Front Door With Window Panel Question

[dairyou]

So we have double doors now from our orignal 35 year old house. They are made of wood and very heavy looking. Probably has 50 coats of paint too. One of the door handles snapped off. When I went to look for a new one I couldn't find one because all the handles are modern now and wouldn't fit the syle of our door.

So, I think I have to buy a new door, which it is time anyway. I've hated those front doors Thinking of buying one with some glass panels but my question is how much privacy do you have? My kids walk around in their pajamas and run to their room as soon as the doorbell rings. I don't think they would enjoy the glass panels in the door.

Thanks!

 

[Darcy03231]

I have leaded glass panels in my front door and sidelights and love them! They let lots of light into the front hallway. Because of the design of the glass they really aren't see through until you get right up to the door.

 

[BunsenH]

Some have frosted glass. Privacy plus some light.

 

[dawson5]

until you decide what to do on the front doors, you could possibly go to the Habitat Restore shop and find your handle so at least it works.

What about instead of panels on the door, sidelights? We have sidelights without any coverings but have some neighbors that added some sheers. They still let in the sunlight but have the privacy you are looking for.

 

[diznygirl]

I have a lace curtain over my door's window. Gives me privacy but still lets in light. I love having the light come in. And the door is on a front porch, so we get a little more privacy. It would depend on what your set-up is. If there was no porch and we were closer to the street I would have gotten a solid door.

 

[dairyou]

My door is reset and the hallway is is dark in the house. It would be nice to have some sunlight come in

Deb

 

[Scurvy]

I had a front door with a large oval of glass in it, and I hated it. You couldn't really see anything through it from the street, but once you got to the porch you could see through some sections (other sections were wavy so you couldn't see details through those). I would never get a door like that again. When we replaced that door, we went with one that has decorative glass at the top. No one can see anything through it from outside but it still lets the light in. I like it so much better than the old door - I hated the fact that people could see me when I walked by the door before. Now I can look through the peep hole and no one even knows I'm there, which is good since I don't like to open the door for door-to-door salespeople or other solicitors. I used to feel obligated to open it once they saw me through the glass; now I don't have to worry about that.

 

[dairyou]

I had a front door with a large oval of glass in it, and I hated it. You couldn't really see anything through it from the street, but once you got to the porch you could see through some sections (other sections were wavy so you couldn't see details through those). I would never get a door like that again. When we replaced that door, we went with one that has decorative glass at the top. No one can see anything through it from outside but it still lets the light in. I like it so much better than the old door - I hated the fact that people could see me when I walked by the door before. Now I can look through the peep hole and no one even knows I'm there, which is good since I don't like to open the door for door-to-door salespeople or other solicitors. I used to feel obligated to open it once they saw me through the glass; now I don't have to worry about that.

This is a big part I am concerned about also. I've seen the doors with an "orange" segmented half but didn't think they were very decorative or let in enough light. When we go to HomeDepot I'll have to take a look.

Deb

 

[Scurvy]

This is a big part I am concerned about also. I've seen the doors with an "orange" segmented half but didn't think they were very decorative or let in enough light. When we go to HomeDepot I'll have to take a look.

Deb

We did have trouble finding one that we liked. I checked Lowes and Home Depot and didn't find any I thought were quite right. We ended up ordering ours from a local building supply place that primarily sells to builders but also sells to the public. They had several catalogues and could do lots of customization - so we were able to choose the pattern in the glass, the color of the leading, and that sort of thing. It lets in a surprising amount of light. Not quite as much as our previous door, but for me the added privacy was worth the trade-off.