A glass door, sorta kinda

June 09, 2014

A couple years ago I wrote a post that got a huge response – I never imagined talking about glass doors would be so interesting. :) 

I spoke of my desire to add some glass to our front door. We have a transom window above the door and five windows in the living room/foyer, but because we face north the foyer especially can feel dark.

It got even worse when I painted the inside of the door black years ago:

black front door

I LOVE my black doors though, so that was staying. :)

So many of you agreed with the desire to have that natural light coming in as well. Those of you who already have glass sidelights or doors were mixed – some loved it and some hated it. Because a lot of you are in the one percent like me:

Ninjas!

So the years passed and I still couldn’t get over how much I wanted some natural light up there. And the boy got older and I really wanted to be able to easily see where he was at outside. One day I realized I was going to just do what I said I would never do – get a storm door:

glass storm door

I’m going to be honest here – I used to be a storm door snob. I mean, in my defense, there are some that aren’t great looking. I have just always preferred the look of just the plain door.

But my mind changed. It happens. 

We got it from Lowe’s and it was actually a long wait to get it installed. It was about six weeks, maybe more, from start to finish. The last two weeks were the hardest – it was getting nice out and the Bub was outside all the time and I wanted that glass door so bad!

I went with a cranberry color (there weren’t a ton of options) because I figured it would work best with our front door. When I got home from ordering it I realized how much more rust our door is than cranberry, but I really don’t mind it:

glass storm door

For a hot second I thought about painting the door again but I think this is fine as is.

We ALL love it. It’s open all day, everyday. LOVE love love. The animals are obsessed:

I do know one thing now though – I could NOT do an all glass regular front door. No way, no how. When darkness hits that baby is closed and I need my privacy.

I was so thrilled about the door I figured it was time to update the trim like I’ve been doing all around the house. What a difference!:

black interior doors

You can see how I install my DIY craftsman trim here.

Now it works great with the new window trim up there as well:

thick window trim DIY

I still need to do some caulking on the door trim but it’s almost complete. I want to replace that foyer tile even more now! I still need to finish up replacing the chair rail throughout this front area as well.

We’re enjoying all the natural light that the new door brings in. I adore it! It makes the whole house brighter. We went with the heavier storm door with great security features, so I feel comfortable leaving it open all day:

craftsman diy door trim

Do you have a storm door? Does it make you feel incredibly suburban? :) Or do you have a glass front door and love it? Either way the natural light is amazing and I’m never going back! Whoot!

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Comments

  1. LOL crawl around like a Ninja! I use to do that when I was a kid and still laugh about it. That was fun I should start doing it again.

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  2. Well I guess I must be in the less than 1%. If someone knocks/rings my bell and I'm not expecting someone, I just don't answer. Nor do I feel bad about it!

    Door looks great!

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    1. ME too! If I'm not expecting you - I don't care WHO you are - I won't budge from what I was doing... I also glare at my daughter, like I WISH YOU WOULD run to the window or announce the doorbell is ringing, LOL. 1% and PROUD!

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  3. This looks great!! We have this same storm door in white and I love it. It is great to be able to open the front door and let all that light in- but I agree with you that I could NEVER have a full glass front door! I like being able to close things up at night and that would just make me feel super vulnerable. The storm door is a great compromise :)

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  4. We just had double glass doors installed on our front porch as well. I was the SAME as you - such a snob about them, but REALLY craved the light and the airflow. We have really nice front doors and I didn't want a cheesy looking storm door to cover it up. We opted for 2 glass doors with a transom and the glass comes out for the summer and full screen inserts go in. I leave the doo open all the time and love the breeze, the light and the birds. It will be such a short time before the heat kicks in, but it's such a nice option to have. I opted for black since our doors are dark brown with black iron frosted glass inserts. Could not be happier.

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  5. Storm doors seem to be making a comeback. I too used to turn my nose up at them but now really want one. Concerning the solid door, I'm with you. We have a glass door and it is a real privacy issue when you want to just walk around in your jammies.

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  6. We have a glass door and glass sides and I love them! I change the glass during the summer to half glass at the bottom and half screen at the top- glorious! I opted for black since I'm always changing the color of my front door. My dogs love the door as well and sit there for hours and hours surveying their front yard kingdom! I hope you enjoy your screen door. I think hit helps with the heat and cooling. I also love the screen door because I have another surface to decorate AND the front door itself!

