Everything You Need To Know About Craftsman Style Doors

Thinking about upgrading your home’s front door into one with understated elegance and a sprinkle of nostalgia? Then a Craftsman style door might just be what you’re looking for!

This versatile type of front door that can add beauty to any home generally has a glass panel on the upper one-third portion. The rest of the door is adorned with vertical panels. It can also take on a more stately look when used as double doors.

In this guide, we talk about what a Craftsman style door is, the Craftsman style home, other home styles that Craftsman doors can blend with, and more.

Let’s get to it!

What Is a Craftsman Style Door?

Glass panes are typically located in the upper third of Craftsman doors. This glass portion can be divided into three or more sections with grilles. Usually, the rest of the door has two or more vertical panels that run almost the entire remaining length of the door.

On a traditional Craftsman door, the upper portion with glass and the lower portion with panels are separated by a thin shelf with small blocks underneath. This decorative touch is called a “dentil shelf” and helps to add to a home’s curb appeal.

What is Considered a Craftsman Style House?

It is important to remember that Craftsman doors are part of a bigger concept: the Craftsman style house.

The Craftsman style house plays a huge role in traditional American architecture. This style dates back to the 19th century and became widespread from 1900 to 1929. Around the same time, Craftsman style homes also became popular in Canada. Nowadays, these types of houses are sought after because they exude character, have a historical touch, and many people consider them as the perfect image of what “home” should look like.

These homes do not exude grandeur for grandeur’s sake. They are dignified and have understated elegance—yet they embody a grounding and down-to-earth look. Craftsman style homes can be big or small, one-storey or more — yet all share one thing in common: they are the quintessential home.

Aside from the iconic Craftsman style door, these are the other architectural elements of a Craftsman house:

• Wide front porches supported by wooden pillars and/or masonry;
• Tapered columns on the home’s exterior to visually represent stability;
• Low-pitched gabled roofs (which can become a repetitive architectural element in larger Craftsman houses);
• Materials that are (or look like) wood, masonry, and brick;
• An exterior colour palette consisting of earthy brown, gray, green, gold, maroon, and blue (usually, one house has three colours maximum for the exterior); and
• Double hung windows.

Home Styles That Complement Craftsman Doors

The Craftsman style door is not just for Craftsman style houses. These simple but elegant doors can also work well with the following styles:

• American Foursquare
• Prairie
• Rustic
• Classic Farmhouse
• Modern Farmhouse
• Cottagecore

Though the Craftsman door has a nostalgic charm, it is generally not used with Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor style houses. This type of door is also not typically seen in newer modern style homes.

However, the above architectural/design guidelines are only meant to serve as a template for homeowners to take inspiration from. If you’ve fallen in love with the nostalgic Craftsman style door and you want one for your home (even if they are not commonly paired), sometimes it pays to break the mould!

The Benefits of Having a Craftsman Style Door

1. Nostalgic Charm

One of the most visible benefits of having a Craftsman door is its nostalgic charm. It’s like having a part of architectural history as your front door. It’s best known for being a key element in Craftsman style homes, yet it blends with a myriad of other styles.

2. It Solidifies the Craftsman Style Identity

If your home has other Craftsman features such as tapered columns, touches of masonry, a wide porch, and low-pitched roof gables, then why not solidify your home’s architectural identity further with a Craftsman style door?

3. Inviting as a Single Door, Stately as Double Doors

Craftsman style doors have a warm and inviting look when used as a single front door, but if you use this style for your double door, it appears stately and elegant.

4. Gives Both Security and Natural Light

Now, we move on to one of the practical benefits of having a Craftsman door. The glass only occupies the upper third portion of the door. This means that even if the glass is broken through, the door stays secure. The glass portion, when clear, can also allow you to see who is at the door. Essentially, you get security while also allowing natural light to come through your doorway.

5. Same Classic Look But Added Energy-Efficiency

Nothing beats a classic—especially one with modern upgrades. Craftsman style doors from a reputable manufacturer like Burano Doors have added energy-efficiency features that will allow you to save more in the long run.

What Is The Best Material for a Craftsman Style Door?

Though Craftsman style doors are traditionally made of wood, they are now available in steel and fibreglass. Steel and fibreglass doors are not just durable, but they are also less prone to swelling, rotting, and warping compared to wooden doors.

Classic Front Doors In Any Style by Burano

Are you ready to start walking through the front door of your dreams? Burano Doors offers various styles of front doors that are customizable, sleek, durable, and energy-efficient.

Get a top-quality Craftsman door from Burano today!