The original entry was a single painted fiberglass door in a deep brown, paired with narrow sidelights and a large arched fanlight above. It's a standard builder-grade unit, a molded six-panel face with a small arched glass insert at the top, set into a substantial arched stone surround that deserved more presence than a painted composite door could deliver.
Project Story
The thinking behind the work
The Starting Point
The Thinking
The stone archway was already grand; the door just needed to match it. Moving to a true double door widened the entry considerably and let real wood and real glass become the star of the composition instead of a painted surface. Large arched divided-lite windows across both leaves bring genuine daylight and views through the door itself, and a pair of decorative lion-ring pulls add a traditional, formal touch beneath the glass. A rich mahogany stain plays beautifully against the pale stone, while substantial dark handleset hardware gives the whole entry real weight and craftsmanship.
The Execution
Built as a double mahogany door filling the full arched stone opening, each leaf glazed with a multi-pane arched glass grid in textured privacy glass. A decorative cast lion-ring pull sits at the center of each leaf below the glass, paired with a traditional dark handleset and thumb-latch mechanism. Finished in a deep, warm mahogany stain that highlights the wood's natural grain.
The Result
The entry now reads as a true architectural centerpiece, the arched glass and decorative lion pulls give the door genuine character up close, while the mahogany stain and dark hardware bring out the best in the surrounding stone. What was a plain painted surface is now the focal point of the home's facade.
Specification
Unit Size
6'-6" x 9'-0"
Panel Thickness
1¾"
Joinery
Mortise-and-tenon, no mechanical fasteners.
Glass
Arched, multi-pane divided-lite glass in textured privacy glass, matching pattern across both leaves
Finish System
Marine-grade exterior finish, six sides
Hardware
Traditional dark handleset with thumb-latch, decorative cast lion-ring pulls on each leaf.
Installed By
Scobis
Common Questions
Why replace a fiberglass door that wasn't damaged?
The original was a standard painted composite unit, well-built, but visually flat against a substantial stone archway that called for more presence. Moving to solid mahogany with real divided-lite glass gives the entry the material weight and craftsmanship the surrounding stonework deserves.
What's the purpose of the lion-ring pulls on the doors?
They're a traditional decorative detail that adds character at eye level, beneath the arched glass. Rather than leaving the lower half of the door plain, the lion rings give the entry a formal, established look that complements the arched stone surround.
Why go with a double door instead of keeping a single door with sidelights?
The original single-door-and-sidelights layout put most of the width into narrow glass strips rather than the door itself. A true double door uses the full arched opening as the entry, giving the home a wider, more welcoming presence and making it easier to move large furniture or welcome guests through.
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