Homeowners over the decades have taken more and more interest in the appearance of their properties both inside and outside. In the middle of the last century, a classic style of garage door enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, and the “carriage door” began to be frequently in demand. Over the course of the past decade, that trend has once again emerged and more people are in search of quality, carriage-style garage doors.
However, this new trend is different simply because of the developments in garage-door manufacturing beginning around the 1980s. It was then that many home and property owners began to dislike the constant maintenance needed by wooden doors, and so a shift to steel doors occurred.
Naturally, it was difficult to do much with steel doors at that time, and manufacturers were often left with options only for stock “motifs” meant to copy old-fashioned, paneled garage doors. As time passed, baby boomers began to demand more attractive looks to their low-maintenance steel doors, and many said they wanted the look of wood without all of the headaches and hard work. In other words, they wanted traditional looks, like what some of their neighbors still had, only without the painting and upkeep.
The significance of home styles
Of course, everyone wanted their doors to match the style of their homes, and so in addition to the carriage looks, “country” styles also began to appear. These would coordinate with the other exterior features of the home and be similar in overall design to the cornices, dormers, balustrades, lattice windows and cantilevered balconies common among country homes.
Because this look was not yet common in urban areas, though, many began to use these simple updates and elements to give their “city” home a definite country look, and country‑style garage doors were among the first to appear.
The door models and their decorative hardware
Today, home and property owners can find a huge array of steel doors that have a most recognizable country look. Though still embossed with their rustic designs, models like the Eastman or others that feature PVC molding, such as the Cambridge (recalling the swinging doors so common to homes and buildings of the 1950s), it is the hardware that really completes the look.
The true “style” that each door has is created by its architectural hardware that can include anything from hinges modeled to emulate wrought iron pieces from the past to decorative handles that give the door a lot of character.
The Need for decorative windows
Additionally, the use of decorative windows also enhances the general charm and appeal of doors meant to provide country style and classic looks. Tinted for privacy or clear to enhance the natural light entering the space, the windows can be enhanced with decorative inserts to make them even more unique. Whether for elegant style or traditional appearances, decorative windows are also part of the equation.
Choosing colors
Like so many other decorative choices, the color of any garage door has to be in sync with the architectural style of the home. A Victorian door on a colonial-style home would be jarring, and so too would a color scheme that clashed.
Whatever the style of the property, the color of the door must work with its surroundings. This can be balanced through the use of decorative accessories, but many of the best garage door manufacturers offer a huge color palette that features every possible earth tone, including charcoal, clay and brown. Many also offer wood tones including American Walnut and others.
Designing your door
A garage door is a long-term investment, and before you go ahead and place an order, you may want to take steps to get a good visual of what you can expect. Modeling it on a computer screen is possible in this era, and at Atlas Overhead Doors Sales, you can visit the Design Centre and let us help you to design a door, and then either give you a print out of the door or upload an image of your home and show you what it will look like with that new door in place! Find out today if a country-style door is the right fit for your home or property.
Just give us a call at 1-877-828-5279. At Atlas Overhead Doors Sales, it is our job to help you make the best decisions about the purchase of your next garage door, and all while remaining in your set budget.
Add new comment