I would do a 42" single door with 2 sidelites and not a double door at all, double doors are inherent leakers and you have zero protection from the elements. I do not think that door style goes at all with your house. A full lite door and sidelites with clear glass would be my suggestion.

I thought the first picture was what is there now that you wanted to remove. Your suggested front door and lights only work if you make gigantic changes to modernize all of your windows, trim, and walkway. They don't go with the current house.

Yes, you can tone down the overly quaint charm of the current look, but you cannot stick a black door and lights on to make it modern.

Get a door painted the same color as your trim. Fine if it has reeded glass, square windows. But the black doesn't work.

The current lights disappear because they are the same color as the trim and brick. This is a good thing. Get new modern lights but paint them the same color as the current lights so they too disappear. Otherwise they will just look like you cut and pasted another contemporary element on to your house that doesn't belong there.

Getting rid of the symmetrical landscaping layout and large shrubs on either side of the windows will do wonders. Goodbye Candyland.

Your house is a center hall colonial (somewhat French colonial). The door you posted a picture of belongs on a MCM house. You can't really "modernize" a house like this - not that there's anything wrong with that - it is just never going to be modern. If you want a lot of glass, this is about as close as you can get. No reeded glass inserts. Something that looks like real wood instead of black would be more attractive. Millworkman's idea of a door with sidelights is a good idea also.

Sewickley Farm Project · More Info

Why would you want to slap those modern doors on such a traditional home?

Thanks…we did consider 3/4 lite doors like the above suggestions but decided against it because every modern farmhouse in the area uses them and I associate those with that style.

Have you looked at the divided lite windows on your home? Those dictate your style direction. Who cares what people with modern farmhouses select