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  7. This looks awesome! We've been debating the same thing here, but mostly because we're tired of hearing the dog bark at the neighbors he sees through the glass!

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  8. I love having a storm door, even over our traditional cut glass front door with side lights. We face north too, so no light inside, and I want to see my kiddies biking on the driveway. They are much more unobtrusive than they used to be and I matched the paint on my front door so you basically can't even notice it. Best of both worlds.... Light during the day, privacy at night.

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  9. We have a glass storm door too and love it....just too bad the hubby is totally against having just the storm doors open any time. He is totally the old grandpa that says "we aren't heating/cooling the neighborhood!" LOL

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    1. Mine too! Drives me crazy! I actually don't like the A/C and wish we didn't have it!

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  10. Ah, you just voiced all of my indecision on this. We're going to replace our front door and were talking about getting some glass at the top to let some light in, but high enough so no one can see in.

    As for the storm door, I don't want one cause they don't look as nice, but we really need a screen door to get some air flow. Plus the cats love it ;)

    Yours looks good though, I like the colour!

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  11. The door snobs have got to get over it. Sometimes you go with what works, and makes a happy home not just what looks good from the curb. p.s. we call it doggie tv open the front door and the pups are entertained!

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  12. We have an incredibly dark foyer and I've talked about getting a door with glass, too, but we just can't justify replacing the door right now. I wonder if I can convince the hubby to get a storm door, though................

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    1. You don't have to replace your door. You can just have panels removed and glass put in. You can add as much or as little as you like. We had a solid back door and it was so dark! We had all the panels taken out and replaced with full glass. You can even get grills in the window. It didn't cost very much.

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  13. I splurged for a mahogany door with beveled glass but we have a door from foyer into the hallway so that saves me. I do not open the door when a stranger knocks - I just speak through it. We live in a very nice neighborhood but why take a chance. I'm more about my safety than hurting a strangers feelings. I'm also 56 and am learning to let go of the pleaser!

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  14. I guess I never thought too much about storm doors. I grew up always having one. My house now has one on each of our three outside doors. One is nice, the other two I just try to ignore. I would love to replace them with nicer ones, unfortunately it's just not top priority right now.

    When someone knocks, I almost always pretend I'm not home, unless I'm expecting someone. I'm a big fat chicken.

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  15. When I'm home alone, I always step into the hall when someone rings the doorbell so no one can see me through the front windows. I've done this so many times that, when our sweet dog Liberty was still alive, she would run to the hallway & hide when the bell rang instead of barking. Guard dog!

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  16. Both of our doors have big glass middle pieces. The one in the living room had to get covered!! I saw on another blog that they had used some "window wallpaper" and ordered some THAT night. We got the leaded glass in white and it lets light in but gives us the privacy we want!

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  17. I'm a bit of a storm door snob too, but also a practical gal. I was actually just looking at them as an option for our front and back doors (would create a nice breeze). We do have the little side windows around the door and I just had to cover them with some "raindrop" clings for safety reasons, but I don't like the fact that I can't see out of them now. One question though, I like to hang wreaths from my front door, does the storm door make then look smashed in?

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    1. I hang the wreath on the storm door glass with a clear suction cup wreath holder. Doesn't work for a screen door of course.

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    2. I just hang my wreath on my front door. There is enough clearance for them not to be smooshed.

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    3. I discovered this was an issue at our house. I still hang the wreath on the front door, but depending on how big the wreath is, it can get a little smushed by the storm door. The real problem is that with the screen insert instead of the glass one, the wreath isn't as visible.

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  18. We have such a small landing I worry that a storm door will make entering the house so awkward, so I vetoed it. And I love the privacy from out front - I'm a total ninja if someone comes around.

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  19. Glass storm doors are the bomb.com. They are also great for things like Halloween when you know your door is going to be open all night anyway. And it's just more inviting. :)

    Unexpected visitors, however, are not my favorite. Fellow ninja here. :D

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  20. I'm so jealous! I want storm doors sooooo bad! I have an entry that is so dark during the day, and I love all of the light your door lets in. I have double front doors and I will need to get two. Your post makes me want to run to Lowes right now!! So pretty!

