12.04.2011
It takes just eight seconds to decide whether or not you will buy a house, according to the latest research. And at least four of them will be spent waiting at the front door. Lord Lloyd-Webber has a mahogany one, Richard Rogers has a white one, and Kate Middleton has just installed a pair of them, in black.
A front door must be appropriate to a house. Planked doors can work well on barn or warehouse conversions or new-builds. But there is no escaping the universal charm of the Georgian front door - "solid, well constructed, but at the same time curiously domestic and welcoming" - rather like the blue one belonging to Hugh Grant in the film Notting Hill.
There is nothing to say classic Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian styles cannot be used on new houses. Properties on the Wentworth and St George's Hill estates, in Surrey, tend to use classical styles on a larger scale - taller and wider with vast porticos, illustrating that owners are happier to experiment with the size of a door rather than its style or colour. "Double doors are vital for new-builds over £2 million," says Simon Ashwell, of Savills. "They give an impression of a much wider frontage. I will always tell a developer to put in a double door.
In fact, No10 Downing Street, Britain's most famous front door, has changed in appearance only once in 300 years. It was an "unlucky" dark green for a brief spell at the beginning of the 19th century, when Herbert Asquith was prime minister - before he fell out of favour and resigned in 1916. Number10 has been black ever since. It even bears a wonky "0" in the number 10 - a tribute to the original door, which had a badly fitted zero.
Do's and don'ts when buying a new front door.
- Play safe - remember a new front door should be in keeping with the property.
- Do keep your front door neatly painted and the plants around it well watered.
- Make sure your door furniture is in proportion to the size of the door.
- Personalise your door to make it unique to your property. Silvelox front doors can be personalised according to the wood, finish, colours and accessories.
- Make sure you have a front door to be proud of!