When considering the best front door, you have to take size into account. This can make or break the whole look and feel of your entryway. Homes usually have strict restrictions on how small or large a front door may be, as it can compromise structural integrity. This is why it’s important to partner with a professional door installer in Dallas to make sure you’re choosing the right size.

Measurements

While your door installation professional will take measurements of the area during the initial consultation, you can take some rudimentary measurements beforehand to give yourself a good idea of the current door size. Then at least you can get the ball rolling when browsing online for front door styles that suit your fancy.

Measuring your front entry door is easy. Just be sure to only measure the door – not the trim or door jamb. Place a tape measure flat on the door, across the width, to get the first measurement. Most front doors are about 36 inches wide.

For the height, put the tape measure in the door’s middle at the bottom, taking note of the number at the top. Most front doors are about 80 inches tall.

Choosing the Right Door: Existing Home

With an older home, you’re limited to the size of the opening when installing a new front door, but you may have a little leeway. In actuality, many homes are able to accommodate a larger size door than the original one; however, the extra space is often used up by sidelights, windows and walls.

If you have your heart set on widening the front door entryway, you can, but it will come at a higher cost.

Choosing the Right Door: New Home

With new construction homes that you build from the ground up, you have a lot more flexibility when it comes to the front door you install. These days, bigger is better, especially if you have a large home or family. You can opt for a double door for visual interest or even an eight-foot-tall door for extra emphasis.

The sky’s the limit when you’re building from scratch!

Considerations

Just like with all home remodeling projects, front entry door replacement isn’t cheap. But to get the most value for your purchase, do your homework before settling on a door or a provider. Here are some things to think about:

• Cost: You will pay the least for a door replacement when you use one that utilizes the existing space. You will pay more if you opt to widen the entryway and add a larger door.
• Time: The project will take longer if your home was structurally built to accommodate an 80-inch door yet you want a 96-inch door. If you want your new door installed as quickly as possible, go with the same size opening.
• Availability: If you only want one specific style of door, you may be crushed to learn it doesn’t come in your required size. To avoid disappointment, determine the size you need first, then start looking at styles and colors.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

Still not sure what size you need? No worries. Our team at Dallas Door Designs can take measurements on site and show you all the doors and styles we offer that fit within those parameters. Call us now at 214-973-0373 to learn more and to get a free quote.

Many homeowners overlook their bathroom doors, but the truth is, these doors play a big role in the overall interior design and ambiance of the home. Because bathrooms are usable spaces, the focus for this room and its doors is usually solely on functionality, with decorative elements taking a back seat.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! When selecting the right bathroom door for your home, these main factors must be taken into consideration.

• Size: When thinking about the design of the entryway to your bathroom, you have to make sure it is the proper size for the space. The standard size is 80 inches high, and 24 – 36 inches wide, says Homedit.
• Handles: Next, you’ll want to consider the handles, which make a subtle statement but also add a sense of style and charm that enhances the style of the room. From modern to vintage and brass to nickel, the possibilities are endless.
• Locks: Because privacy is paramount in a bathroom, you need to spend some time thinking about which locks you will choose. The lock you choose should be secure and easy to use. The four main types of locks include deadbolts, handleset, passage and privacy function (buttons).

Top Bathroom Door Ideas

Keep in mind, bathroom doors are available in all shapes and sizes, with the main function to provide space, privacy, and transformation. Check out these creative and inspiring ideas. 

Barn Doors

Sliding barn doors are meant to maximize space but provide a unique way of entering and exiting a room. You can use barn doors for your bathroom closet, or to separate your master bedroom from the master bath. They are typically mounted to the exterior of the wall.

Pocket Doors

Pocket doors, on the other hand, slide into the wall itself, so they truly are space-spacing design elements. Because they don’t swing open, they are ideal for small spaces like bathrooms because they don’t take up any extra room.

French Doors

This is the most common interior panel door, characterized by its square or rectangular patterns. You can have one large panel or several small ones. They are simple, popular, versatile and beautiful, which makes them a classic choice for any bathroom.

