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Having an ugly front door is like showing up at a job interview with broccoli wedged in your teeth. Or wearing that suggestive hula girl tie to a wedding. Nothing quite says “run away” like an repulsive front door.
A door should reflect the nature of the architecture, provide adequate protection from thugs and weather, and remain inviting without lending a false impression of the rooms you’ll find inside. (It’s a lot to ask.)
Here are some really sweet doors from around the world:
Exhibit 1. Down the Rabbit Hole
Bet you’d never guess this door is to a building in Nara, Japan. The city was the 8th Century capital of the island nation, a place dotted with rice farms, wooden farmhouses, and ancient Buddhist temples. Nonetheless, this modern door suits the style of the building, down to creeping vines and electrical meters. Omoshiroi, desu ne!
Exhibit 2. Separation Anxiety
Never has a front door served as a better commentary on interior lives of the residents. The Irish villager inside lost a loved one and the door says it all.
Exhibit 3. Gnome Attic Tribe
Wow! Combining gnomes with the green door, the lush carpet of lawn, and the oddly cobbled brick, wood timbers, and funky concrete patchwork makes for smiling eyes. That and a pint o’ Guinness.
Exhibit 4. Roll Out the Fugly
Speaking of which, there’s no mistaking what the visitor will find behind this door. Monkeys, of course!
Exhibit 5. P-Diddy
You’ll find my favorite of the week in Belgium. I can’t tell whether the bricked-in section to the right was intended to be knocked out for a smaller side door, or whether the entire piece is ornamental. It’s art-nouveau, so it need not defend itself. Can’t you imagine yourself in the doorway, leaning on the baluster, watching the passersby on the Rue de Lac clogging their way to the barrel house?
Exhibit 6. Donald Trompe-l’œil
Talk about putting on heirs! This door belongs in Jesse’s collection of admirable, illusory frauds.
Exhibit 7. Doors of Perception
This is the end. And you can easily see why by visiting this YouTube classic.
4 Responses to “Closed Doors for Open Minds”
If you want to be impressed by front doors, come on up to California wine country, as each winery takes pride in their unique and beautiful front doors. I noticed this during a wine tasting tour, unfortunately by the end of the tour I had lost my camera
Mark, I have seen some of the amazing wineries in Napa and do remember the great buildings and doors. I would love to go back there some day.
Do hobbits live in that gnome house? Looks like a hobbit hang out. That keg door is right up my ally, I want to build a huge mansion then put something classy like a keg door in the front of it.
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