Garage door proportions

[Jeff Horton]

Finally started on the garage doors tonight. Long time coming! I started by ripping some of the cypress to size. I left them all long so I could mock it up and see if the proportions on paper looked as good in 3D. I had to change the window size because it looked ill proportioned.

Problem is with it laying on the ground it is dang hard to tell how it really looks. Finally thought to take a couple of photos with the camera at the ceiling so I could get a better view.

Just wanted to get some other opinions if these look about right to you. Oh yea, the lower panels will be be bead board plywood. I just grabbed the first scrap piece I found and laid it in place.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/gdoors/mockup1.jpg



http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/gdoors/mockup2.jpg

[Brett Baldwin]

It looks good to me except something about the lite openings bother me. I think it is that with a 6-lite opening, the lites are wider than they are tall. To me, taking that crosspiece out and making it a 3-lite would look more in proportion. JMHO.

[Marcus Ward]

I don't think having the openings wider than they are tall is bad, take a look at frank lloyd wright windows placed in the tops of walls. He does that all the time. Very craftsman/prairie style. Nice door too.

[Brett Baldwin]

That's true, Marcus. I suppose it depends on the style of the rest of the house. I think I'd go without the center rail in the bottom if I were going to do the 6-lite. Again, JMHO.

[Wes Bischel]

Jeff,

Something that is done frequently is to tape out the proportions on a wall. I've done some fairly detailed tape drawings with chartpak tapes (for varied line weights) prior to going to the mock-up stage. But for your purpose, just using some blue tape (or any other removable tape) should give you a feel for the proportions visible in the correct plane. If you really want to get detailed, slit the tape to get thinner lines for the interior/detail lines.

Also, use some kraft (paper bag) or other darker paper for the window lights to give a feel for the contrast of the windows.

Just a thought - it's cheaper and easier to use a roll of tape than to make a mistake with your cypress!

Wes

[Jeff Horton]

Tapeing it out on the wall, DUHH! So obvious and I wouldn't have thought of it. I like what I have but I think I will do that. That is such a good idea!

As for the grills that is far from set in stone. I have prarie/craftsman/cottage (just pick one you like) style grills in the house. I might want to copy that style. Which of course could effect the size of opening..... The door design copies a pattern on the back of he cabients and interior doors. It only makes sense to try to copy the window grills too. Everythign else flows why not the garage doors?

OK, where is that tape?? :)

This is the house they are going on.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/house.jpg

As soon as it warms up I have to get it painted.

Here is a view of the windows we used.

http://www.kudzupatch.com/temp/grills.jpg

Glad you guys mentioned the grills. I had not thought about trying to match this pattern. It may not work but I would rather try and know I don't like it!

[Brett Baldwin]

Well, now that I've seen the house I retract my first comment. Wider than tall goes just fine with the rest of your windows. That tape idea is a great one. Nothing beats seeing it "in-place."

[Frank Chaffee]

Jeff,
I suggest using the proportions of the lites in the living room windows for the garage door also (and for every other entrance door as well).
Frank

[Jeff Horton]

Wes, that is such a great idea. I laid out several ideas on the wall. And then editiing the image by mirroring the photo to see two doors together. Here are some ideas I tired and liked. BTW I bet I know which one the wife likes. :D

http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/gdoors/idea2.jpg
#1

http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/gdoors/idea3.jpg

#2

http://www.kudzupatch.com/woodshop/gdoors/idea4.jpg

#3 This is the one she will say go with. And it's not a bad choice. Glass matches all the windows. Front doors have a different pattern though.

I will refine the sizes a bit once we settle on which design. But I can now that it will be no problem to match the rest of the house. I was a bit concerned but not now, after seeing it on the wall. :D GREAT IDEA!!

[Wes Bischel]

Gee, glad it helped.:o I've had to do that on a few projects just to get a feel for the scale. You will still see a change when you go to 3D and actual materials/finishes, but at least this gets you in the ballpark of the look you want.

On ideas 1 and 2, try mirroring them the other way - so the vertical defines the outside edge on the doors - this will begin to define the doors as one element. Not necessarily a good or bad thing, but just trending to a different overall look.

Oh, and if your wife likes number three - disregard all of the above:eek: ;) :D

Looks like you're off and running!
Good luck,
Wes

PS: Great house! Really neat style to work with/on.

[Mark Singer]

Hey...SMC ers can anyone tell me if this belongs in the Design Forum...just a thought:rolleyes:

[Jeff Horton]

On ideas 1 and 2, try mirroring them the other way

Well I was wrong. She liked #1 and #2 :eek: I was shocked! First thing she was said was swap sides with them (mirror them). LOL We toyed around with these ideas on the wall and will go with something along this line, will refine it as we go.

Putting this on the wall made all the difference in the world. I can visualize things in my head, she can't very well. So this was great idea. And it is so simple to change. I bet I use this again and again.

[rick fulton]

photoshop test

[Vaughn McMillan]

And yet another Photoshop test, with the window pattern reversed...

30980

- Vaughn
_________________
...my pixels are from old-growth silicon forests, but my ideas are recycled. ;)

[Nathan Hoffman]

Okay, I'll vote for the one Vaughn drew. I am definitely going to keep this tape idea in the back of my brain. And maybe I'll be able to retreive it when I need it.:o

[Marcus Ward]

Gosh these are good ideas. I am a big fan of the prairie style and the FLLW type stuff and you guys are coming up with some good ones. Amazing how changing the windows completely changes the feel of a house. Vaughn I like yours best too. The vertical strip on the outside breaks out the obvious symmetry ... spreads it out or something so that it doesn't feel so typical. Very nice work guys. Jeff I'd really like to see these when you get them done.

[Jeff Horton]

Now why didn't I think to do this???? I think I REALLY like this pattern too.