Three designs to start your shortlist
Compare ten door designs
| Design | What to notice | Where to begin |
|---|---|---|
| Two Panel Interior Door | A framed upper and lower panel arrangement. | A traditional bedroom, office or hallway. |
| Estate Interior Door | A large glass area surrounded by wood. | An interior opening where shared light matters. |
| Heartland Interior Door | Horizontal boards divided by a central vertical detail. | A room that needs a stronger wood pattern. |
| Tuscan Interior Door | Curved detailing within the panel layout. | A traditional interior with softer lines. |
| Summerhouse Barn Door | Horizontal boards inside a raised perimeter frame. | A sliding opening with clear wall space. |
| Z Barn Door | A diagonal brace across a plank face. | A farmhouse or rustic interior. |
| Pump House Front Door | A mostly solid wood face with shaped upper detailing. | An entry where the wood is the main feature. |
| Riverstone Front Door | A compact window area above wood panels. | An entry that needs some daylight. |
| Midland Front Door | Repeated horizontal glass sections. | An entry with a more contemporary pattern. |
| Cathedral Double Front Door | A glazed pair with a decorative metal grid. | A wider entry with a detailed focal point. |
The model name does not establish the wood species. Some current product descriptions specify knotty alder, and options can vary by model. Use the shortlist to discuss the look you want, then get the proposed mahogany configuration confirmed in the quote.
What to ask about the wood
Ask the supplier to identify the wood being offered and describe the door’s construction. Is the visible face solid lumber, veneer over a core, or part of an engineered assembly? What materials are used for the frame and other components? Those details are more useful than the word “solid” by itself.
Review a sample with the proposed finish. Wood varies from board to board, so treat the sample as a guide to the overall color and grain rather than a promise of identical markings. For a pair or several doors in one room, discuss how their appearance will be coordinated.
Clear, stained or painted?
| Finish approach | What you see | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Clear finish | Much of the wood’s natural color and grain. | The coating’s suitability for the location and required care. |
| Stained finish | Visible grain with an adjusted color. | A finished sample of the actual wood, not a color chip alone. |
| Painted finish | An opaque color that largely covers the grain. | Compatible preparation, primer and topcoat. |
| Dark finish | A deeper color chosen for contrast or coordination. | Exterior exposure and the manufacturer’s finish and warranty limits. |
Mahogany can be painted with an appropriate system, but paint covers the grain that may have driven your choice of wood. If an opaque finish is the goal, ask whether another approved material would meet the design and budget just as well.
Exterior mahogany needs an exterior plan
For an outside opening, choose a complete exterior door assembly. Weather exposure, water management, the frame, seals, glazing and installation all matter. A durable wood species does not make the door maintenance-free or give an interior door an exterior rating.
The U.S. Forest Service identifies protection from water, sunlight and weathering as a central purpose of exterior wood finishes. Follow the selected door and coating instructions for initial finishing, inspections and recoating. Avoid a fixed maintenance promise that ignores climate and exposure.
Reference: USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Wood Handbook: Finishing Wood.
Compare custom front entry doors for an exterior project and interior doors for rooms inside. Ask about any required protective overhang before settling on the entry design.
Get the final order into writing
- Exact model, dimensions, function and handing.
- Confirmed wood species and construction for the leaf and frame.
- Approved finish sample, texture and glass selection.
- Included hardware, lock preparation and frame components.
- Exterior exposure requirements, care instructions and warranty.
If two quotes look different, compare those five items before comparing price. A slab, a prehung door and a complete glazed entry package are different purchases.
Planning a client project?
Specifying several wood doors for a client? Keep the approved sample with the door schedule. Rustica’s contractor discount program explains professional eligibility and how to apply.
