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Feb
15
2007
15
I let the cat out of the bag in a comment on Ranch Redo on Monday. I’m starting a new company to sell a very narrowly defined, but otherwise completely unavailable style of front door.
The Company is called Crestview Doors.
I named the company after the neighborhood where I live. This is where I have noticed and slowly become obsessed with these doors. Each design is named after the street where I saw it. In some cases, such as the “Grover” the design is so common, I just named it after the longest street.
One by one I’ve seen these doors disappearing off of our little mid-century fifties ranch houses. The new doors never look right to my eye. The stained glass is too ornate. The Craftsman doors too are old fashioned. The metal and fiberglass doors just look fake. And what is up with the half-wagon-wheel door?
When it was time for us to ditch our old warped door, I thought we would just replace it with one off the shelf matching the old doors in the neighborhood. As it turns out, you can’t buy them anywhere.
We had one custom made for our house, and I got to thinking… I bet I could sell these online.
15 Comments for Cat. Bag. Out.
mom
February 15, 2007, 10:52 am
February 15, 2007, 10:52 am
Need is the mother of invention! Congratulations! I’m sure you’ll be successful!!!
(and we’re proud of you!)
Ron
February 15, 2007, 11:23 am
February 15, 2007, 11:23 am
Hey, great idea! Do you make the doors yourself or did you hire someone to do the manufacturing? I would buy one if it wasn’t for the fact that I live in an apartment.
Leslie
February 15, 2007, 11:40 am
February 15, 2007, 11:40 am
Good luck with your new venture! The “Grover” is exactly what we had in our previous house, which was an early-60′s beach cottage. Your card and website are both great designs, btw.
Poppy
February 15, 2007, 12:06 pm
February 15, 2007, 12:06 pm
Now that’s what I like…a person who sees a need and figures out a way to provide! Way to go Erwins!!
I’d be more than happy to provide a link to your site from my blog…ummm, that is after I learn how to do that 
I don’t even know how to make a header or start a blog roll…Yeah I’m pathetic like that 
Wishing you the very best of successes!!
Keep us posted on how it goes!
King Street Farm
February 15, 2007, 12:32 pm
February 15, 2007, 12:32 pm
Wow!! Very impressive! Way to go–and best of luck with your new company!
Chris
February 15, 2007, 1:17 pm
February 15, 2007, 1:17 pm
I absolutely love the “Woodrow”. I just might have to get myself one…I can’t wait! Great idea, thanks!!!
ruth
February 15, 2007, 2:14 pm
February 15, 2007, 2:14 pm
I have a “grover” front door, and I’ve always felt it was wrong for our 1920′s house. Now I know why! The house was renovated/destroyed in the ’60s, and I bet we lost a lovely craftsman door. Would anyone like to trade?
Mary-Frances Main
February 15, 2007, 2:36 pm
February 15, 2007, 2:36 pm
It’s a fabulous idea. We have one you don’t have yet (with a diamond) and I’m sure I could send you more ideas -oo! and an order for a few new ones for our house!
Mary-Frances Main
February 15, 2007, 2:38 pm
February 15, 2007, 2:38 pm
Wait! I take that back..we have the Madison! You’re great! Thanks for thinking of this!
the reluctant remodeler
February 15, 2007, 8:31 pm
February 15, 2007, 8:31 pm
So excellent! Now I’m obsessed with the doors on the WWII cottages in our neighborhood and drove around looking at them. You’ve pegged so many of the styles. There are many around here that have only two windows instead of three. They are cool, too. I took a picture of my very favorite one and will post it to my blog.
Good luck — it’s a great idea!
rr
jm
February 15, 2007, 10:06 pm
February 15, 2007, 10:06 pm
That is AWESOME! I’ve been trying to talk my parents into exactly this type of door for their modern house in Virginia. Go you!
Joanna Fried
February 16, 2007, 7:32 pm
February 16, 2007, 7:32 pm
Fantastic! Good luck with it!!
David E.
February 20, 2007, 3:31 pm
February 20, 2007, 3:31 pm
Ron, I’m working with a local door company and a master carpenter to make these doors. This is a new business for me, but when the actual doors are being made, there is 25 years experience behind them.
Chimney Liner
February 21, 2007, 4:04 pm
February 21, 2007, 4:04 pm
Good luck, David. I like the “wild west” mood of Grover and Madison very much.
Ron White
February 28, 2007, 2:39 am
February 28, 2007, 2:39 am
Wow…I haven’t visited Erwin House blog for months. And now you’ve launched a business. I guarantee you one sale down the road a piece!