Let’s break up all of these single-door projects with a double door for a change.
A two-panel door with the upper panel replaced by a 3/4-size glass insert has always been one of my favorite combinations. There’s still enough of the door slab left to appreciate the paneling and proportions, while the glass is large enough to create something genuinely interesting within the opening.
It’s a layout that can work with traditional, transitional, or contemporary architecture depending on how you approach the glass, finish, and hardware.
From Steel to Smooth Fiberglass
Not that long ago, a double door like this would almost automatically have been made from steel.
Lately, however, we’ve been using smooth finish fiberglass doors much more frequently. Visually, smooth fiberglass can look remarkably similar to painted steel, so you don’t have to change the overall aesthetic of the entry.
The difference becomes more apparent over the long term.
Fiberglass won’t dent the way a steel door can if it takes a hard impact, and the internal structural frame is generally more substantial. For a large double entry door that you expect to keep for many years, those advantages can make smooth fiberglass well worth considering.
Designing the Custom Metal and Glass Inserts
Of course, one of the main focal points of this project is the custom metalwork inside the glass.
As with pretty much all of the metal designs we use, this pattern was created specifically for the project rather than selected from a standard catalog.
The design is contemporary and abstract. At first glance, the lines might seem somewhat random, but there’s actually a deliberate structure and flow behind them.
That’s one of the things I enjoy most about creating custom metal door inserts. Drawing an abstract pattern like this becomes an exercise in composition—balancing positive and negative space, controlling where the eye travels, and making sure the design feels interesting without becoming overly busy.
After more than a decade of designing primarily in black and white for metalwork, composition has probably become the strongest part of my drawing skill set.
Color theory, on the other hand, doesn’t get nearly as much practice. The majority of exterior doors still tend to stay within a fairly predictable range of colors.
Sometimes All Black Is the Answer
Luckily, there wasn’t much color theory required on this project.
We went all black.
The black fiberglass doors, contemporary metal inserts, and matching hardware create a clean and cohesive entry without distracting from the geometry of the design.
And when it comes to contemporary homes, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with a black front door.
This project is also a good example of why I like the two-panel, 3/4-glass configuration so much. The door itself provides enough architectural detail to remain interesting, while the large glass area gives us enough room to introduce a completely custom design.
Simple overall concept, but plenty of room to make it unique.