The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-27

IT HE front door or entrance is, so
i to speak, a part Of the interior
adjoining the exterior of the
house, says Arthur G. Clausen, writing
in Keith 8 Magazine. 1t should stand
out as mark Of welcome to the passer
by and an indication of cordial hospi-
tality within. The entrance is a key
to the interior, an index of what is to
come, where one receives his first i'm
pressions, be they good or bad. Keep
ing out thieves and weather, it should
also invite friends. The front en-
trance being the principal means Of in
gress and egress should be made to feel
its dignity. To accomplish this there
are many ways, the adoption of each
depending upon the social standing of
home and the size of his pocketbook.
Thus, while we might allow that six
foot six-inch door would look all right
in layman IS cottage, we would not
tolerate it in a palatial home; here the
door must be eight feet or more to
be in good proportion to the straight
backed dignity and tall silk hat of the
owner.
It must not be narrow or of stingy
appearance for that would be the first
impression one would then receive Of
the owner. It should rather be broad
and generous in it's aspect, even to a
fault. Carved in Latin over the en-
trance of an English chateau are these
expressive words: "My door is wide,
| my heart is wider.' These words ex-
press precisely the idea I wish to con-
vey and impress upon the home builder.
Doors Speak Volumes.
| Note as you walk down the street the
| dumb, but sometimes almost poetic Ian
| guage of various front doors, one ex-
| pressing HHere dwells majesty an
| other, "Here dwell love and peace, -
"Here lover of simple beauty and
that vine empowered, half-hidden door
Within Over the front entrance there
| to protect one while awaiting the open
ing of the door, for this of itself ex
presses geniality. Make that shelter
or porch appear for utility rather thar
a means for expressing ones fastidious
ness by excessive ornament, bearing II
mind the charm of simple beauty d.
not seek the notoriety of novelty.
distinctly in the adopted style Of The
house. If the outside trim of you
house is painted and the inside fin
ished in natural woods, make the doc
of the natural wood finish on boil
sides; the outside panes, sash and cas-
ings of the entrance like the trim, bu
the inside castings, etc, the same a
the door and other inside finish. Neve
"mix" on the door, making the insid
of one color or wood and the outsid
another, as it cheapens it in appear
lance.
The Inside Doors.
In conclusions: For sliding doors us
: tdoorhangers that are held to the track
land cannot jump off. Use three stron
hinges on outside door and two hinge
!, for interior doors. Have your hare
) ware in harmony with finish and de
sign of entrance and other doors an
D windows. Cylinder locks are the bes1
, Veneered doors are better than soil
: doors if made right, and a better graf
B of wood can be obtained. Provide pan
try doors with ball-bearing swingin
hinges and metal. pushplates on bot
, sides. It is preferable to make TIL
, pantry doors an inch and a half thick
! In the. average, house, the best widt
: for front doors is three feet to thre
. feet six inches; for interior doors, tw
feet six inches to three feet. Kee
lIcasings at the top of doors on a lin
with top window castings. Usual heigh
| for interior doors is seven feet, bu
lean vary. ALI doors ON one floor, how
Lever, should be made the same height
Bedroom and closet doors are some
, times two feet six inches by six fee
: six inches. Height of entrance door
. varies with the design, but it is best
when possible, to make them the sam
height as the interior doors.
The Ideal House.
Lecturing in Philadelphia, DR.. Rob