If your home’s exterior aesthetic is far from modern, a vintage-inspired garage door may be the perfect fit. These doors can add old-world charm to shabby chic, rustic, farmhouse, and traditional homes while still offering the convenience and performance of a modern garage door. Before you choose a garage door replacement, take a closer look at vintage design, exterior style, and the options available for your home.
TL;DR: Vintage-Inspired Garage Doors
- Vintage-inspired garage doors create a classic look without using old or damaged materials.
- Carriage house garage doors are one of the most popular options for rustic and farmhouse-style homes.
- Modern carriage house doors can look like traditional swing-out doors while operating like standard overhead garage doors.
- Wood, faux wood, wood overlay, and composite materials can all create a vintage-inspired appearance.
- The right garage door style can improve your home’s exterior design and overall curb appeal.
What Is Vintage-Inspired or Shabby Chic Garage Door Style?
To better understand this type of garage door, it helps to start with the style itself. A vintage-inspired style is designed to look older or more traditional, but that does not mean the door itself is old. Instead of using antique parts or worn materials, a vintage-inspired garage door is made from modern materials that create a classic aesthetic.
Shabby chic, rustic, and farmhouse styles often fall under the vintage design umbrella. Unlike sleek, industrial, or modern garage doors, these styles have a more historical and nostalgic feel. While it may be easy to recognize a weathered rustic table or shabby chic piece of furniture, vintage-inspired garage doors are not always as easy to identify.
A weathered garage door may simply look old, damaged, or ready for replacement. Unlike a distressed table or chair that can add charm inside the home, chipped paint, cracked wood, or a worn exterior finish does not always create the right look on a garage door.
Instead of looking neglected, a vintage-inspired garage door should look like it belongs on a newer home designed with classic details from decades or even centuries ago. These doors do not need chipped paint, visible damage, or cracked wood to achieve a timeless appearance.
What Do Many Vintage-Inspired Garage Doors Look Like?
Carriage style is one of the most popular vintage-inspired garage door options. As the name suggests, this type of door is designed to look like the entry to an old carriage house. Many carriage house garage doors include a faux seam in the center that creates the appearance of two separate doors.
A traditional carriage door was made from two smaller doors that opened from the middle and swung outward. A modern carriage house garage door does not need to function the same way. Instead, it can open and close vertically like a standard overhead garage door while still keeping the appearance of a classic two-door design.
Along with the two-door style, carriage house garage doors are often made from wood or a wood-look material. Centuries ago, builders did not use materials such as aluminum or fiberglass for carriage houses, which made wood the standard choice.
To maintain that historic look, many carriage house garage doors use real wood, wood veneer, wood overlay, composite, or faux wood textures. If a solid wood door is outside your budget, these alternatives can provide a similar appearance at a more affordable price.
Are All Carriage House Style Garage Doors the Same?
No. While many carriage house garage doors share similar characteristics, they can vary greatly in design, material, and performance. Some include a two-door appearance, arched top, wooden face, raised planks, decorative handles, latches, and dark metal accents. Others may include rows of windows that follow the upper edge or curve of the garage door.
Even when carriage house doors have a similar vintage-inspired look, the details can be very different. These doors are available in a variety of materials, insulation levels, colors, window layouts, hardware styles, and sizes. This gives homeowners the flexibility to choose a garage door that matches their home’s design and their practical needs.
Are Carriage House Garage Doors the Only Vintage-Inspired Option?
No, carriage house doors are not the only vintage-inspired option for your garage. While they are a popular choice for shabby chic, rustic, and farmhouse-style homes, raised panel wooden doors with a natural finish can also create a similar classic appearance.
Wood veneer, faux wood texture, and composite garage doors can also help you achieve the look of a traditional wood door while staying within your garage upgrade budget. These options can provide warmth, character, and vintage appeal without the same cost or maintenance needs as some solid wood doors.
Do you need a new garage door now? If you’re not sure which vintage-inspired garage door is the best option for your home, which material to choose, or which styles are available in your area, talk to a professional. Contact our experienced team at Shank Door for more information or to set up a consultation.