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  21. Love mine, too. Did it for the light and I'm not fond of cleaning the spots left my doggie noses, but I love the light. And I already had sidelights on both sides, but more light is always a good thing. :)

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  22. Sigh... I must admit I luv mine as well. I mean imagine if you may, I am 5'2"... the pep hole is waayyy above my head. NO way I can see through the darn think without some stretching and contorting. So yup... storm door it is. :D
    Constantly cleaning pup nose mess... hut hey.
    HUGS, Gee

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  23. We have a glass front door & I love it! But we live in the country & have a long lane, so I can see anyone coming from about a mile away (literally). :-)

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  24. Your storm door is fabulous, love the color and the light. Great job.

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  25. Love it! Love the color too. You will love having it open during the day. That pic. of your warm and fuzzies watching you is so sweet.

    I also have a storm door. It's white and when you look in you see the stairs going up and down the 13' foyer that runs into the side of the TV cabinet. We would have to walk in front of the foyer to see the door. I love my foyer. That's not to say the UPS man hasn't caught me coming down the stairs in my pj's. eek. The one setback of having glass in the door itself & sidelights. Even setting in the middle of 10-acres doesn't always keep you private. ha.

    Kathy Dale mentioned cleaning doggy nose prints off...I've cleaned the grandpups nose prints off when they visit a million times. Although our sweet little grandson left his chubby handprints on it last time he visited and I can't bring myself to clean them off.

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  26. We have always had a glass storm door... full length glass. and I LOVE THEM. Our current home does not have one installed *yet*, but it will have, because this house is dark, and I am all about having good light in the house. Good choice on your part. Lowes has some great doors to choose from. xox

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  27. I was the same way about storms doors. I actually removed mine when I first bought my house....of course I think it was probably the original 1970 storm door :). This spring I decided to get the storm door replaced to let more light into my living room, and I love it! It's so nice to have more natural light in the room.

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  28. I do have a storm door... just like yours (and also face north). :) We bought it about 10 yrs when we first moved in here. I like it. We have sidelights as well. Even so, I like it for the extra light.

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  29. I'd love to have one. I want as much light coming in the house as I can. By the way love the outside door rug. I've got the same one and really makes a statement.

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  30. We have storm doors front and back. We also have an oval window in our front door. I NEVER worry about security because I have two pit bulls behind those doors. They are the biggest powder puffs you will ever meet but when someone comes - they bark and growl and scare the hell out of anyone on the porch. You never have to worry about our dogs but you do have to worry about the cats.

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  31. I didn't realise that there were any dissenters on the whole issue of storm doors. It seems like a necessity here in Minnesota with so much snow for so long. Our foyer would be horribly dark all winter if I couldn't open the door and have the glass door there. Where I come from originally, it is pretty much essential to have a screen door because of summer bugs (if you want any air in your house) so the look doesn't bother me one bit. I think I would feel odd just opening my door to the street actually! ha ha. But, I agree, I couldn't have a glass front door. That would totally freak me out at night, particularly when my husband is away for work.

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  32. now that I'm thinking about it, I dont believe I've ever lived anywhere that didn't have a storm door.... i wonder if it's a regional thing though. I'm in New England & its pretty cold 5 months of the year so the 2 layers must help with insulation. yours looks great!

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  33. Our old house had a nice glass storm door... It looked fine and was a good fit with the mid-century ranch we had then. Then we bought an old log home.. one with nothing but the front door. I was a bit of a storm door snob for awhile, but... like you... wanted the light. I ended up at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore and bought a vintage wooden screen door. I painted and distressed it and it's perfect! We have the light in the summer time, and extra ventilation... and it seems to be a good fit for our old home. I liked it so much I ended up finding another one for the back door! Enjoy your sunshine :)

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  34. Our house does have a glass storm door. I don't use it though. I don't like that people can look in. I do have skylights, so that's where all the light comes from and I love that.

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  35. We do have a storm door…probably the same maker as yours but different style. We bought the one where the top rolls down to reveal a screen to let the fresh air in. We have this only on our back door though. We LOVE it! I would love a full glass one on the front to let more light in as well. Love the trim around your door!

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  36. I am almost always with the 64% but sometimes I can be the 1% - my precious Boxer, Emma (bless her heart passed away last Apr) was so funny when someone came to the door, she never barked except when she was playing with us and her siblings but she would look at me with those gorgeous big brown eyes like "hey mom, I think there's an ax murderer at the door" - it was just too funny, she was a doll. I miss her so much. I would go to the door and she would stand right there with me and whoever it happened to be selling something and they would say - will she bite and I would always say - you better believe it - and honestly she would not bite anything - she might lick you to death, but they didn't need to know that, right? Your little ones look adorable in that door. It looks great !!!!

