Inviting Front Doors That Celebrate Exterior Design

Australian coastal

The wood-grain door nestled into white scalloping is this Georgian Bay home's focal point.

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Muskoka retreat

“I love that the exterior feels like it’s always been there,” says designer Michele Thompson. The family often sits on the open front porch to read or await arriving guests.

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happy house

In this dreamy oceanfront reno, designer Lindsay Quinn Levin planned a back-to-the-studs reno to rejig the flow and let in more light, and even redesigned the front door before layering in some of her signature joy.

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cali-meets-canada

Natural light was key in this Cali-meets-Canada home on Georgian Bay. Effortlessly contemporary black and white hues in the entryway contrast the bright airiness.

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packed with personality

The once bright-pink front door was at odds with this home’s character and needed a rethink. “I opted for a rich yellow that is so cheerful and welcoming,” says designer Victoria McKenney.

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lakeside farmhouse

The rich door colour and large-scale lanterns cultivate a casually grand effect outside this lakeside abode.

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Neighbourhood treat

The overhaul of Nancy Macdonald and Don Findlay’s 1928 detached brick all but gutted the original 2,200-square-foot structure, modernizing and opening up the living spaces and adding 1,000 square feet, but leaving the bones of the pretty Tudor-style facade intact. “The house fits beautifully in the neighbourhood, and they didn’t really want to change that,” designer Sheree Stuart says. A wide, welcoming new porch has space for lounging, and updated windows and double front doors boost light inside.

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Rural living rules

Generous proportions make Carolyn and Craig Wilbrink’s new porch perfect for entertaining from spring to fall. There’s plenty of room for a bountiful display of mums, ferns, wheat sheaves and gourds. A huge table laden with hydrangea blooms and sweet treats is ready to welcome family and friends.

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classically grand

“I wanted to draw the eye down and away from the extra-high ceiling by adding panelling details on the walls and some large-scale accessories,” says designer Patti Wilson.

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Earthy Roots

“The family vacation in the Eastern Townships, so that feeling of a warm, woodsy retreat was appealing to them,” says Milaré Turgeon, the principal designer of Artcomposé, who acted as a consultant on the 2,200-square-foot residence, sourcing millwork and choosing colours and furnishings. “They wanted a playful take on Midcentury Modern style, so that it would feel vibrant, fresh and calm.”

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Scandi style

“Calgary’s Currie area is a true mixed residential community in terms of style,” says principal designer Alykhan Velji. “I love that each home has character and is a little different from its neighbour, making it feel less cookie cutter. The view from the street makes this facade quite striking.” The roofline affords lofty ceilings inside and contributes to the home’s street presence.

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