French doors are quite similar, with panels that swing toward each other and meet in the center. They aren’t as popular for bathrooms, but in large master bathrooms, they may be a good choice for a grand entrance.

Glass Panel Doors

This type of door has glass instead of a solid panel. While you may not think a door with a window would be a good choice for a bathroom, it’s actually a nice touch when you use frosted or beveled glass for privacy.  

No matter which bathroom door you choose, you can’t go wrong with something stylish and custom made.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

Here at Dallas Door Designs, we customize and install all types of interior doors, including bathroom doors. Get in touch with us today at 214-973-0373 to learn more.

When you upgrade and update the doors in your home, you can experience many benefits. These benefits can range from a more stylish home design to better energy efficiency to increased curb appeal. It may seem like a daunting prospect to replace all the doors in your house. After all, it’s a big investment.

However, no one says you have to do all the upgrades at once. You can space them out as desired in accordance with your timeline and budget. This is made easier when you take steps to prioritize your replacements in order of importance.

Questions to Ask Yourself

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you start.

Which doors are the most important to me?

This will depend on the layout of your home, but in most cases, any door that insulates the house will be a #1 priority. Exterior doors protect you and your family from pests, intruders and weather. They keep out the rain and wind, while keeping heat in or out, depending on the season. You lose a lot of conditioned air through leaky, inefficient doors! This translates to higher energy bills and more money you have to shell out.

Which doors would enhance the house’s design?

Next, consider upgrading the doors that would add to the aesthetic of your home. New doors can breathe life into a tired or outdated exterior, adding both style and personality to your property.

Take the front entry door, for example. An updated door will greatly enhance the curb appeal of your property because it’s what everyone sees when they first pull up to your house. But you can also add visual interest elsewhere throughout the interior.

Perhaps you could put a sliding barn door at the entry to your dining room, living room or home office. Or may you could replace a solid door with one with lots of glass, such as French patio doors to brighten up a room and flood it with natural light.

Which doors provide the biggest immediate impact?

Take a walk through your house and the front yard. In fact, pretend you’re a guest visiting your home for the first time. Stop at each doorway and think about your first impressions. Soak it all in and decide what you notice first. It could be a patio door leading to a porch, or a side door leading to a mudroom, or maybe even a pantry door.

It doesn’t have to be a main door, but if something sticks out to you, take note. Even when you upgrade smaller doors, this can still make a big impact on your daily life. Don’t forget your primary bedroom closets, laundry rooms, bathrooms and other high-touch areas.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

We hope this priority list has been helpful in guiding you in the right direction. If you need further door design assistance, call us today at 214-973-0373.

Everyone can use a bit more peace and quiet, right? If there are certain rooms in your house that are noisy, there are ways to soundproof them. Whether there’s a room you want to keep sound out of—such as a home office – or a room where you want to keep sound in—such as a home theater — strategic soundproofing can help, points out Family Handyman.

Quieter rooms lead to a better night’s sleep, as well as increased focus and productivity if you are working from home. In order to soundproof a room, there’s no need for complicated renovations or costly materials. Check out these quick, affordable ways to block unwanted household noise.

1.    Replace the Door

Choosing the right door for a particular room is an easy, cost-effective way to soundproof it. The walls are presumably already insulated or layered with sound-blocking materials, which leaves the doors as the thinnest barrier in any given wall. Doors with a hollow core will allow sound to pass through.

You want to choose a door with more sound-dampening material than a hollow core to ensure disruptive noises are kept out of offices or bedrooms, and unwanted sounds are kept in laundry rooms or bathrooms. 

2.    Re-Arrange Furniture

You can rearrange the existing furniture to further block the transmission of sound. To that end, you can control sleep-disrupting sounds by rearranging your bedroom furniture. But if you can still hear noises from the hallway or a TV set down the hall, you could take things a step further and place a heavy dresser or bookcase against that wall. This basically adds layers to the wall so sound can’t get through as easily.

