One of the changes I was most excited about during our home makeover was replacing our exterior doors with Dutch doors. From the beginning I knew I wanted two — one at the front and one at the side leading to the kitchen. Some people call them “friendly doors,” which is a perfect description.
I’ve owned a Dutch door before and we had one in the laundry room when I was growing up, so these doors feel both familiar and comforting. They bring back happy memories, and that connection to the past made this change feel especially meaningful.
The previous kitchen door felt unwelcoming — the metal bars made it feel confining and the glass was actually plastic. I’m thrilled with the new solid wood Dutch doors; they completely transformed the look and feel of the house.
Kitchen Remodel Details
Dutch Door Dreams
Wood Dutch doors are among the most charming and practical door styles, especially for a cottage or farmhouse-inspired home. We open one or both of ours every day to let breezes flow through. In summer, opening the top half while keeping the bottom closed is perfect for cross-ventilation and for keeping our dogs inside without feeling closed off. It also makes package deliveries easier and less stressful — we can open the top to hand off a package without the dogs bolting or startling the delivery person.
Bugs & Dutch Doors?
Many readers worry about bugs if a door is left open. We live in Seattle, where flying insects are not a major issue, so keeping a door open is easy here. We still get the occasional fly or bee, but it’s not a frequent problem.
If you live in a buggy area, a Dutch door can still work. A screen door or a retractable screen can be used when needed. While a screen might change the exterior appearance slightly, retractable or removable options can keep the look clean most of the time. Your local door store or contractor can advise on screen solutions that fit your Dutch door.
Where to Find a Dutch Door
One of the most common questions I get is where we found our doors. We wanted chunky, solid wood doors with nine divided-light windows. After searching, we discovered the perfect options at a local door store. Our doors were custom made to our specifications, with the characteristic “X” lower panel and nine glass panes in the top half.
Our doors came from Frank Lumber The Door Store in Seattle. If you don’t have a specialty door shop nearby, check with local contractors, door and window companies, or larger home improvement stores. Many companies also sell Dutch doors online and will customize size, wood type, and window configuration.
Customizing the Dutch Door
Our doors were custom built and took a couple of weeks to produce, plus another week for painting. Door shops often keep sample doors in stock but will build or modify a door to your measurements. Custom options usually include different glass types, hinge styles, swing direction, and hardware choices. We chose clear glass to maximize natural light and maintain an open view.
Details on Our Dutch Doors
Both doors are installed under covered porches, which helps protect them from direct weather exposure. If your doors will be more exposed, discuss suitable materials and finishes with a contractor. Our doors are solid wood (Fir or Hemlock) and arrived pre-hung with weatherstripping, which improves fit and durability.
Paint & Color Choices
We had the doors professionally painted before installation for a high-quality finish, which was worth the extra cost during winter. The store’s paint partner matched our chosen colors from swatches. Both sides of each door are the same color, although you can opt to paint each side differently if you prefer.
For the side kitchen door we chose a deep navy to contrast with the white kitchen. The front door is a neutral light-to-medium gray to keep our narrow entry bright rather than receding into darkness. The specific colors we used are listed below.
Having the doors painted and ready to install was especially helpful during cold weather. Our contractor handled the installation as part of the remodel.
Our new doors make the house feel like a different place. We couldn’t be happier with the change!
PAINT COLORS:
Front gray door: Ozark Shadows by Benjamin Moore
Side navy door: Blue Note by Benjamin Moore
DUTCH DOOR SOURCE:
Frank Lumber The Door Store in Seattle provided our doors.
DUTCH DOOR HARDWARE:
Doorknob: Baldwin
Latch: Deltana
Related Posts:
Kitchen Remodel Details
See all the paint colors in my home HERE.
Dreaming of a Dutch Door (inspiration and design ideas)
Signature Style: My Dutch Door Plans
Our Entry Hallway Makeover (progress)