One of the things I really enjoy about working on custom front door projects is seeing how the design of the entire entrance comes together over time.
Sometimes, when we finish installing a door, the surrounding exterior details aren’t quite complete yet. And every once in a while, I get to come back a few months later and see how the homeowners have brought their original vision to life.
This double door project in Richmond Hill is a perfect example.
A Classic Double Door with a Contemporary Color Scheme
The entry features a classic-style double door with sidelights, finished in a beautiful dark gray color called Iron Ore.
Iron Ore has become a popular choice for modern and contemporary front doors, but I actually really like using it on more traditional door profiles as well.
It’s a great way to update the appearance of an entrance without introducing a door style that might clash with the architecture of the house.
The classic paneling keeps the design grounded in the home’s original character, while the dark gray finish gives it a much more contemporary feel.
And against the warm red brick exterior, the color works particularly well.
How Black Accents Completed the Design
When we originally installed this double entry door system, the decorative wood surround was painted white.
A few months later, I returned to make a small adjustment and noticed that the homeowners had repainted the entire surround black.
They had also installed two beautiful exterior light fixtures that complemented the new color scheme.
What a difference those changes made!
The black trim created a stronger visual frame around the gray doors, while the exterior lighting helped tie everything together.
The entire entrance suddenly felt much more cohesive, with the door, surrounding trim, and lighting all working as part of one design.
It’s always satisfying to see clients who have a clear vision for their home and take the time to get those little details right.
Using Color Contrast to Make a Front Door Stand Out
One of the more interesting aspects of this project is how the door color interacts with the existing brickwork.
When choosing exterior door colors, it’s common to stay within a similar color family.
For example, a red brick house might be paired with a dark brown front door. Both colors have warm undertones, creating a fairly traditional and harmonious appearance.
But that isn’t the only approach.
For this project, we went with a cooler dark gray against the warm red brick, creating a contrast in color temperature.
Technically, gray isn’t a complementary color to red in the strict color-wheel sense, but the difference between the warm brick and cooler door finish creates a similar visual effect: the entrance stands out rather than blending into the surrounding masonry.
At the same time, the contrast isn’t overwhelming.
Because the dark gray door and the red brick have relatively similar visual depth, the entrance feels balanced rather than excessively bold.
It’s a subtle distinction, but one that makes a big difference in the finished appearance.
Updating Traditional Doors Without Going Ultra-Modern
One of the reasons I like working with traditional and transitional front door styles is their versatility.
Not every home benefits from an ultra-modern door with minimal detailing and oversized pull bars. Sometimes those elements can feel completely disconnected from the original architecture.
But changing the finish, hardware, glass, or surrounding trim can give a classic door a surprisingly contemporary appearance.
This Richmond Hill project demonstrates that perfectly.
The door profile itself remains fairly traditional, but the Iron Ore finish, black decorative surround, and updated exterior lighting bring the entire entrance into a much more modern design direction.
And the best part is that none of those changes feel out of place.
Final Thoughts
This project is a great reminder that a custom front door shouldn’t be designed in isolation.
The surrounding brickwork, trim, lighting, and architectural details all play a role in how the finished entrance looks.
Sometimes the biggest improvement doesn’t come from changing the door itself, but from getting all the surrounding elements to work together.
I’m really happy with how this one turned out, especially after seeing the final updates the homeowners made.
The combination of Iron Ore gray, black accents, and warm red brick creates a beautiful balance between traditional architecture and contemporary styling.
As always, it’s all in the details.