I really prefer the appearance of the 2 panel doors, however, I don't like most of the lever handles offered, and usually recommend an oval handle for doors.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not sure why, but I'm not a fan of oval doorknobs. The front door has one (previous owners), and I've never liked it...

If you're going for a traditional/classic look 6 panel is the way to go IMHO. The 2 panel doors look cheesy to me. They scream "builders basic"

Thanks for your input....

I'm kind of curious - if someone were to go into custom built homes ($$$), what kind of doors would they be.... I really want to go with whatever is considered an upgraded look - this contractor seems to think 2 panel is the more custom look....

How big is your home? My Mother in law built a new home at 70. She put beautiful raised paneled doors through out. I thought they made the hall confining and busy. They were too much for her space/home. I am not sure if she had painted the walls more than flat white if that would have helped but the home seemed unbalanced, door heavy if you will. I for one have never wanted my doors to be a focal point. It seems to me they should blend into the back ground. I would vote for the two panels. Hers were 6 and it was overwhelming.

Thanks!

It's a 3600 square foot home.

To be honest, on the first floor, I only have 3 such doors - laundry room, bathroom, and basement. I have double French/window 15-lite doors for the den, and all other rooms have wide doorway openings to each other (kitchen and family room are really one big long room).

Upstairs I will have several for the bedrooms/bathrooms.

I prefer the 6 panel doors!
Builders basic here is the two panel.

I also prefer levers over knobs... much better for my old hands, and nice when you need to pass through doors with your hands full!

I like levers for old hands like mine but in the past, I found when I reached for the door lever, my robe (big sleeves) would always catch on the lever....what can I say!

I like levers for old hands like mine but in the past, I found when I reached for the door lever, my robe (big sleeves) would always catch on the lever....what can I say! Levers ARE easier to open when your hands are full, however.

Hmm, I think it is a style issue, Our house had all solid 6-panel doors. To me they looked too colonial and old-fashioned, and too formal for a CT farmhouse. I replaced them with 2 panel Shaker-like doors, And all old door knobs.

I don't think the number of panels per se denotes an upgrade or a downgrade, as it were. To me it's simply a style decision.

In a similar vein, we beefed up molding in some rooms, but we specifically eschewed elaborate crowns.

I agree about the number of panels being more than an upgrade issue. To put 6-panel doors in my long hallway was way too busy, but I hate the hollow core flat doors. The 2-panel was the best looking. What I dislike in builder grade that I see, is the fake wood grain. No matter how many panels there are, it looks like fake wood.

We are going with the vintage looking 5 panel doors but that is the "feel" we want for the house.

The 6 panel seems more formal to me than the 2 panel. Around here 2 panel is the basic.

I just found this house on houzz. To me, this house is gorgeous.... This would be an example I guess of the 2 panel door with ORB lever handles..... I have the dark wood floors like this as well.... It's a much more grandiose house than mine (with those amazing spiral staircases and upstairs landing space), but it would be a look that would catch my eye.

[Traditional Hall[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-hallway-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_743~s_2107) by Toronto Home Builders HUSH

When the contractor mentioned the 2 panel doors looking amazing, it did trigger my memory that I had seen some cases where they looked really good..... just didn't enter my mind to do that in my own home.....

I went from 6 panel in my old house to 2 panel in this house. It's all a matter of personal preference. I preferred the 2 panel at the time.

We are building in the spring and downsizing a little and I plan to go with 5 panel doors.

I prefer knobs over levers but again, it is a matter of personal preference.

6 panel doors are appropriate for homes in a Colonial, Georgian, Dutch Colonial, Southern Plantation style.

They are not appropriate for bungalows, Country French, Mission Spanish, Mediterranean, Tudor, American FourSquare, western ranch styles, These home styles would typically have 2 panel & 4 panel doors.

Raised ranch, split level & MCM would typically not have any panel doors.

Let's not forget about new doors, more visually appropriate for warmer climates that have louvers,(sometimes false louvers).

We have 6 panel wood doors in our home and 2 panel doors in our second home. I prefer the 6 panel doors.

Am I the only one with 3 panels? Newer Spanish style house with solid wood doors. Spray painted for a very smooth clean finish.

You're not the only one who likes 3 panel, I'm a huge fan. We are looking to also replace our hollow core doors and I love the 3 panel, although my husband is a fan of the two panel. 3 panel whereas the top is larger, smaller middle panel, and bottom is shorter than the top panel.

