Ideas for updating windows and doors

Windows and doors decide how much light a house receives, how efficient it is and how it looks from the street and from within. The same is true of their hardware and treatments. A few ideas to start with:

Doors

• Modern doors. Sleek doors with sidelights suit mid-century modern houses, and they can work on other styles too. A modern color such as green, yellow, orange or blue is another option, as is interior trim, molding or a contrasting color on the inside face.
• Larger doors. Doors come in many sizes beyond the standard. If the entry has room, consider a larger door, or add a transom above or a window beside it to make the opening feel more generous.
• Multi-pane doors. Solid doors are handsome, but glazed, multi-pane doors open up an entry and make it feel lighter and more welcoming. Leaded or frosted glass keeps privacy.

Windows

• Frame the view. Whatever is outside the window is the picture. If there is a garden worth seeing, enlarge the windows that face it. If not, glass block adds privacy and screens the view.
• Keep the balance. New windows should blend with the rest of the house. Windows at the back or sides are less visible from the street, which gives more freedom in style.
• Treat them well. Shutters are both stylish and practical, draperies are classic, shades and blinds are simple and clean. Whatever you choose, keep treatments broadly consistent through the house.

Details

Finish with hardware. Handles, knobs and knockers make a clear statement and improve how windows and doors work day to day.

For natural privacy, window boxes filled with plants dress the exterior and screen the rooms inside. Where there is no space for them, potted plants on the sills or on the bench of a bay window do the same.