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The advent of summer means all eyes will be on the outside of your home.

Exterior Doors
Exterior doors should be durable. Jeld-Wen makes models from wood that is treated to resist damage from termites and water, key maintenance concerns; French doors can be a clever way to let the outside in.

Garage Doors
That most suburban of the structural features – the garage – needn’t be furnished with a door reflective of its locale. Avante doors from Cloplay were first developed for commercial use, and have an urban and industrial bent as a result. It’s just the thing for low-slung ranch in need of a little Case Study cool.

Door Hardware
Hefty door fittings communicate a permanence that few other home accessories can mathc. The selection widely available today means that permanence doesn’t have to come courtesy of a glaring gargoyle or a clichéd lions head. Inspired by the American Arts and Crafts movement, the Craftsman series from Baldwin features simple designs cast in bronze.

EXPERT TIP:
Punctuate the façade with color. Paint the front door in a bold shade that contrasts with the rest of the house; make sure the finish is a high gloss.

Source:
(House Beautiful Magazine, June 2005 Issue)