have exteriors with dark or black accents, Burnt Copper would be a great choice. Meanwhile, exteriors that feature gray and white tones or stone accents would be complemented by Charcoal or Slate finishes.

How do you modernize a front door?

According to our design experts, one way you can modernize a front door is to add color. This could also include adding plants and flowers to surround your door. Since modern iron doors are typically simple, adding a splash of color with some flowers could add a layer of beauty to your entryway. If your current door is very elaborate and busy-looking, consider a sleeker, more clean cut design and you’ll be on your way to designing a modern iron door.

Do modern iron doors add value to your home?

Absolutely! One benefit of having a modern iron door is its longevity. With little maintenance required, your door will look as good as the day you bought it for years to come. Iron doors enhance a home’s curb appeal and architectural style, which is great for the value of your home today and will remain a good asset if you choose to sell your home in the future.

What traditional door handles are in style now?

In recent years, traditional door handles and traditional door knobs have seen a trend in darker colors to give their homes more modern and sophisticated looks. However, if you want to add a touch of timeless luxury to your door, some people are bringing back high-shine finishes like brass and polished chrome.

What are some examples of traditional door knockers?

Long before doorbells, there were door knockers. The designs of knockers were wide ranging, taking inspiration from nature and geometry. Figurative door knockers incorporated various animals such as lion heads in Britain and eagles, a favorite in the United States. Today, you can make door knockers as vintage or fun as you’d like.

What is a traditional door?

A traditional door is commonly thought to be made of wood, featuring a classic double door silhouette. However, our traditional doors are made from high-quality iron and can be customized to suit any vision — from single panel entryways with textured glass to double door entryways with large, clear glass windows.

What kind of door does a colonial house need?

For a colonial house, we recommend customizing a traditional door style to complement the home’s classic exterior. And, depending on the width of your front entryway, we also recommend a double door as opposed to a single panel door for a more expansive and welcoming entrance.

What color hardware is timeless?

Choosing the right hardware for your custom door is critical, and you want to make sure you’re complementing the door’s finish and style. Having said that, the most popular and timeless hardware color is Brass. We find that the Brass colored hardware is a suitable match to our custom iron doors.

How much are modern front doors?

On average, custom Clark Hall modern front doors that involve design, custom drawings, hardware, and installation start at around $10,000. Single panel doors may cost less depending on the complexity of the project. Please contact us for a detailed quote.

What type of exterior front door is best?

The best type of front door for your home is the one that complements your style and exterior. For example, consider the color of your exterior siding before choosing a finish. And, think about what level of privacy you prefer before selecting a clear vs. textured glass window. Regardless of style, if your entryway has the room, we do recommend double front doors simply because they offer an expanded entry for guests, moving needs, and more.

How do I choose a front door for my house?

There are five questions that you should consider before choosing a front door for your home. First, think about the type of quality you need in a door. Then, consider how custom you want it to be which will help determine what material you go with. Next, ask yourself how long you can wait for a new door—many prefabricated options are shipped from overseas and lead times can be unpredictable. Lastly, think about the regular maintenance you’re willing to put in, and what the door’s warranty is. Keep in mind that Clark Hall’s iron doors are nearly maintenance-free and come with an industry-leading warranty.

Curb Appeal Archives

Custom Iron Door Designs for Every Taste

At the start of any door design lies inspiration. All of our front door styles are fully customizable and available in singles and doubles, and can be personalized with added elements like sidelights, transoms, and textured glass windows. At Clark Hall, your sketch is our command. Take a look at various modern popular front doors, as well as traditional and ornate to spark your imagination.

Popular Modern Front Door Styles

1. Arched Modern

This unique arched shape gives this entrance a luxe, modern look. And the exclusive Charcoal finish is a popular front door color that compliments gray and white exteriors. This is a great example that single panel entry doors can be large and expansive while still remaining charming and welcoming.

2. Unique Pivot

This door says, “Go big and come home.” This custom made 50/50 split pivot door reveals scenery from both sides of the entryway. The wide nature of the door allows light to effortlessly fill the space, which is accentuated by custom sidelights.

3. Contemporary Sidelights

Adding sidelights to your entryway increases the amount of natural light being brought into the foyer, which can add warmth and beauty, creating a sense of openness — not to mention decreasing your dependence on electrical lighting in that area. This modern sidelight is complemented by a crisp, white exterior entryway and some greenery for added color.

4. Mid-Century Inspired

The experts in modern front door styles will note the difference between contemporary vs. modern, but this mid-century modern inspired home brings popular front door color aesthetics to life — we just love the neutral tones. Choosing a Bronze or Cinnamon finish would be a great way to accentuate the popular front door colors of the mid-century modern style.