3.    Use Soft Materials

If you’re not necessarily concerned with sounds entering the room from outside, you may be worried about how noise registers inside the room, such as an echo that can be heard on  conference calls. These are caused by sound waves that bounce off hard surfaces like floors, walls, ceilings and furniture.

To avoid this, incorporate soft, sound-absorbing materials to hinder these noises. You can place rugs and carpets on bare floors, add tapestries or canvas art to the walls, and cover the windows with thick drapes and soundproof curtains.

By taking a few small steps to soundproof the rooms in your house, you can solve your problem in cost effective ways that aren’t disruptive to your daily life.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

If you would like to replace your existing interior doors with custom ones, get in touch with our design team at 214-973-0373. We can go over all the options and costs, as well as give you a free, no-obligation quote. In the meantime, we invite you to check out our custom interior wood doors that do well in any room of your home.

If you’re planning to sell your home soon, you’ll have to think about what kind of curb appeal you’re putting out there. If the front entry to your home is less than inviting, you may want to consider sprucing it up by adding a new front door. This will appeal to buyers who pull up to view your home.

A new, beautiful and durable front door adds exponential value to your property. To get buyers in the door, you’ll need to entice them. That’s exactly what a warm and inviting front entry way can do. It all starts with a new door, and everything else will fall into place. Here are some tips.

Entry Door

If your existing door isn’t too old but just needs a refresh, give it a fresh coat of paint or stain to brighten things up. Don’t go too vibrant or unique in coloring. Stick to the basics to appeal to the widest platform of buyers. This will create an interesting focal point, especially if you add natural elements like succulents, says Better Homes and Gardens. If your door is old, damaged or just plain ugly, replace it with a new one. You have lots to choose from, whether you add sidelights, transoms or windows in interesting patterns.

Hardware

The hardware you choose to augment your front door will make all the difference. Polish or replace all door handles, knockers, locks, and other details to ensure a uniform style and look. Keep it consistent with the rest of the house. You don’t want modern hardware if you have a traditional house, and vice versa. Add new, bright, and large street numbers so they are clearly visible from the street. Make sure the doorbell works, and add a seasonal wreath to the door for extra pizzazz.

Seating

For homes with a landing or farmer’s porch, add a small bench pushed flush up against the house. If your deck or porch is large, arrange groups of chairs with small tables to put drinks on. Wicker and Adirondack styles work well for outside porches. Add pops of color with throw pills and all-season rugs.  

Decking

If you have a deck or farmer’s porch at the front of your house, spruce up its underside area with fresh lattice work to hide the dirt and vegetation underneath. Pressure wash any brick or stone surfaces, and paint, stain or seal any wooden components.

Minimize Clutter

Get rid of old lawn decorations, toys, and outdated holiday decorations. Trim plants, bushes and other vegetation around the front door, making sure there are no obstructions that block windows. Just inside the front door, add a small bench where people can sit and remove their shoes. Add a coat track and bin to neatly collect and store hats, coats and shoes.

Lighting

Exterior illumination is important if you’ll be showing your home to prospective buyers after nightfall. Not only does this improve visibility of your home, it can improve safety while people navigate your walkway. Replace outdated fixtures and add new bulbs as needed.

Windows

Clean all windows and trim, especially those facing the street. Add simple yet beautiful drapes or blinds. Keep decorations tasteful and to a minimum.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

If you’re getting ready to list your home, let’s get you started with new front doors first. Give us a call at 214-973-0373 to learn more.

You spent a lot of money on your new entry door. It only makes sense that you would do all you can to maintain it. That means you have to engage in regular cleaning and maintenance to ensure it looks great all year long. Your entry door is often the first impression people get of your home, so it’s important to make sure it looks good.

Whether your new door is made of wood, fiberglass or wrought iron, here are some tips for cleaning it.

Wood Doors

With its natural beauty and charm, wood doors can range from traditional oak and mahogany to the more rustic pine or knotty alder. With the ability to complement any architectural style, wood doors are insulated, durable and secure. Plus, they keep out noise fairly well.  

