How Bespoke Front Door Design Enhances a Home

Photo: Lucy Hall

To make an indelible design impression on their sustainable legacy dwellings, JLF Architects in Bozeman, Montana, creates statement doors that are meticulously crafted to enhance the home. “A door is the first exclamation point and can serve as art in its own right,” says JLF Architects Design Principal, Logan Leachman. “The front door is an element of the home that is touched every day. A door of substantial thickness and weight, with carefully curated hardware that fits the hand, helps make an impression and draws visitors in before they enter the space.”

With over 45 years of experience, the firm has a long-standing and proven approach that dictates, “no detail is an afterthought.” JLF Architects considers the visual and tactile appeal created by the shape of the door, metal finishes and patinas to evoke a sense of timelessness, and deliberate construction that promises strength and authenticity. 

Photo: Audrey Hall

Stone, wood, and glass, in combination or on their own, gives the door style and personality that is carried on throughout the dwelling’s interior. “Stone and wood offer substance, security, warmth, and a sense of permanence. The transparency of glass provides an open, welcoming sense of style and a connection to nature,” explains Leachman. 

Over the years, glass technology has advanced. Triple panes and low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings paired with the advanced settings in today’s heating and cooling systems helps glass work to create an impressive entryway, bringing the beauty of nature inside without compromising energy efficiency. 

Photo: Audrey Hall

Working in collaboration with design-build partner Big-D Signature, and local craftsmen who finesse every detail during the construction and installation phases, custom doors reflect and become an extension of the architectural palette. Marrying form and function, the doors are built to withstand the outdoor elements, aging beautifully and maintaining peak performance over time. Using materials such as antique reclaimed wood and ancient stone ensures that the design will endure.

By separating, joining, hiding and revealing, and offering or denying passage, doors hold a place of historic fascination and meaning. JLF Architects designs doors that keep the magic and mystery alive. “Carefully crafted for their unique purpose, the level of scrutiny that we give each door is what takes them to the next level,” Leachman says.

Photo: Audrey Hall