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  37. I am a Ninja but sometimes I don't answer at all if I am not expecting someone. It didn't work very well when my kids were little because they would always scream "Mom the doorbell rang! There is someone at the door! AREN'T YOU GOING TO ANSWER IT?" They also did not understand the 'pretend I am not home' thing.

    We have a half glass door and I hate it. Once someone sees you - you are screwed. We have guys that come around and want to trim our trees. I am thinking of frosting it.

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  38. I'm in the don't answer it camp, although we have a small stained glass window in the top half of our door so you can see outside through the prism. We also have a glass storm door which I love, it lets in a lot of light and my best four legged gal Cleo, loves to sit and look out at all the birds and squirrels.

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  39. I've just learnt something.... have never heard of a storm door before, but I think it looks fabulous! Do like my privacy though.....

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  40. Sarah, I know how you feel, that day you decide that light is more important than a great big wonderful wreath on top of your beautiful door...........but it really is a good trade-off. I can't get enough light ever....our door, like yours, is open on most days as well, and I love it. Sometimes, my husband will close it on a cold winter day......grrrr.....Your door looks great with the storm door color. I now hang wreaths from a hanger on the storm door....yes, it doesn't look quite as good......but I MUST have the light!! Good decision and I love all your new trim!! Thinking about doing something similar...when we finished our basement we did al the trim that way.....now the main floor looks a little sad ;) Love your blog and all your projects always. Blessings, Linda

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  41. Love having a storm door and I never got why people didn't prefer them (not a criticism). I've taken note that what's popular in the DIY and blog land isn't always so much in every day life so most friends/family don't even think like that. Anyway, love your storm door. Our house didn't have one and I couldn't wait to get one for the air flow and light, even though I have side lights (which I've covered with a frosted window film). I was going to get the full view, but definitely wanted ventilation and didn't want to have to lug the glass up into the attic during the summer and back down again. Plus my dog, while a toy size, gets a little ambitious when he sees squirrels and bunnies, and isn't so kind to a screen when wanting to get at them. He does love the view with the storm door, too. I opted for the type that is glass at the bottom and the roll down screen at the top. I had to get over having that "bar" across the middle for practicality sake. I got a neutral color to match the trim so it wouldn't affect whatever color I painted my door. Right now it's a color close to Peacock Blue which is my fav.

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  42. I've had a storm door like yours for years, and wouldn't want to be without it. I like the added safety of having the glass between me and who might ring my door bell. And the pets really LOVE it if the main door is open. I think your door looks just great! I think you really will love it.

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  43. It makes me sad to read the comments people are saying about if they aren't expecting someone, they don't answer the door. We are a "drop-in" kind of family. If we are walking through the neighborhood during the evening or driving through an area where a friend lives, we love stopping by unexpectedly. We also LOVE it when our friends stop by to say hello. Sure, my house isn't always clean, and we may be in the middle of a movie but we love those unexpected adventures with our friends. If someone comes to the door that I don't want to talk to like a sales person, I have no problem telling them to get lost!

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  44. We had doors installed from Lowe's last year before my husband deployed. They're storm+, I guess, because they can't be kicked in and their are three locking points. I'm with you- the light is great, but privacy when I want it is a must!

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  45. I think you got a nice storm door. I'll bet you're enjoying all that light. :) Also, I *just* got that front door mat, AND I have been reading this blog forever and not put the front door next to that front room in my head, ha! I get it better now. :)

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  46. We have a storm door and love it. Ours is glass on the bottom and then glass on the top, but with a pull down screen so it's self contained. So we can get the breezes and the light on nice days. It's open right now :) I live in the suburbs I guess, so I suppose it feels suburban...although i don't know that i know what that means ;)

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  47. I have a storm door like yours, glass with a small frame, (mine is white) and I love it to bits. When it gets crazy cold in Winter, I feel sad that I can't enjoy it because of drafts. The back door of my house has one of those insulated doors, with a five-foot window and blinds built-into the door itself. Quite nice, also. I enjoy the light in my house, but like you, I also enjoy my privacy.

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  48. I love it that you said you like living in suburbia. I do, too! We have trees and grass in front, in back, and at each side of our house - it's like living in a park, if you ask me. We have nice neighbors, the atmosphere is calm, and there are sidewalks to walk to the nearby park. I never understood people who denigrate suburbia. I find it to be lovely.

