Black Craftsman Front Door Transforms Manhattan Entryway

Nicknamed “The Little Apple,” Manhattan, Kansas is home to Kansas State University and has a distinct college-town atmosphere. With many things to do and lots of young people, this city is vibrant and trendy. These Manhattan homeowners wanted their entryway to reflect that same chic vibe. They reached out to our Pella Kansas team to replace their outdated front door. Since these homeowners appreciated the natural light coming into their original entryway, we planned a similar layout for their replacement door: one with two sidelights and a transom above. We also discussed the possibility of adding white trim around black units to create visual contrast.

While the homeowners were considering their options for a new front door, our team suggested utilizing Pella’s DesignWorks service. This allowed them to see how the new front door would look on their own home before investing a penny. The homeowners were appreciative of digital renderings which let them see exterior home designs before they purchased anything. Visualizing how the door would look on their own home gave the homeowners the confidence to go for it – choosing a black fiberglass front door with black-clad sidelights and a transom window made of wood.

Choosing black windows with white trim all around the front door creates contrast and visual appeal. By swapping out a traditional front door for a modern craftsman front door, the entire look of the entryway was completely transformed. The choice of a black front door offers a sleek look and modern appeal. The entryway now looks right at home in the dynamic city of Manhattan. While a craftsman front door is typically constructed of wood, these homeowners opted for a fiberglass front door. High-quality fiberglass brings both craftsmanship and convenience to the doorstep. The material is exceptionally durable, resisting rot, dents, warping and Kansas’ unpredictable weather. This makes maintenance and upkeep minimal, while performance is reliable year-round.

Choosing a fiberglass front door with glass affords the homeowners plenty of natural light in their entryway. They also chose to replace the sidelights on either side of the door and the transom window above the door. The sidelights complement the front door and create a welcoming impression. Rather than keeping the arch-shaped transom window above the existing door, the homeowners replaced it with a rectangular transom. The transom window and sidelights allow natural light to stream into their entryway. The sleek lines of the new rectangular sidelights and transom lend a modern, refreshed aesthetic.

One of the hallmarks of a craftsman-style door is a dentil shelf. An architecturally authentic add-on, a dentil shelf is a series of small square blocks uniformly spaced and projecting like teeth. The decorative glass makes an elegant statement and lets in an abundance of natural light while maintaining the perfect level of privacy. The homeowners were also glad to know that the decorative glass is energy efficient and helps protect their furniture and flooring from fading.

From start to finish, these homeowners were pleased with our ability to create a vision for the entryway and bring that vision to life.