As far as maintenance goes, you should seal your wood doors right after installation. You should also inspect your door at least twice a year on all six sides to check for evidence of moisture, rot, insects, dirt and fading from sunlight. If your door doesn’t have an overhang to protect it, inspect it more often.

To clean your stained wood front door, you should:

• Use a brush or dry rag to brush off all surfaces.
• Apply a wood polish, but don’t use acidic products such as those with lemon oil.
• Clean the glass with a glass cleaner or mixture of water and vinegar.
• Use a cloth, warm water and mild soap to clean the hardware.

Fiberglass Doors

Fiberglass doors do well when faced with extreme temperatures, which is good for Dallas homes. They won’t crack, warp, or rot like wood will, and they won’t rust or scratch like steel doors will.

Fiberglass doors are also versatile, available in a wide range of sizes, finishes and styles. You can even get woodgrain fiberglass doors that resemble the look of wood, plus they can be stained or painted. You also have the option of smooth fiberglass doors which can only be painted. Fiberglass doors provide a classic, high-end look marked by energy efficiency and security.

Regular cleaning is essential to prevent erosion or finish problems that crop up from the elements like wind, rain, and debris. All you need is a mild soap and water to clean the door and hardware. Just be sure to replace hinges and weather stripping as needed.   

Wrought Iron Doors

Wrought iron front doors ooze old-world charm and grace, whether simple in design or intricate with scrolls and cutouts. Because wrought iron has little carbon content, it can rust if not preserved. You will need to give it TLC (at least once a month) if you want to keep up its beauty and durability. Here’s how to clean it.

• Make a solution of one teaspoon of vegetable-based soap with water.
• Apply it with a low-lint cloth to wipe dirt away, being sure to work from top to bottom.
• Wipe off residue using a damp cloth.
• Gently dry with another cloth so water spots don’t form.
• Inspect your door every so often for chips or scratches. Touch them up so those spots don’t corrode.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

For all the highest quality entry doors you can imagine, come to us here at Dallas Door Designs. We have it all, from wood to iron, so contact us today at 214-973-0373.

There are many telltale signs that replacement windows are in your near future, from windows that won’t open or close correctly to panes that rattle with the slightest breeze. These happenings are annoying and inconvenient, but even more importantly, they’re costing you money and your comfort level. Plus, there’s always the risk of more damage to your home if left unaddressed. 

You should think about replacing your windows when…

1.    Your Frames Are Loose or Sticking

When you have to use a lot of muscle to open and close your windows, you may have warped frames. This happens with time and is normal, particularly when the original windows were low in quality or were not installed by a professional who knew what they were doing. Also, with humidity comes sticky windows, so that’s not all that uncommon either. But if you continually have sticking windows under normal circumstances all year long, a bigger problem is lurking behind the scenes.

Energy loss will occur and you may see your energy bills go up. But this also poses a safety risk, such as when the window doesn’t stay up, and slams down without provocation. And if the window won’t open easily, this poses a fire safety risk.

2.    Your Panes Are Rattling

If your panes rattle, they probably weren’t installed properly. Another reason could be that it lost its seals and weather stripping, resulting in frame degradation. Rattling panes aren’t secure and don’t fit properly, which will lead to energy leakage.

3.    You Have Frost or Condensation in the Glass

When your indoor air starts to cool down against your cold window pane, the window can no longer hold moisture. This moisture builds up and will lead to mold growth over time. If your windows “sweat” a lot, or if you see constant condensation between the two panes of glass, a broken seal is to blame. The only remedy is window replacement.

4.    Your Furnace or AC Cycles Frequently

If your energy bills are higher than usual, your furnace or AC may be kicking on and off too frequently. Your windows aren’t doing their job, letting cold air in and hot air out. Your HVAC system has to work much harder than it should to keep you comfortable, putting strain on the system and leaving you too chilly or too warm depending on the season.