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  49. That's a GREAT way to have your glass door when you FEEL like visibility, yours out, not someone else's in!
    BTW-I think that 1% number is waaaaaaaay under the real amount!

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  50. I live in Los Angeles and DO NOT answer the door for anyone unless I am expecting someone, and have done that for many years! A friend of mine used to say "just because someone knocks on the door, doesn't mean you have to answer it," and as women, we have to be especially cautious of opening the door to anyone. Criminals here have been known to do home invasion robberies - you open the door and they just bust right in and rob you, or worse.

    The difference for me is that I forego the ninja stuff and DO make noise to let whoever's knocking know I'm there if I'm in the front room. It usually makes them knock a couple times, and I continue to ignore it - making noise lets them know someone is there so I don't run the risk of them trying to break in, because burglers prefer to bust in to unoccupied residences.

    I loved living in suburbia, here in California we don't have a use for storm doors, and while I love the light, knowing someone could see into my house gives me the heebie jeebies!

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  51. We have the split storm door too, with the screen on the top but covered with a window that can be slid up and down for fresh air. I LOVE it. Wouldn't have it any differently. It is open even in the winter (unless it's super cold out), letting in the sunshine. Our house faces south but has a covered porch on the front. I kinda feel like the bar across the middle is added security - makes it harder just to bust the glass and reach in and turn the lock. I like that it has a heavy duty deadbolt bar style lock also. I grew up with an old wooden screen door with an exposed spring, which always slammed when it shut and the screen always had holes, so a stormdoor seems like complete luxury to me.

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  52. I used to be a storm door snob as well....but then I couldn't handle an all glass door because we are street level and the whole world (and 1,000 tiny neighbor kids who love to smear their face in our sidelights) would see in. Got our storm door a year ago and matched it to our house trim which is an off-white. LOVE IT!! I think you will love yours too.

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  53. I have that exact same storm door and got it so I could see the kids outside and bring light into the house. I've had it for years, I'm actually about to paint it ORB!

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  54. I love your storm door! I'm so going to get one so that my cats can enjoy some sunlight indoors and do birdwatching or whatever it is they do. Now they are always hogging my desk near the window. =)

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  55. I have been asking and asking and ASKING for one for years & years!!! I copied this post and sent it to my husband with a note that "she got one, can I please have one?" -- ha! LOVE it.

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  56. We've been debating a storm door (the half-screen kind) for about six months now. The light and breeze would be lovely, but I'm having a hard time biting the bullet and covering up my pretty front door!

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  57. Did you consider one with the retractable screen? I am thinking about that.

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  58. I never would have gotten a storm door on my own but the last house we bought came with one. The split kind where the top slides up and down for air. BUT I LOVE IT! It keeps our pretty red front door nice looking and clean, plus I can let light and/or air in when I want, and my two little dogs love to sit and look outside. I am so glad we have it now.

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  59. I need one! Unfortunately, I need one with screening in it. We don't have AC so I need a screen door to circulate some air!
    -Ash
    www.stylizedwannabe.blogspot.com

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  60. I adore your humor. It was right on the spot, too. We have a front and back storm door. They are not the greatest for exterior beauty, but, the doors let in so much sunlight, air a breeze when the the weather is nice. Your home is for living and enjoying it. Good choice.

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  61. I didn't know there was such an anti-storm door following! I grew up in 2nd floor apartments, so I never had the option to use a storm door. Now that we have a house (in the suburbs), I love leaving the front door open with just the storm door closed. I have the kind of storm door where the bottom half is solid and the top half is the glass/screen insert, which I love because there is still some privacy, but i lets in lots of light and air. Our actual front door also has a solid bottom half, but the top half has a big glass/metal window with some beveling, details, which would obscure an outsider's view of the inside of our house. The previous owners had a set of blinds on the inside of the door to cover the glass, but I took them down, because I didn't feel I needed them. If I ever feel I need more privacy, I can always install them again.

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  62. lol...I'm with Christine above- I didn't know there was an anti-storm door following! lol...although I do agree the front door looks pretty sans storm door, I have to have one though. Same reasons...the light floods the front entrance, especially in the morning. And mine too is open all day every day. Mine does however have a bar in the middle with an invisible screen that pulls down. I love it!

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