Retro Door Research
I spent some time over the weekend photographing, and measuring some of the more unusual vintage 50s entrance doors in my neighborhood. I’ll be adding these to the list of reproductions available at Crestview Doors when the site is updated.
The vintage of the doors below are:
1957, 1952, 1950
1952, 1954, 1957
Check out the 1950 house with two “Grovers”. This is the most iconic of all the doors I’m reproducing. There is quite a bit of variation in the vernacular of this design. This house has two different designs side-by-side. Neither are the most common proportions. The one on the left has the less common low light on the hinge side and narrow, tall lites. The one on the right has wide, short lites, but the more common high lite on the hinge side.
I’ve also been cataloging doors in movies and TV shows. Adam Sandler is keeping it “high on the hinge side” with his “Newman” in Click. Jimmy Neutron’s neighbor has a “Grover” and Napoleon Dynamite has a classic “Grover” with oddball “high on the knob side” arrangement of lites. Gahh! What do you think?!?!?
I don’t have a screencap, but I know that Joyce & Buffy Summer’s house in Sunnydale (on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) had the “Grover” front door - I think it got smashed by vamps and subsequently repaired at least 2 or 3 times during the 7 seasons that the show ran!
Now you’ve got me walking through my neighborhood scoping out all the doors. In fact, just last night I saw a really cool door on a home built around 1963. Check out this link to view my sketch of it:
http://bp0.blogger.com/_Vg3YbBQ6S5c/Recy25zcO1I/AAAAAAAAAGM/vZU7vAxy0ME/s1600-h/cooldoor.JPG
I love the 2nd one! Also, how about three diamonds going down the center of the door (like the square ones except they are diamonds).
I love these old doors!!!!
Excellent. I’ve become a door-watcher, thanks to you!
Another type of older door I’ve found ubiquitous here is the double small window door. It’s also popular in the 50s-style ranches to paint your door in two colors, the panels matching the color of the house and the recessed parts/trim matching the trim of the house. Not sure if I like that, but it was a trend.
rr
Beth, hmm do I risk getting hooked on Buffy just for the screen grab?
Chris, that is a crazy door. I think a lot of these are DYI. There were door lite kits like these available. In measuring these doors I’ve noticed, um, variations in the spacing that suggest they were home made.
Patricia, That’s the “Peidmont”. I’ve got one on Crestview Doors. Just roll your mouse over the little icons on the right.
rr, I’ve seen that, but it would be hard to find an original 60 year old paint job. To me, there’s something kind of eighties about painting the panels and rails different colors. I’m not sure why. Most of these doors started out stained, and they were painted when they started to look yucky.
i love the ones with the horizontal slat lites. just fab. i heart crestview doors–can’t wait to choose three for our house (even though i know they might look odd on our queen anne)!
I’ve already been taking pictures! I have some interesting ones - our neighborhood has an ethnic background and has some interesting twists!
Lisa, I wouldn’t normally recommend 1950s doors on a Queen Anne. But you gotta ditch that half wagon wheel! So Home Depot! I like where you’re going with the house, mixing the old an new. We might be able to figure something out that brings them together. (wheels turning…) Oh I’ve got a great idea, email me. david@crestviewdoors.com
Mary, Photos! Post them or send them, I’d love to see what you found.
I’ve got a 1973 condo with a boring flat door and hideous burglar bars. The door I want seems to be found only in my mind. Just three little vertical rectangles across the top. Does such a thing exist? And if it does, can I afford it?
I am delurking to thank you for shedding light on the different styles of the mid century era door. Now all I see are Madison and Grover doors!
Good luck with Crestview Doors!
Just have to say Thank God I am not he only geek looking at doors to see how many windows there are & how cool is the pattern. Time to replace our door & I really want retro style. Think I finally found the place!
PS whats the 1/2 wagoon wheel? Is it what I call the Orange slice?
The 4 pie slices in a half circle at the top with 4 panels below is vintage to the 50s. But it’s not my favorite door. I’d love to see someone put stained glass to look like pepperoni pizza in the windows.
But the metal door with a vinyl window with half circle in the middle. That one kills me.
I’m sure there are better ones available but a quick Google search pulled up this pic of the Buffy Summers house with a Grover door! http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh3.google.com/_YUqNdLVh9V8/Rj-5qOI54LI/AAAAAAAAAbg/SXyjrU-n-ko/s800/Image1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eYoHGQPr0CNczAUMxuvPVA&h=600&w=800&sz=130&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=Al4g1WJv3D6dyM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbuffy%2Bhouse%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
(Try “Joyce Summers House” next time.)
I stumbled across this door on flickr while doing some MCM research, thought you would like it:
http://flickr.com/photos/repowers/2436465287/
i think its amazing.