Cedar, if budget allows. Windows should echo the size and shape of the smaller squares in the lower corners of the window above. They don’t have to exactly mirror the window, however. I’d also suggest pruning the trees so that the entry is visible.

It would need to be fake cedar because it has western exposure and will bake in the sun. I think Carriage House Doors just came out with a fake wood that could work. Thank you for the suggestion.

The tree is an ongoing discussion! We also don't want to walk out onto a stage -- it's nice to have the screening. It's been pruned since this photo...

Would these doors work if painted the house color or cedar color?

What does your front door look like? And your porch railings? That makes a difference in the look of your house.

From what we can see, your house is more modern and the garage door you show is country-ish. I would go for something plainer, painted the same colour as the house. Consider painting the lower part of the house the same as the siding colour.

Glad to hear that you have pruned the trees.

Here's another pic that shows the current door and the railing. Door needs to be replaced and the railing needs to be painted.

I agree that you need doors with a modern edge. The blue/ gray doors are more Craftsman style. I like them a lot but just not on your house.

A MCM door would look great on your house, or, perhaps, a modern slab door. Of course, it should coordinate with the garage doors. Love the sign in the window, BTW!

Here is a more contemporary panel. I tried to copy the windows in the lower corners of the LR window too.

Or we could do the longer windows... the color of the door would match the house color.

I would leave your existing doors before I would go back to the embossed panels' doors. They do not fit the style of your home. Here are other options if funds permit.

Please help me understand what IS our house style and why the all glass doors are a good fit vs. cedar doors vs. contemporary flat panel doors with windows at the top. Several houses in our cookie cutter neighborhood are going with the carriage house doors. I'm really feeling stuck on this. Our current doors have no seal and lots of debris and soon to come wildfire smoke comes into the garage.

The glass doors do not fit your home, imo. They look super busy, unbalanced with the window above, and would be the focal point of your house. Plus, you mentioned baking in the sun ... glass doors would be awful in that situation, no matter how tinted.

Your house is a traditional mid-century split level, so lots of styles would work.

I like the cedar-look ones or finding a mid-century inspired style. Since you have some important considerations to address — smoke and harsh sun — focus more on that.

(Edited for clarification.)

Jinx - do you think the flat panel doors with the square or rectangular windows work? What is it about the cedar-look that you like... the color or the planks with no windows? Is MCM inspired the door with windows down one side or the more typical raised panel door? THANKS.

I like the cedar because it’s organic ... something important in mid-century aesthetics.

Something like this would look great, I think, or no windows as shown above.

Yes, this is very MCM:

And if you like that look, it would work, but I personally would go with something more mid-century traditional than literal MCM, due to where the garage is oriented with your split-level house. It’s really just personal preference. I like your mock-ups with the painted ones, too, which would be the least unobtrusive look and fit your house fine. Your era and style of house had a wide variety of garage door styles, no one universal type.

I'm inclined to stick to the traditional MCM look since we don't plan any major updates to the exterior of the house besides paint and landscaping. In the photos I posted, it seems like the flat, panels, with 4 longer windows at the top looks less busy than the smaller windows. Agree or disagree?? If we went with cedar, it would need to be faux cedar due to the solar beating the doors take with western CA exposure. I'll see what's out there, but we are also limited as it is not a custom size. Thank you, Jinx, for your insight into having some organic elements to the design as well as your other comments about our house!

Jinx - please LMK if you prefer the 4 longer rectangular windows or the smaller square windows?

I lean more towards the 4 longer rectangular ones for a simpler, less busy design, best balance with window shapes and roofline above, and bridging the literal MCM with traditional mid-century styles. Best of both worlds. :)

My thoughts too. Done! I'll likely go with a slab front door as there is a full size side light next to and above front door. Planning to repaint the trim around windows, the pergola above the garage door, and the front steps railing in the grey-brown/bronze of the new gutters. The white trim gets so dirty and dingy. Maybe I can do the front door in cedar.

Fun projects, please update us! :)