5. Pointed Silhouette

This modern front door style is especially eclectic and eye-catching — a great example that it’s possible to pair a vibrant foyer with a sleek modern door. This client was able to work with our design team to dream up the beautiful pointed silhouette which also subtly functions to draw attention to the whimsical chandelier.

Popular Ornate Front Door Styles

6. Styled Glass

This traditional iron door achieves an elegant look without sacrificing privacy with its pairing of a Seedy Baroque glass with a traditional iron door. Another glass style that might go well with this traditional door is Cotswold, but it’s all up to your vision. You can add any of our 12 exclusive glasses to customize any iron door.

7. Traditional Transoms

Let light flow into your home with custom transoms. Transoms first appeared in 14th century Europe, but are making a comeback in many front door styles. They can also add a unique architectural element, giving your curb appeal a timeless feel.

8. Expansive Sidelights

Sidelights provide so many styling opportunities that we just have to mention them again. This traditional iron door features custom sidelights that perfectly complement the exterior’s red brick, evoking the classic look of an all-American home. Adding sidelights can also upgrade your curb appeal by adding visual width without needing to knock down any walls.

9. Parisian Flair

The inspiration for the Stately Summerford Home came from the tall front door styles that line the streets of Paris, resulting in a chic European style that is simply timeless. Everything from the extravagant double door to the grand pull knobs makes a grand first impression.

10. Classic Craftsman

Although craftsman doors are typically made of wood, this iron door takes inspiration from the craftsman style of curved glass and surrounding light trim. Pairing the light toned brick with a dark Charcoal finish creates a classic charm without being too heavy.

11. Elegant Scrollwork

The hallmark of ornate iron doors are absolutely their intricate scrollwork and bold silhouettes. The large swoops and swirls in this design create a sense of sophisticated playfulness. Whatever your custom ironwork dreams, no design concept is too complicated.

12. Arched Ornate

This breathtaking ornate iron door speaks for itself. The unique white washed brick contrasts the Charcoal finish, making the entryway an experience to enjoy. Adding arches can bring a classic appeal that’s reminiscent of Gothic or Roman architecture that is sure to impress.

13. Intricate Transoms

By now, you can see how many of these styles can be combined. For example, this ornate door has a beautiful arch and a Flemish glass style. Important to note for this door is the choice to include a transom, which complements the surrounding windows of the house very well. Natural lighting and added privacy are just a few of the benefits of transoms.

14. Double Doors

One of our most unique doors created wouldn’t be the same without its double door design. Iron double doors can provide more benefits than simply extending the width of your entryway. Double doors can elevate your exterior architecture and allow more light inside your foyer — and in this case, make some pretty unique shadows!

15. Natural Vines

Want to bring a touch of nature to your front door? Consider the intricate and detailed lines of the tree designed for this ornate door. Paired with popular front door colors like Bronze or Burnt Copper, this door’s curb appeal is certainly unique.

16. Patio Doors

French doors and scenic windowscapes are just the beginning when it comes to patio design. Like all Clark Hall doors, each custom patio door can meet some of the strictest hurricane wind ratings and Florida building codes. Enhance any room or outdoor space with an iron patio door.

17. Wine Cellar Doors

Lastly, we just have to brag on our design team for their innovative genius in designing wine cellar doors — an impressive home statement and functional storage option. Hosting can be even more fun with a custom made, stunning space to house your wine collection.

Feeling inspired by these popular front doors? Grab a sketch book and browse our design options to get an idea of finish and color, glass texture, and more. Contact us to schedule a consultation with one of our experts, and read more about customizing the design styles we mentioned on our blog.

Frequently Asked Questions About Popular Front Door Styles

How do I choose a front door style?

A good place to start is choosing how you want to complement your home’s architecture. At Clark Hall, we have three main styles: modern, traditional, and ornate. Take for instance, if your house has a mid-century modern influence, a modern door would be a good option. On the other hand, an ornate door would pair well with an older, more vintage home.

Should the front door be lighter or darker than the house?

The color of your door is up to you. There’s a wide range of options when considering popular front door colors and whether you want your door to contrast or complement your home’s exterior. However, for more guidance, we have six exclusive finishes that we have suggested pairings for. For example, our darkest finish, Burnt Copper, complements exteriors with dark or black accents.

What’s the best quality front door?

