CHOOSING INTERNAL DOORS
Your choice of doors will have a big impact on the finished feel of the property, so it’s an important element to get right. Matthew Todd, managing director at Todd Doors, goes through the main style options
The doors inside your home do much more than simply fill in a hole – they have an important practical and aesthetic role to play. There’s a surprising amount of choice to navigate when it comes to picking doors. They’re available in many different styles, colours, materials and sizes. The right solution for you comes down to, not only what you like the look of, but also the individual rooms and broader design of your property. So with hundreds of designs and finishes to choose from, don’t just buy a door – make an entrance. Here’s my advice for the key decisions you’ll be making when picking doors for your home.
Style
Although the lines can sometimes be blurred between traditional designs and those with a contemporary edge, the wider look of your building will dictate what will work best. Classic panelled doors have an established presence in our properties and lots of homeowners love the nostalgic appeal of that. However, we also see many people opting for a modern style, regardless of the age of their dwelling.
Panels & grooves
Panelled designs have a timeless appeal, whereas contemporary style internal doors tend to be flush across the entire surface. If you’re going modern and flush, you need to decide whether it will include some grooves – these are increasingly popular and offer a visual hint of panels, which work to add an attractive retro twist.
Another option for grooved designs are metallic inlays, which can bring something a little different. Other styles include marquetry inlays – these involve multiple strips of differently-coloured veneers within the door leaf, bringing an individualist touch. Alternatively, simply painting the grooves in a contrasting colour can work wonders.
Glazing
Having glass positioned within the door is a great way to let more natural light flow throughout the house. This can especially make a difference in a kitchen or study – ie where doors are often closed for quiet or maybe to stop the whole house smelling of whatever you’re cooking. Remember though, a room with a glazed door is always on show – which means, for example, it’s not the best option for a downstairs loo!
Finish
Along with style, the choice of finish should be made at the same time as your interior design.the good news is that you now have much more choice than white painted or varnished wood. There are three key materials to be aware of – light woods (oak typically), dark woods (such as walnut or wenge) and painted or stained finishes.
If you’re going for a painted door, most are delivered primed, with a couple of coats of paint, ready for you to finish once it has been installed. Alternatively, we can spray finish your door to almost any colour using the RAL colour-matching system.
Staining the wood can give you a huge amount of choice, too, not just the traditional light-to-dark wood effect stains – black and grey stained doors are very on-trend at the moment.
If a natural wood finish is your preferred door style, then bear in mind that, as it’s an organic material, it will naturally change colour over time. Sunlight plays the biggest factor here and oak and walnut finishes tend to go a little more golden as they age. If possible it’s always best to come into a showroom to see the effects and finishes for yourself.
Architraves
In an ideal world, each door would be complemented by an equally stylish frame and architrave. Too often we see great doors fitted into old frames with tatty architraves and skirting boards – it’s like buying a knockout picture and then grabbing the blandest surrounding to put it in. Even if the doorframe doesn’t get changed, there is no reason why the architrave can’t be chosen to complement the door. If you’ve gone for a statement-making door, then swap in an architrave that deserves to be in its company.
Matthew Todd is managing director at Todd Doors. As the third generation to run the family business, he has spent his life designing original door and ironmongery collections, while also overseeing the company’s continued expansion on the high street. For more info about Todd Doors call 0800 633 5050 or visit www.todd-doors.co.uk