Why don’t more people put some original thought into their front doors? There are so many enchanting options, like sculpted archways, graceful carved wood, and even drawbridges. With a bit of creative thinking and elbow grease, we could be enjoying a transporting experience every time we step through the entryway of someone’s home.
Yet people almost invariably opt for the ‘safe’ option – the bog standard aluminium or timber door. Replacement of an existing door, admittedly, is somewhat constrained by the shape of the opening, and standardised door sizes probably make life a bit easier for builders. Still, this is the portal to your private world we’re talking about. Why would you want some flimsy flyscreen contraption when you could have a deconstructed longboat engraved with runes bidding your honoured guests welcome to your abode?
The same could be said for windows, really. They, too, are portals between the outside and inside worlds, yet they are rarely designed in a way that enshrines this. I mean, I get it. Functionality is important when it comes to windows; you want to let in as much light as possible while maintaining a modicum of security. I suppose that’s why people settle, as with doors, for garden variety timber windows. Around the Melbourne area, you’ll see that virtually everyone has the same basic types of windows, and I acknowledge that there’s a reason for that.
Can you imagine, though, putting the same amount of attention into your windows and doors as you would into, say… I don’t know, actually. What do people put thoughtful attention into these days? Their home security systems? Cable management? Optimal wifi configuration? I’m not saying people shouldn’t do that, by the way. Arguably, those are portals as well, just of a different kind. But doors and windows are special. There is scope for them to have unnecessary, even inefficient features that simply celebrate the grandeur of their own design. But I guess people in this day and age are more focused on streamlined efficiency.