Door to Door

Doors are more than just an entrance into a room, they are decorative and can add a lot of character to a building. Old, antique doors can be quite valuable. When found on an old building being restored, they are carefully removed and repaired to give it a fresh look. Doors are the first thing that someone sees when they enter a building and therefore have the ability to make a strong impression. Ancient doors are often seen in places like Rome, Tunisia and Egypt, but can look rather unique on the front door of someone's house or an old church somewhere in the western world.

An example of one of the most famous doors in the world are Ghiberti's 1st Baptistery doors in Florence. The story behind these doors is that in 1401 a competition was held to design the doors that would eventually go on the north side of the baptistery. In the end it was 21-year old Lorenzo Ghiberti who won the commission. It took the young artist twenty-one years to complete the doors, which were made of twenty-eight panels of gilded bronze. Twenty of the panels were dedicated to the life of Christ according to the New Testament. These doors are often referred to as the 'Gates of Paradise', a phrase the great Michelangelo used to describe them.

Antique doors can be used for a number of things including table tops, bureau tops, screens, French windows or other forms of home decorations. Those looking to spruce up the exterior of their home might go for a bright coloured door, or surround it with old stones, to give it a grandiose, ancient look. Old wooden doors that open up like those on a barn can give a home a very interesting effect.

Then of course there are the doors which are inside of your house. While lofts tend to be open spaced, they often have doors that work like those that are found on garages. Sliding doors and glass doors in general can be very attractive in a home, especially if leading to a bright, sunny breakfast room, or an outdoor terrace.

Another way to add a bit of texture to your front door is to put a canopy overtop of it. Canopies act like a little home outside of your home. They protect people while they wait for you to answer the door, or while they search for their keys. They cover couples enjoying a kiss at the end of the night.


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Fabric Architecture Ltd has been specialising in the design, engineering, manufacture and installation of tensile fabric structures since 1984. Learn more about Door Canopy at http://www.fabricarchitecture.com/entrance-canopy