A grand French country estate called for an entry that could match the scale of its two-story arched stone portico. This was new construction, built as part of the home's original design rather than a replacement.
Project Story
The thinking behind the work
The Starting Point
The Thinking
An entry of this scale needed genuine architectural weight, not a standard flat door, but a design that carries the curve of the brick archway all the way down through the door itself. Each leaf combines multiple raised panels below with an arched, multi-pane glazed section above, finished with a decorative cast medallion set into the panel as a signature detail. A rich mahogany-tone stain plays beautifully against the warm brick and stone, while simple straight pull handles keep the hardware understated next to the more ornate glass and medallion work.
The Execution
Built in Mahogany as a double door filling the full arched masonry opening, with a matching arched transom above and a narrow arched sidelight, all glazed in the same textured glass. Each leaf pairs a multi-panel raised lower section with an arched, multi-lite glazed upper portion, and a decorative cast medallion set into the panel just below the glass line. Finished in a deep, even reddish-brown stain with matched straight pull handles in a dark finish.
The Result
The entry is now a genuine architectural centerpiece for the home, the arched glass, transom, and medallions give the two-story portico a focal point equal to its scale, with the door's rich stain and the surrounding stonework playing off each other beautifully.
Specification
Unit Size
7'-0" x 10'-6"
Panel Thickness
1¾"
Joinery
Mortise-and-tenon, no mechanical fasteners.
Glass
Textured glass, arched multi-lite pattern across the door, transom, and sidelight.
Finish System
Marine-grade exterior finish, six sides
Hardware
Matched pair of straight pull handles in a dark finish, with decorative cast medallions set into each door leaf.
Installed By
Scobis
Common Questions
Why carry the arch shape through the transom, sidelight, and door together?
A two-story stone portico this substantial deserves an entry where every piece works as one composition. Continuing the same arch from the transom down through the sidelight and into the door itself means the whole opening reads as a single, intentional design rather than a door with mismatched accessories stacked above it.
What's the purpose of the cast medallions on the door panels?
They give the door a signature detail at eye level, something with real craftsmanship to notice up close, not just from across the driveway. Placed just below the glass line, they add a traditional, formal touch that complements the arched glasswork above without competing with it.
Why keep the hardware simple when the door has so much decorative detail?
With arched glass, a matching transom, and cast medallions already doing significant visual work, ornate hardware would compete for attention rather than add to it. Straight pull handles in a dark finish let the door's architectural details take center stage while still providing a substantial, quality feel in hand.
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