Panel Profiles 101: Lighthouse™ vs. Craftsman
When people say a front door “fits” a house, they are reacting to the panels. Two details drive that reaction: panel design and panel profile. Panel design is the layout, meaning how rails, stiles, and panels are arranged across the slab. Panel profile is the edge detail on the panels, often called the “hip.” It is what creates the shadow line that makes a door read crisp, soft, or traditional at the curb. Feather River® fiberglass doors lean into that effect with high-definition panel embossments and woodgrain texture that mimic a real wood door.
Profile and finish also travel together. The finish sits on
top of those shadow lines, so the same paint or stain can look sharper or
warmer depending on the profile beneath it. Feather River® finishes are hand
stained or painted to bring out the grain detail, and some variation is part of
the real-wood look.
Lighthouse™ panel profile: calm structure with coastal ease
The Lighthouse™ look works when you want vertical emphasis
without fuss. It feels right on cottages, farmhouses, and coastal builds
because the proportions read tall and steady against clapboard siding,
board-and-batten, or shingle textures. In painted white, the Lighthouse™
profile stays clean because the panel edges are straight and squared. The light
hits the hip and drops into a quiet shadow, which keeps the surface from
feeling flat.
The image above features a Lighthouse™ 1-Lite Teak woodgrain
door painted white with Brilliant Star™ glass. The single lite gives the entry
a strong vertical read. Brilliant Star™ adds pattern and light, but it stays
controlled, not busy. It is also rated PR 6 on the Feather River® 1–10 privacy
scale, which tends to land in the “light comes through, details blur” middle
ground.
Craftsman style panel profile: weight, proportion, and heritage
Craftsman architecture asks for structure you can feel. A
Craftsman style panel profile answers with bolder rails and stiles and a more
built look across the face of the door. It reads solid next to thicker casing,
stone, brick, and porches with substantial columns.
The image above features a Mahogany woodgrain Craftsman door
in a Chestnut finish with a Low-E 1-Lite, plus matching sidelites. Chestnut
deepens the mahogany grain and helps the entry feel grounded. The one-lite
layout keeps the face orderly, while the sidelites widen the opening and
brighten the interior. If your exterior already carries Craftsman cues, a
dentil shelf can reinforce that heritage look without adding clutter.
How to choose
Start with what your house repeats. Do your windows lean
vertical or horizontal? Is your trim sharp and spare, or thick and traditional?
Match the door’s shadow lines to those cues and the whole front elevation
settles down.
Finish still matters, but profile sets the first impression.
Lighthouse™ works when you want an entry that feels bright, tailored, and
relaxed. Craftsman works when you want the front door to feel anchored,
structured, and classic.
About Feather River Doors
At Feather
River Doors we are a team of dedicated professionals who are committed
to providing our customers with the highest quality products and exceptional
service. Our mission is simple; to create beautiful, functional doors that
enhance the look and feel of any home or business. Since 2003, Feather River
has offered fiberglass doors and sold almost ten million doors to satisfied
customers throughout the U.S. and are sold through TheHome Depot®.
Our decorative glass door collections are available with the
choice of several sizes and designs. Additionally, we offer hand-stained or
pre-painted finishes for our doors. For ideas and inspiration, view our
latest FeatherRiver Doors catalog.