5.    Your Frames Are Cracked

Fractures in your window panes are a safety concern. You could cut your fingers on those fractures, plus, there’s a risk of the whole window shattering when you open or close it too hard.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

If your windows have been failing you for some time, leaving you uncomfortable and paying higher energy bills, it’s time for some quality replacement windows. Contact Dallas Door Designs today at 214-973-0373 to make it happen.

Lacking space in your house? If a traditional swing door would cramp your room, try barn doors instead. Barn doors pull double duty as functional doors as well as a statement piece that can open up floor space when you have a tight room. With the farmhouse trend still taking hold of home décor, it’s no wonder that barn doors are popular with home owners of all kinds. They work with all styles and can complement any home.

Barn doors are a space-saving solution that can take the place of a traditional swinging door. You can use a mounted barn door in a kitchen pantry, playroom or guest bathroom, for example, allowing you to reclaim precious wall space and square footage. Did you know that sliding barn doors can add up to 14 sq ft of floor space due to the lack of a swing door? This gives you a more flexible furniture arrangement while opening up spots for extra shelves or seating areas, for example.

Barn doors of the past were criticized for their noisy, bumpy, or unsteady opening and closing. But with new technology comes better wall-mounted sliding door hardware that allows you to open and close barn doors much more smoothly, making for a better overall experience. Just like soft-close drawers, barn doors can be installed so that they can quietly return to a fully open or closed position with a slight push of the hand.

Ways to Use Barn Doors

In addition to saving space, there are creative ways you can utilize barn doors in your home.

You can:

Conceal a Bathroom

Got a half bath? Use a barn door instead of a traditional one, which will open considerably more space.

Conceal a Pantry

Try a chalkboard barn door to hide your messy kitchen pantry. Use chalk to write down your menu for the week, calendar or events as well as notes, reminders and to-do lists. You can also use the chalkboard theme barn door in your kids’ bedroom or playroom.

Hide Laundry Detergent

You don’t need to use a full-sized barn door to get use out of it. Try a mini-barn door in the laundry room where you can use it to conceal dishwashers, washer-dryer units, trash cans, laundry detergent and supplies.  

Store Stuff Behind It

Sliding barn doors allow you to add storage space to narrow hallways or entryways. Artfully hide that cluttered closet, or use it to conceal a storage space for bikes and sporting equipment.

Put a Mirror on It

Use a mirrored barn door in place of a traditional bathroom or closet door. You’ll make the room look bigger, while saving on space that you would otherwise take up with a hanging mirror.

Convert Them Into Shutters

You don’t have to leave your barn door in one piece. Instead, cut it up into many small pieces to make some beautifully crafted interior shutters. Attach hinges and decorative cutouts to make a window covering that will instantly become a conversation piece.

Showcase Your Wall Art

Barn doors can act as gallery walls where you can display your eclectic and unique artwork and photographs.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

For more inspiration on barn doors, check out our selection right here on our website. Then contact us in Dallas at 214-973-0373 to get a free estimate.

Your front door plays a big role in curb appeal and how your home comes across to others. That’s a big job for a door! With the holidays coming up, you’ll want to make sure your front entry way is appealing to all your guests. Whether you’re hosting the big Christmas dinner this year or you plan on having a few smaller parties throughout the holiday season, welcome well-wishers to your house with a festive front door. Use your front porch, walkway and door to express your unique style while offering a welcoming atmosphere – before anyone even sets foot in the house!

Make it Functional

Even though the days are still somewhat mild, the holiday season brings cooler temperatures at night, and even the potential for some snow and ice. Your guests may arrive at your party wearing boots that may be dirty or wet. Give them a comfortable space in your entryway so they can sit, take off their boots and don their fancy shoes. You could provide a space in your foyer, but this can cause a chaotic scene as everyone arrives at once. It’s best to create a space on your front porch complete with a cute little bench so they can sit down to remove their boots, as well as bins and plastic drip trays for their wet shoes, umbrellas and other outdoor attire. Add a coat rack inside the foyer so they can hang their coats; a small cubby area for hats and gloves would also be nice.

