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Porch with a Single Front Door Ideas and Designs

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Downland Barns
Downland Barns
McLean QuinlanMcLean Quinlan
Nestled into a hillside, this timber-framed family home enjoys uninterrupted views out across the countryside of the North Downs. A newly built property, it is an elegant fusion of traditional crafts and materials with contemporary design. Our clients had a vision for a modern sustainable house with practical yet beautiful interiors, a home with character that quietly celebrates the details. For example, where uniformity might have prevailed, over 1000 handmade pegs were used in the construction of the timber frame. The building consists of three interlinked structures enclosed by a flint wall. The house takes inspiration from the local vernacular, with flint, black timber, clay tiles and roof pitches referencing the historic buildings in the area. The structure was manufactured offsite using highly insulated preassembled panels sourced from sustainably managed forests. Once assembled onsite, walls were finished with natural clay plaster for a calming indoor living environment. Timber is a constant presence throughout the house. At the heart of the building is a green oak timber-framed barn that creates a warm and inviting hub that seamlessly connects the living, kitchen and ancillary spaces. Daylight filters through the intricate timber framework, softly illuminating the clay plaster walls. Along the south-facing wall floor-to-ceiling glass panels provide sweeping views of the landscape and open on to the terrace. A second barn-like volume staggered half a level below the main living area is home to additional living space, a study, gym and the bedrooms. The house was designed to be entirely off-grid for short periods if required, with the inclusion of Tesla powerpack batteries. Alongside underfloor heating throughout, a mechanical heat recovery system, LED lighting and home automation, the house is highly insulated, is zero VOC and plastic use was minimised on the project. Outside, a rainwater harvesting system irrigates the garden and fields and woodland below the house have been rewilded.
Port Bishop
Port Bishop
Brandon Architects, Inc.Brandon Architects, Inc.
Ryan Garvin Photography
Inspiration for a traditional porch in Orange County with a single front door and a black front door.
Cammo House
Cammo House
Urban CreaturesUrban Creatures
copper mango
Contemporary entrance in Other with medium hardwood flooring, a single front door and a glass front door.
Matthies Builders
Matthies Builders
Matthies BuildersMatthies Builders
Matthies Builders
This is an example of a nautical entrance in Chicago with a single front door, a dark wood front door and feature lighting.
Contem-Prairie
Contem-Prairie
Jim Kuiken DesignJim Kuiken Design
Photography by Kelly Povo
This is an example of a contemporary entrance in Minneapolis with a single front door and a glass front door.
Weston Manor
Weston Manor
Cummings Architecture + InteriorsCummings Architecture + Interiors
Small farmhouse porch in Boston with painted wood flooring, a single front door, brown floors and a wood ceiling.
Cranberry Castle Stone Entrance
Cranberry Castle Stone Entrance
Quarry MillQuarry Mill
Cranberry Castle entrance with Quarry Mill Stone
This is an example of a rustic entrance in Other with a single front door and a glass front door.
Custom Residence - Canton, GA
Custom Residence - Canton, GA
Caldwell-Cline Architects & DesignersCaldwell-Cline Architects & Designers
Advantage Home Tours
Design ideas for a farmhouse entrance in Atlanta with a single front door and a medium wood front door.
Curb Appeal with slate walkway
Curb Appeal with slate walkway
GROUNDS KEEPERGROUNDS KEEPER
The complementary colors of a natural stone wall, bluestone caps and a bluestone pathway with welcoming sitting area give this home a unique look.
Design ideas for a medium sized rustic porch in New York with a single front door, a blue front door, grey walls and slate flooring.
Private Residence
Private Residence
Eric Shephard ArchitectsEric Shephard Architects
Camera Shock / Kenny Kaneshiro
Rural entrance in San Francisco with white walls, medium hardwood flooring, a single front door and a black front door.
McKenzie Heights 2
McKenzie Heights 2
Alex Glegg DesignAlex Glegg Design
Barry Calhoun Photography Sophie Burke Interior Design
Design ideas for a small classic entrance in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood flooring, a single front door and a blue front door.
NW Cottage Garden
NW Cottage Garden
Seattle Staged to Sell and Design LLCSeattle Staged to Sell and Design LLC
Levi Clark
Photo of a traditional entrance in Seattle with a single front door and a red front door.
Upper West SIde
Upper West SIde
CNR Group Inc.CNR Group Inc.
Photo of a contemporary entrance in New York with a single front door.
Northbrook Shingle
Northbrook Shingle
Highgate BuildersHighgate Builders
This is an example of a traditional porch in Chicago with a single front door and a dark wood front door.
Hailey Residence
Hailey Residence
GravitasGravitas
Alpinfoto
This is an example of a rustic porch in Boise with a single front door and a dark wood front door.
debora carl landscape design
debora carl landscape design
debora carl landscape designdebora carl landscape design
Design ideas for a contemporary entrance in San Diego with a single front door.
Monroe Beach House
Monroe Beach House
Cottage Home, Inc.Cottage Home, Inc.
Nautical porch in Grand Rapids with a single front door and a medium wood front door.
Southern Living Idea House - Crane Island
Southern Living Idea House - Crane Island
Riverside Homes CustomRiverside Homes Custom
Photo credit: Laurey W. Glenn/Southern Living
Design ideas for a beach style porch in Jacksonville with a single front door and a grey front door.
Entry Door Projects
Entry Door Projects
Carby's LumberCarby's Lumber
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary porch in Boston with a single front door and a dark wood front door.
Da Vinci Model
Da Vinci Model
Strickland HomesStrickland Homes
Journey Through Life Photography 2015
Beach style entrance in Other with grey walls, medium hardwood flooring, a single front door and a medium wood front door.

