Case Study: Bespoke Accoya Doors for a Traditional New Build Home in County Durham
Handmade external timber doors, ornate mouldings and a curved fanlight for a unique new build property
H&C Joinery manufactured and installed a set of bespoke external timber doors for a traditional-style new build home in County Durham.
The project included four single doors and a main entrance double door set with a curved fanlight, all manufactured to the client’s exact design. The doors featured arched beadwork, ornate mouldings, a Gloss 9005 Jet Black paint finish and reclaimed historic ironmongery.
Manufactured in Accoya timber and fully factory finished, the finished doors helped create a striking entrance and a consistent traditional appearance across this unique new home.
Project Specifications
Project detail | Information |
Project type | Bespoke external timber doors |
Property type | Traditional-style new build home |
Location | County Durham |
H&C role | Manufacture and installation |
Joinery supplied | Four single doors and one main entrance double door set |
Main entrance detail | Double doors with curved fanlight |
Design details | Arched beadwork and ornate mouldings |
Timber used | Accoya |
Finish | Gloss 9005 Jet Black paint finish |
Ironmongery | Reclaimed historic ironmongery |
Additional performance details | A+ rated double glazing and high-security multipoint locking |
Key requirement | Bespoke doors made to the client’s exact design for a traditional-style new build |
Project brief
The client wanted a set of bespoke external doors that would suit the character of a traditional-style new build property.
Rather than choosing standard off-the-shelf doors, the project required handmade timber doors designed around the architecture of the home. The doors needed to feel substantial, characterful and appropriate for a property with traditional detailing.
The main entrance was especially important. It needed to create a strong first impression, with a double door arrangement and curved fanlight forming a focal point at the front of the home.
The brief centred on three practical priorities:
- Manufacture and install bespoke external doors to the client’s exact design.
- Create a striking main entrance with double doors and a curved fanlight.
- Use traditional detailing, reclaimed ironmongery and a durable painted finish.
The challenge
New build homes with traditional styling can be difficult to get right.
If the doors are too plain or too standard, they can undermine the character of the whole property. If the detailing is overdone or poorly proportioned, the result can feel false rather than authentic.
For this project, the doors needed to support the traditional appearance of the building while still delivering the security, finish and performance expected from modern external joinery.
The challenge was not simply to make a set of doors. It was to create a coordinated external door package that gave the new home a more established, characterful feel from the moment someone approached the entrance.
H&C Joinery’s approach
H&C manufactured the doors in Accoya timber, a modified timber widely used for high-performance external joinery because of its durability and stability.
The door design included arched beadwork and ornate mouldings, giving the joinery a traditional appearance that suited the style of the property. The main entrance was made as a double door set with a curved fanlight above, creating a distinctive and carefully proportioned focal point.
The Gloss 9005 Jet Black paint finish gave the doors a strong, classic appearance, while the reclaimed historic ironmongery added detail and authenticity.
The joinery package included:
- Four bespoke single external doors
- One main entrance double door set
- Curved fanlight
- Arched beadwork
- Ornate mouldings
- Accoya timber construction
- Gloss 9005 Jet Black paint finish
- Reclaimed historic ironmongery
- A+ rated double glazing
- High-security multipoint locking
- Factory finishing in H&C’s spray shop
The factory finishing helped create a consistent, controlled finish before installation, giving the doors a refined painted surface suitable for a high-quality residential project.
Traditional appearance with modern external door performance
The key strength of this project was the combination of traditional design and modern door performance.
The arched beadwork, ornate mouldings and reclaimed ironmongery gave the doors the character needed for a traditional-style property. The Accoya timber, factory-applied finish and high-security multipoint locking helped make them practical for everyday use.
The result was a door package that combined:
- Traditional-style handmade joinery
- Bespoke entrance design
- Curved fanlight detailing
- Durable Accoya timber
- High-quality painted finish
- Reclaimed ironmongery
- Modern security
- A consistent appearance across multiple external doors
This balance matters on new build projects where the property is designed to have character from day one, rather than looking like a standard modern house with generic doors added at the end.
Why this project matters
The result
The completed doors gave the County Durham new build home a distinctive, traditional and high-quality finish.
The main entrance double doors and curved fanlight created a strong focal point, while the four single doors helped carry the same design language across the property. The combination of Accoya timber, ornate detailing, Gloss 9005 Jet Black paint and reclaimed ironmongery gave the doors a crafted appearance that suited the style of the home.
By combining handmade joinery with modern glazing, security and factory finishing, H&C delivered a bespoke door package that looked appropriate for the property while performing as practical external joinery.
Bespoke doors for new build properties
This County Durham new build project shows how bespoke timber doors can add character, weight and individuality to a new home.
For homeowners, architects and developers working on traditional-style properties, the external doors play a major role in the overall impression of the building. A standard door can make even a well-designed property feel ordinary. A properly made bespoke timber door can help the building feel considered, permanent and complete.
H&C Joinery regularly manufactures bespoke external doors, entrance doors, French doors, glazed doors and heritage-style doors for properties where standard joinery is not good enough.
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FAQs about bespoke external doors for new build homes
Can bespoke timber doors be made for a new build property?
Yes. Bespoke timber doors are a strong option for new build homes, especially where the property has a traditional, period-inspired or architectural design. The doors can be made to suit the style, proportions and finish of the building.
Why use Accoya Wood for external doors?
Accoya is commonly used for external joinery because it offers strong durability and dimensional stability. This makes it suitable for doors exposed to changing weather conditions, especially when combined with a proper factory-applied finish.
Can a bespoke front door include a fanlight?
Yes. Bespoke front doors can be manufactured with fanlights, sidelights or shaped glazing depending on the design of the entrance. On this project, H&C manufactured a main entrance double door set with a curved fanlight.
Can traditional-style doors include modern security?
Yes. Handmade timber doors can include modern multipoint locking systems while still keeping a traditional appearance. This allows the door to look right for the property while offering practical day-to-day security.