The original entry was a single oak-finish door with an oval leaded-glass insert and a decorative floral pattern in beveled glass, paired with matching leaded sidelights and a plain arched transom above. It's a traditional, detailed design, but a single door under an arch this wide left most of the opening's width carried by the sidelights rather than the door itself.
Project Story
The thinking behind the work
The Starting Point
The Thinking
The arched brick opening had real width to work with, and a single door plus sidelights wasn't using it as an actual entry, it was using it as a frame for glass. Moving to a true double door lets the whole arch function as the doorway. Each leaf carries a single arched glass lite instead of the fragmented oval-and-lattice pattern, so the two panes combine into one wide, clear view straight through the entry rather than a pattern broken into dozens of small leaded pieces. A rich, deep mahogany-red stain replaced the lighter oak tone, and substantial matching iron pull handles gave the doors real weight and a coordinated look across both leaves, rather than a single handle set doing the work alone.
The Execution
Built as a double mahogany door filling the full arched brick opening, each leaf glazed with one large arched glass lite, combining into a continuous curved glass line across both doors that matches the arch of the brick surround. Below the glass, each leaf carries two raised panels. Finished in a deep, even mahogany-red stain. Hardware is a matched pair of substantial iron pull handles with a thumb-latch mechanism, replacing the original single handleset with hardware on both leaves.
The Result
The entry now uses its full arched width as a genuine doorway rather than a door flanked by decorative glass, and the wide, clear glass lites bring in far more daylight and view than the original leaded pattern ever could. The deep mahogany stain and matched iron pulls give the whole opening a more current, cohesive presence in place of the lighter, more ornate original.
Specification
Unit Size
6'-6" x 9'-0"
Panel Thickness
1¾"
Joinery
Mortise-and-tenon, no mechanical fasteners.
Glass
Clear glass, one large arched lite per leaf forming a continuous curved glass line across both doors
Finish System
Full strip to bare wood, new mahogany-red stain, marine-grade topcoat, six sides
Hardware
Matched pair of substantial iron pull handles with thumb-latch mechanism
Installed By
Scobis
Common Questions
Why replace a single door with sidelights instead of just updating the glass pattern?
The original layout put most of the entry's width into fixed sidelights rather than the door itself. A true double door uses that same arched width as an actual doorway, giving the home a wider, more functional entry rather than a narrow door flanked by decorative glass panels.
Why move from a leaded oval pattern to plain arched glass?
A leaded lattice pattern filters and fragments the view and the light coming through it. A single large arched lite per leaf lets in far more daylight and gives an actual view through the door, combining into one continuous curved glass line across both leaves that matches the brick arch above.
Why add matching pull handles to both doors instead of one handleset?
With two operating leaves instead of one, matched hardware on both sides gives the entry a coordinated, symmetrical look rather than one functional handle and one plain door edge. It also makes the door read as a true pair rather than a single door with a decorative twin.
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