Porch with a Single Front Door Ideas and Designs

The entrance of your home is a critical area to design well because as we all know, first impressions count. As the first thing that visitors will see when they arrive, your entrance is your opportunity to offer guests a warm welcome while introducing the personality of your home. Equally important, it welcomes you home every day, so make it somewhere that you’re glad to come home to. The entrance to your home begins the moment you get to the front door, so make sure both inside and out get the attention of your decorator’s touch. Make your foyer the best possible introduction to the rest of the house, and if you wish, you can have a bit of fun with the doorway; paint, tiles, door handles and lighting are all ways to make front doors a statement – a dramatic entrance, if you will.

What front doors can I choose from?

Your first decision when updating front doors is what type of external doors you want to use, taking into account style, security and accessibility. Investing in a high quality front door is always worthwhile – this is a purchase where a little extra money goes a long way. Hardwood exterior doors remain the most popular choice of front door; as well as being the most economical, timber also opens the door to an endless selection of paint, hardware and embellishment. However, natural wood doors do have their downsides – prone to warping, they require more upkeep and may require replacing if not adequately cared for. Whether you opt for solid oak external doors or an oak veneer option, wooden doors are a match made in heaven for period architecture – it’s hard to imagine a Georgian house without a solid, six-panel door, or a Victorian home sans its gleaming hardware and stained glass panes. If you prefer non-wooden exterior doors, the alternatives are UPVC doors, GRP doors (collectively known as composite doors) and steel doors. UPVC front doors are often the most inexpensive alternative to timber and offer added insulation benefits; because the material itself can be a comparatively insubstantial, UPVC external doors are built into steel door frames for added reinforcement. GRP (glass-reinforced plastic, or fibreglass to you and me) doors offer the same properties, with a woodgrain effect that can provide a happy medium for lovers of timber. Steel doors are less widely used in the UK than the US, and make great contemporary front doors thanks to their sleek, modern appearance.

How do I decorate my doorway?

Renovating or replacing your front doors is one of the quickest ways to give your home a makeover, and affords the perfect opportunity to add a splash of colour to the front of your home. To improve your front door’s kerb appeal you can flank the doorway with decorative trees or flowering plants in attractive planters and “dress” the door with shiny hardware. Door knockers and door knobs can be more than functional with a range of styles and materials available to add some personality to exterior doors. A traditional brass door knocker can be the perfect complement to a solid oak doorway painted in a rich shade of green or blue, whilst contemporary chrome door hardware will look perfect against a white or eggshell door. If you are looking for an elegant front door option, opt for a hardwood door with built in obscured glass panels to let light into your hallway. If you would rather avoid a glass paned front door for security reasons then smaller decorative glass panels can also be inserted into the surround or door frame. You can choose stained glass panes for decorative effect, patterned or textured glass will allow light in but protect your privacy or get your home name or number etched into a glass pane for a practical but personal touch.

How should I light my front entrance?

The warm glow from a doorway is one of the most welcoming sights that can greet us when we arrive home. An entrance light is of practical importance – we have all spent time fumbling for our house keys in the dark – but it also offers an opportunity to add warmth and character to front doors and entrances. A wall mounted lantern is a charming traditional choice, or for bright, directed illumination opt for a security spotlight. There are a whole variety of switching options available – you can choose a motion sensor light that switches on right when you need it most, a timer light that will offer illumination on a fixed schedule or a switched outdoor light. Pointing light upward is a good way to avoid harsh glare, or choose recessed lighting if you prefer not to have a hanging light in front of your external doors. An entrance is also a great place to display lighting as a decorative feature – choose a table lamp that echoes the lines and colours of the hall beyond it.

What furniture and storage do I need in my entryway?

It’s important to keep the entrance to your home as open and clutter free as possible, so selecting a few practical items that will help with storage and offer a warm welcome is the best approach for this area. Coat stands, umbrella holders and shoe racks are practical foyer additions that will keep the area tidy. For the knick knacks and paraphernalia that so often accumulate by front doors, sideboards or console tables are helpful and opting for a something with a drawer is a clever trick to ensure these things can be stowed out of sight. If you have the space, an armchair, occasional chair or hallway bench will prove useful for perching on when removing shoes and definitely consider multi-functional furniture such as a storage bench for shoes. A wall mounted shoe cabinet is a must have for a tighter space, getting shoes off the floor and neatly stowed away.

How do I decorate my foyer?

Particularly in the entrance to the home, colour can be a wonderful tool to set the tone of the house. Neutral palettes can create a serene atmosphere appropriate for greeting guests; alternatively, you might find yourself being a little bit more adventurous by choosing a whimsical wallpaper or a bold wall colour that could look overwhelming anywhere else in the house. In either case, the foyer can be blended seamlessly into the home with details that connect it to adjoining rooms. Even if your entrance is not self-contained, instead with exterior doors that open straight into the house, visual tricks make it possible to create the illusion of an entryway by defining the space as such. Changes in flooring, a well-placed rug, a screen or curtain, or even furniture such as a console table or coat rack, can be used to delineate the space and distinguish the entrance from the rest of the hallway. Decorating walls and furniture with photographs or artwork is a simple way of bringing your personality into the foyer and plants, lamps, candles, vases and ornaments can be displayed on windowsills, tables or shelves. As a final thoughtful touch, mirrors placed next to front doors are a practical choice for those last minute appearance checks, as long as it’s not directly opposite the doorway, which could back-light the user – decidedly not helpful!
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