Choose Non-Traditional Colors

Switch out your fall wreaths of oranges, reds, and yellows for fresh evergreen wreaths with red and green accents. If you want to ditch the traditional this year and go a little bold, try metallic colors in shades of pink for the holidays. Find one piece that truly speaks to you and build the whole front porch theme around it. This is a time for experimenting!

Add Natural Elements

Use your front door to welcome guests with the fragrance and timeless beauty of fresh greenery or plants. Ask your local nursery which greens are best for the holidays. Make sure they complement your home and yard decorations, pulling one central theme throughout.   

Spruce Up Your Front Door

If you have an old, ugly or damaged front door, you can use decorations to breathe new life into it, at least for the holiday season. Try a bright triple wreath connected by one long ribbon, hang vintage ice skates, add a gold wreath for a green-and-gold-themed entrance, or try a basket holding your favorite holiday greens.

While you can add some decorations to hide an ugly door, it may be time to consider installing a new front door and entry. Not only will it improve your home’s appearance and value exponentially, it will boost your comfort and energy efficiency. Now is the perfect time to do it as we head into the holidays.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

Here at Dallas Door Designs, we have several styles and colors that can fit your unique style and budget. To learn more, contact us for a free quote at 214-973-0373.

The ideal office layout certainly evolves over the years. Many workplaces strive to create layouts that promote practicality and productivity, as well as aesthetics. Glass partitions and doors can help your office evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of your business – and provide a high level of beauty and versatility that is sure to impress clients.

Check out these reasons why glass doors and partitions can transform the aesthetic of your office, open up the natural space and create an impact on all who work in that space.

1.  Impress Staff and Clients

Just like stores and restaurants strive to attract customers and quality staff, your business office also relies on appearances to make an impact. As such, you need a forward-looking, welcoming and efficient space that manages to impress clients as well as attract the best of the best when it comes to your employees.

Organization values are constantly looking ahead, and sustainability is a big part of that. Because glass is 100% recyclable, you’re demonstrating a dedication to sustainability that is applauded in today’s climate.

2.     Do Business Differently

How we physically perform work is always changing, but basic human needs are still the same: we crave environments that allow for confidential discussion, encourage collaboration, and inspire new ideas. Using glass partitions and doors paves the way for more functional, free-flowing spaces. 

In order for your employees to hit peak performance, they need more than a basic space in order to get the creative juices flowing. They need an environment that values flexibility of form and function. So, putting employees in a dull, windowless room and expecting them to come up with the next big idea is not only impossible but stifling as well. Thus, putting them in an expansive, open floor, sunlit space will help them grow, just like plants in nature.

3.  Customized Layouts

The beauty of glass doors and partitions is that you can customize them to your exact specifications. More importantly, those solutions can adapt to your needs in the future, over and over again. You may need a particular layout now, but what about next year or a few years from now when your office evolves and needs to adapt? No costly renovations have to be tackled. Partitions can be reconfigured easily.

In fact, there are hundreds of configurations and there’s really no limit to your visions. Glass doors, too, can be customized in any way you see fit, whether clear glass from top to bottom or solid doors with frosted side panels. Both products can be designed to fit any conceivable office space, representing a long-term cost-effective solution.  

4.     Increases Staff Well-Being

Fluorescent, airless rooms do little to foster well-being. Yet you still need boundaries in your work space. By using glass partitions and doors, you get all the advantages of a wall while at the same time encouraging the natural flow of light.  As said above, humans are like plants and need open, sunlit spaces to thrive. In fact, we need vitamin D to feel good, boost our mood and de-stress.

The International Well Building Institute found that employees’ productivity declines when they sit more than 24 feet from a window. But in the same vein, no one wants to be shut off from other people all day long. After all, we are social beings and crave the presence of others to be productive. 

The best part of glass in the workplace is that it allows us to see yet not necessarily hear everything that’s going on in a busy area. In the end, glass blends transparency without the distractions and confidentiality breaches.

Contact Dallas Door Designs

If you are interested in incorporating glass doors into your workspace, contact us for a free quote at 214-973-0373.