Iron and steel doors are the highest quality front doors that you can invest in. Today, most homes feature either wood or fiberglass doors. Less commonly, but certainly more attractive, other homeowners choose an iron door for an elevated, customizable entrance that can withstand the test of time while adding serious value. Read more about the quality and benefits of iron doors vs. wood doors when you visit our blog.

6 Ways to Design Custom Doors

1. Custom Door Handles & Knobs

Custom door “knobs” and “handles” are usually used interchangeably, but in the world of door design, they are quite different. Handles tend to be more rectangular and can provide more flexibility to open a door, whereas door knobs usually have a circular head. There are many types of custom door handles and knobs including keyed entry, simple passage, and privacy door knobs.

All of Clark Hall’s lever hardware can be customized with different finishes that complement or contrast your door color. For example, if your custom iron door has a Burnt Copper finish, you could consider adding a Charcoal door handle for contrast.

2. Bespoke Transoms

Transoms are transverse horizontal structures that separate a door from a window. There are several functional and aesthetic reasons to consider adding a custom transom when designing a door. Since they accompany your door as an extra window, they are excellent for increasing the natural light that can flows into your interior space. For even more light, see our next point: sidelights.

Whether your door is modern, ornate, or traditional, adding a transom can give your front door distinctive character as transoms trace their origins back to 14th century Europe. Lastly, with a transom, you have an added level of privacy—you can see out, but others will have trouble seeing in.

3. Expansive Sidelights

Sidelights are vertical pieces of glass on the sides of an entry door that create the illusion of added width, and function as accent windows. Like transoms, sidelights add more natural light. Regarding privacy, sidelights will expand the amount of glass you have in your front entry, but you can opt for a textured glass to obscure the view inside your home.

To find a sidelight design that is right for your home, we recommend taking a step back and assessing your roof line to determine what type of silhouette would accent the shape of your entryway. Taking inventory of your measurements will help you decide whether to add one sidelight, or two slim ones.

4. Textured Glass Windows

Another way to personalize a custom design door is through textured glass. Clear glass allows for maximum visibility and light, while decorative glass like Flemish, Aquatex, Rain, or Seedy Baroque provide different levels of privacy. If you want to design with a specific era in mind, one example is our Horizontal or Vertical Reeded glass, which is reminiscent of the Art Deco style. Timeless and versatile, it can add a sense of luxury to any space.

All Clark Hall doors come with double insulated and tempered glass, which can cut down energy costs in the long run. They can also be customized with impact-rated glass to meet specific building codes and requirements.

5. Ornate Scrollwork

A custom door is a functional piece of art and our ornate iron door designs are one-of-a-kind. The detailed lines and spirals in these designs make an elegant statement without being pompous. Whether you want to design the scrollwork to be enchanting, regal, or something else completely, our design team will work with you to make it come to life.

And, our iron doors can be custom built to meet any size or design requirement so you don’t have to worry about complex sizing needs. If you’d like to see more examples of personalized ornate scrollwork, browse our ornate door project gallery.

6. Complementary Finish

Finally, choosing the right finish for your custom design door brings it all together. Whether you want your door to blend in with the rest of your entryway or completely stand out, we have six exclusive finishes to choose from. Burnt Copper is our darkest finish and complements exteriors with dark or black accents. On the other hand, Slate is our lightest finish and goes well with gray tones or stone accents.

Bronze is our most popular finish with a warm wood color, which complements most exteriors, but in the photo above, these French doors with a white exterior look great with the Charcoal finish. Whatever finish you choose, each of our doors are hand-perfected by a skilled artisan, creating our hallmark smooth-to-touch finish.

At Clark Hall, design is in the details! Contact us to schedule a consultation at one of our showrooms, and we can chat through your latest inspiration as you get the chance to experience our doors up close. And, before you connect, be sure to check out where to add custom entry doors for more ideas.

Frequently Asked Questions About Designing Your Custom Door

Can I order a custom size door?

Yes, Clark Hall can accommodate almost any size request. From the initial consultation and sketch to installation day, we partner with you throughout the entire process to provide a seamless experience.

What are the most popular traditional door finishes?

Bronze and Charcoal are the most popular door finishes because they effortlessly complement most exteriors. Whenever we’re working with a client, we start with the end in mind. How is this door going to look with the exterior of the house once it’s finished? Learn more when you read our interview with the head of manufacturing.

Are door handles a standard size?

The most common sizes for door handles are 2 3/8 inches and 2 3/4 inches, but some hardware can fit multiple backsets. The most important thing to consider is making sure the hardware you select fits your door.

Can you put any door knob on a door?

