The Great White Egrets Entry, Screen Doors, Side Lights, Sconces and Light Fixtures

The challenge for me in designing this entry was my client's desire for a fantastic entry along with providing ventilation, and still keeping security in mind. So instead of taking the standard route and what is usually done, a beautiful carved door with screen doors in front of it that obscures the beauty of the entry when that entry is closed, I decided to take a more unusual, but much more artistic and practical direction. 

I made the screen doors with hand-carved egrets and reeds, and bronze screens. Then I made another set of doors, on the inside, the exact same size, same wood, and the same placement of mullions as the screen doors with glass. The wood screen doors and the inner wood and glass doors have security locks so that when the weather is nice, the inner doors can open, allowing a breeze to flow through the house, with the beauty and security unchanged. 

The doors, side lights and reeds are made of Mozambique, a wonderful hard wood that does very well outdoors and carves nicely. For the egrets I chose jelutong wood because of the light color, and because egrets are white. I carried the reeds into the side lights to add a continuous flow to my design. The inner doors have a clear tempered glass, and the screen doors have bronze screen which is many times stronger than regular screen but is less noticeable because the wire is thinner. 

I also made the sconce lights you see hanging on either side of the doors out of Mozambique, with art glass that I designed and made, copper reeds, and copper hoods. 

By designing the outer screen doors to have the beautiful carvings, and the inner doors to match and fit exactly to the outer doors, I accomplished my client's dream to have a fantastic entry, ventilation, and security. 

Below are two photos. The first is the light fixture I designed and fabricated for the walkway to the home. The second is a close-up of one of the sconces that is installed next to the doors.