In addition to kitchens, furniture and architectural millwork, we love to craft entry doors that make a statement, enhance the architecture and produce a solid entrance to any environment.
A beautiful door welcomes you and your guests with a promise of great things to come.
“An entry door is the first impression of your home, and it should reflect the style and character of the house and those who live there.”
The first step in designing an entry door is choosing a style that will harmonize with and enhance the architecture of your home. Designing within context, while adding your own personal flair, will dictate the feeling and style of the door and will help you to choose hardware and handles. Existing architecture and materials, as well as exposure considerations will help you choose the materials, finish for the door, threshold and frames.
Some things to take in consideration when choosing the style, material and finish for the doors are:
- Overall house style to help dictate design elements
- Amount of exposure to weather and elements
- Color and quality of wood for design purposes
- Overall condition of existing jambs and casings
- Threshold function and design aspect (materials and raised/flushed design)
Exterior Door
Exposure to the weather is a very important factor when selecting the appropriate materials and finishes for an entry door. South facing doors, especially those without an overhang, are the most vulnerable while North facing doors have more protection, and thus more options.
In high exposure locations, we recommend using Teak or Mahogany wood, since these hardwoods are stable and have the highest resistance to weather. These doors should be finished with either oil finish or epoxy.
- Oil finish is mostly used on doors that have a lot of contact with the natural elements like sun, rain and sudden change in temperatures. Oil lets the door breath a bit more and though an oil finish can dry out over time, it will not peel like varnish or lacquer. The downside of oil is that it requires more upkeep; it will need to be reapplied every six months to a year, depending on weather exposure.
- Conversion varnish is mostly used for doors that do not have much exposure to the elements, such as doors that are under a deep overhang or facing away from the sun throughout the day. If protected from the elements, a conversion varnish finish can last a long time without refinishing up to 3 years depending on the door’s location.
- Epoxy is great for both situations, inside and outside, and it has a higher build and glossier looks than oil or conversion varnish. An epoxy finish is the most durable, even under extreme conditions, but it is also the most difficult to reapply when it becomes necessary.
A new Berkeley Mills entry door can be built into your existing jamb, or we can build new jambs, sidelites and casings. A new threshold can also be included in the design, allowing us to adjust the height to meet interior tiles or carpeting. The threshold can be made from matching hardwood or wrapped in metal such as copper, brass or stainless steel. Whether it’s just a new door in an existing jamb, or entirely new from the threshold up, we can transform your ordinary doorway into a beautiful entry way.
Interior Doors
Interior doors and room dividers are more flexible in terms of materials and operation. Closet doors, Shoji panels and sliding doors all offer the possibility of integrating a client’s vision with the design and functional needs of the room.
Sliding doors can be used as room dividers, privacy screens, and to cover appliances or equipment. The sliding doors keep the laundry room out of sight when not in use.
Every door that Berkeley Mills builds and installs comes with the same level of design, craftsmanship and attention to detail as our furniture. Whether it’s an entry door that says you’ve arrived or an interior door to beautify your environment, a custom door from Berkeley Mills is a long-lasting upgrade to your home.
In order to ensure the highest possible outcome, one of our designers will come to your home to site measure the openings and to see the architecture into which the door will integrate. Your new door will then be designed, built to order and installed by our team of precision installers. The first step is to call us!
Steven L. Klein, IALD, LC brings his brand of lighting education to the Northern California Chapter for a presentation on essential lighting design techniques and current technology. With an emphasis on what to do and why to do it, participants will leave confident, informed, and enthusiastic.
