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Doors are easy to overlook in your average American home today. They’re mostly there to serve a practical purpose and not much else. The following doors are examples of the exact opposite. In some of these cases, the doors themselves have become their own attractions, separate from the building they form a part of.

The Florence Baptistry Doors
In 1401, the Wool Merchant’s Guild of Florence announced a competition to see who could come up with the best panels for the Florence Baptistry’s north doors. The winner of the competition and the one who received the commission to work on the doors was a young sculptor named Lorenzo Ghiberti, who had to beat, among other competitors, none other than Filippo Brunelleschi. It took Ghiberti 21 years to complete the doors, which are made of gilded bronze with panels depicting scenes from the New Testament.

The Columbus Doors
The Columbus Doors in the U.S. Capitol Building’s Rotund draw a lot of inspiration from Ghiberti’s Baptistry Doors. Designed by Randolph Roger and installed in 1863, the doors are 17 feet tall, made of gilded bronze and weigh 20,000 pounds. The decorative panels depict the journey of Christopher Columbus.

Hohenstein Castle
The design of Germany’s Hohenstein Castle is a prime example of medieval architecture. Meant as a defense post, the castle was constructed in 1180 and despite the fact that it is now a hotel, its doors still reflect its original military purpose. The doors of Hohenstein Castle are massive wooden panels with reinforced iron plates and handles that manage, with their sharp, gothic designs, to look both decorative and threatening.

Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan, in honor of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The famous mausoleum is located in Agra, India and it is one of the most iconic and brilliant examples of Mughal architectures, which combines techniques and aesthetics from Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. The doorways of the Taj Mahal are many, multilayered and intricately decorated. A lot of them make use of overhead marble panels with floral engravings or paintings.

The Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles was begun by Louis XIII decree, but it was made famous by Louis XIV’s, under whose reign Versailles became the seat of the extravagantly decadent French court of the time. The halls and corridors of Versailles are meant to convey the ultimate in luxury and wealth, and its doors are thus some of the most intricate and lavishly designed in the world. They are decorated with fine gold designs and panels and often set in marble archways and inlaid with precious gems.

When considering modern door upgrades it can be as simple as adding a decorative door knob.  For more ideas on decorative doors, visit http://www.dhshardware.com.

Ryan Frank is a 23 year writer and blogger living in San Diego, CA.

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