At Clark Hall, we have suggestions for which handles or knobs would look best on each style of door, but we can custom make hardware to suit any client’s preference. For example, a modern door looks best with a simple door handle, whereas traditional doors look great with door knobs.

There are a lot of ways to increase home value including renovations, updated décor, and even smart technology like security systems and camera door bells. Notably, curb appeal can account for up to 7% of a house’s sale price, according to a 2020 study from The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, so improving your home’s curb appeal could significantly increase its value.

Custom iron front doors are dominating the market because of their aesthetic appeal, low maintenance, and customizable nature. Iron doors are also more secure and durable compared to traditional wood door options. According to ADT Security Services, 55.7% of break-ins involve forcible entry. However, the weight and strength of iron doors make it more difficult for burglars to enter.

From an aesthetic, financial, and security standpoint, custom iron front doors are a valuable asset to any home. Follow the four steps below to get started on creating your own custom iron door.

How to Plan for a Custom Iron Front Door

Step 1: Create a Budget

Whether your goal is to upgrade your entryway aesthetic or make improvements that will help your home build equity, adding a custom iron door will increase your home’s value for years to come. Once you’ve contacted our team, we’ll set a timeline and lay out the scale and scope of your unique project.

On average, a custom Clark Hall double entry door that involves design, custom drawings, hardware, and installation starts at around $10,000. Prices may vary depending on the complexity of the design decisions and sizing.

Step 2: Consider Energy Efficiency

Reducing your utility bills through energy efficient upgrades can be great for you as a homeowner and appeal to buyers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical family spends at least $2,200 per year on energy bills. However, energy-efficient upgrades, like double-insulated glass, could reduce that cost by up to 30%.

A majority of buyers today are looking for energy efficient lighting, windows, and appliances. Check lighting and windows off your list with a Clark Hall custom iron front door that comes with tempered, double-insulated glass. This additional layer of glass can help improve energy efficiency. And, there are plenty of other ways to let more light flow into your home—like sidelights and transoms—that reduce the amount of lamps and lights needed in your foyer.

Step 3: Choose a Versatile Style

At Clark Hall, we have three main styles for custom iron front doors: ornate, traditional, and modern. All of these doors are fully customizable and carry their own unique personality. However, choosing a more versatile style may increase home value and attract a wider buyer audience if you choose to resell.

For example our modern doors are the most adaptable style because of their clean, sleek lines. Modern doors are contemporary and brighten the interior and exterior of your home. On the other hand, choosing an ornate or traditional door could make your home very distinctive and attract buyers who are looking for something more elaborate. Browse our project galleries for more inspiration.

Step 4: Maintain Your Door

Unlike a factory-built product, our custom iron front doors and windows are hand-crafted iron and steel. A certain amount of uniqueness is to be expected and we believe it adds to the door’s overall value and beauty. Read more about this process in a conversation with our artisans.

Similar to a car, iron doors develop minor scratches over time that need minimal touch-ups. To enjoy your doors for a lifetime, follow these simple directions to preserve their attractiveness and functionality with minimal maintenance.

We recommend cleaning your door(s) at least twice per year during the spring and fall seasons to remove any buildup of pollen or other debris. If you live in coastal areas or areas with high humidity, you may need to care for your door more frequently.
To prevent any rust issues as your door ages, it is important to seal up any small scratches on the surface of the door. A touch-up kit is provided upon installation for your doors and windows.
For more information on product care, cleaning and touch-up instructions, and extra tips, check out our detailed care and cleaning instructions.. Keeping your door in good condition can increase home value.

If you have additional questions on how to increase home value, or are ready to get started with your designs, contact us. We can’t wait to see what you’ll create. For examples of ways other home owners have increased the value of their homes with custom iron doors, take a look at some of our home makeovers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Increasing Home Value with Custom Iron Doors

What adds the most value to a house?

Kitchen improvements are the most recommended place to start with home upgrades, but energy efficiency and curb appeal are right behind. Curb appeal is important to consider because first and foremost, buyers want to feel welcomed when entering a home. If the outside looks uninviting, a home’s value decreases. Adding a bespoke iron door is guaranteed to up your curb appeal.

What upgrades do not increase home value?

Perhaps considering a custom iron door has inspired you to take on other home improvement projects. Keep in mind that not all upgrades are equally beneficial. For example, adding a swimming pool, remodeling a bedroom, or adding unique wallpaper to your favorite space all present different “payoffs” when it comes to recoup value.

Is iron good for a front door?

Iron is one of the most resilient and durable materials you can select for front doors. Every Clark Hall door is made specifically for you, and goes through extensive detailing before it’s installed—including a 7-step automotive grade finishing process.