This post was edited by Zoey_B on Thu, Oct 17, 13 at 22:50

Since we Are talking panels, what type of house would a four panel go in?

I have a 1980s typical starter house in a development. No real style, or at least nothing defining a style.

We currently have 6 panel, which seems to be very common from the comments.

The two panel are nice, but I think a touch modern. Would four panel be strange?

The OP may like these too, it seems to be a nice compromise, a little cleaner than 6 panels but not as stark as 2.

Our house interior doors have 5 horizontal panels similar to the ones in this houzz.com picture except with ORB levers... and were an upgrade over 6 panel, but I think they just fit with the rest of the white trim and board and batten style paneling we have... and are a bit less common around here. I think your door/window trim and base molding having a substantial width is what also makes a big impact.

I think the Bordeau style lever you've picked looks great for a traditional home.

We went with the 2 panel with arched top beverly posted above. We used the segmental arch as a theme sprinkled throughout the house, so it only made sense to add it to the doors too.

We also went with levers over knobs for aging purposes, but have found them incredibly useful, especially when you are trying to open a door with your hands full...you can open them with your elbow.

Levers are indeed better for aging in place or for people with certain disabilities. Be aware that medium and large smart dogs learn to open levered doors and let themselves out, if the doors are left unlocked. They never learn to close the door behind them, though. Just a cautionary note, based on real life experience with border collies and labs. This is especially true if you have squirrels on the premises . . .

Five paneled horizontal doors here, to go with my cottage style house and vertical paneled wainscoting.

I've had painted wood solid core doors in the past. What I didn't like about those doors was the constant expansion and contraction which opened the seams around panels, but maybe it was just my doors that made this happen. I much prefer the molded doors I now have. Painted, you can't tell that they are molded. I also elected to have solid on the bedrooms and baths, but hollow on the closets to save money and to make hanging easier--we are DIYers.

I love threads like this - I learn so much!

All the new construction around here (that I've seen anyway) seems to use 6 panel as the default, unless you spec something different. So to me, the 2 panel looks more "custom". But obviously that varies around the country.

I currently have levers, and love them. So much easier to open when your hands are full.

Thanks for all the additional replies! I did not realize there were so many MORE options! I was just trying to decide between 2 and 6 panel! :)

I actually was looking at the specs of a more custom home builder here (for one of their luxury home projects), and they do 2 panel by default. Very interesting.....

[Duplicate post]

This post was edited by Ellen1234 on Fri, Oct 18, 13 at 11:11

Beverly27--will you elaborate on which houses are most appropriate for 5 panel, my current favorite?

Teresa2a--pictures of your 5 panel doors please?

I would say go for 2 panel, if your going for a more modern look. Here 2 panel is what several builders use (few use 6) I think 2 panels look better in my opinion.

Just a cautionary note on replacing hollow core doors with solid ones. If you have any pocket doors. leave them hollow core. Solid doors are much too heavy to open and close if they are pocket doors. Also the track upon which they hang often warps from the weight, causing huge repair headaches!

I had two heavy solid wood doors with a full textured glass panel in each, installed in pocket doors in two different rooms, but used the beefier ball bearing hardware which is rated for far greater weight than the doors. The tracks installed are also rated for greater weight. They glide effortlessly.

Agree with Beverly to pick door based on the architecture of your house.

Re door hardware------dont buy anything until you have actually felt it in your own hand. Many lever type handles are too thin and feel cheap, or arent shaped correctly and feel awkward in your hand. A really nice handle, whether a lever type or doorknob, will feel great and be easy to use. We have seven exterior doors and have replaced the hardware on six and i can honestly say it is a pleasure to open and close those doors with a solid, well designed and substantial handle. We left the front door alone because the doorknob is integrated into a larger brass plate, very pricey (here from previous owner) and looks fantastic when the brass is polished, but it does not feel as satisfying as opening the other doors, so its not just about money.

I am so happy I fell upon this feed because I am going through a similar dilemma . We just bought a small bungalow and have to decide between two or multi panel doors. I have a small home so would two panel be less overwhelmimg? My style is between classic and modern....contemporary, I would say....

I'm building a cabin, small, which will only be used part of the year. We're on a very tight budget. 6-panel is not my favorite, but it is going to save us some money to go with that for the interior. What do you think about going with fewer panels on the entry doors? Do they have to match in terms of panel count?