Storm door? Not unless you find you MUST have it.
Numbers above mailbox and below light? Yes
How to hang a wreath? Should I put in a nail or screw between the lites? I would not, i think it ruins the look. If you had to, I would put a nail at the top and hang fishing wire
Should I flank the door with potted mums, or just on the left side? Or none at all? Would love some plant(s) and/or color. Your house is very symemtrical. Id love to see large clay pots flanking, and just drop in plastic containers of whatever is in season

I wouldn't put a storm door on!
You are right on about placement of numbers. Flank the door with big pots.

Of course a front entry way always looks better without a storm door....but your house will feel better with a storm.

The front of my house looks almost identical to yours! I have a storm...but it's wooden with lights. Sorry but just a wooden door is not enough protection form an Iowa winter....but it does look better without.
i have big pots of small evergreen trees off the stuep to the side of the pillars....and my house numbers are mounted on the front of the portico.
And my mailbox and door bell are on the left....because that's the way the door opens.
Love it that your shutters are large enough for your house and don't look like parentheses next to your windows.
Hang your wreath below the lights on the door.

Thanks all. Linda would you mind posting a picture?

Practicality wins out. On a north-facing door in New England, you NEED a storm door. The black, full-view storm door will be almost unnoticeable and will keep your home warmer and drier.

Helene

I agree with Helene. No question in my mind-full glass with black frame. Love the door, btw.

Yes to a storm door. They don't make them like they used to! We have one with an invisible screen and we just love to keep the door open to see out of during the day, and to let fresh air in.

Our door is north facing also and we have a large covered porch, but when that wind is blowing hard from the north full of snow and rain, it's the storm door that keeps our expensive wood door from getting beat up.

As a fellow New Englander, I'd go with the storm door. Extra protection in the winter, and the screen will allow you to get breezes in the summer. And keep out all the bugs.

The north side of a house is usually the coldest, because it gets very little direct sun during the winter.

You could always try going without the storm door this winter, and see how your fuel bills compare to last year.

Another vote for the storm door.

To hang a wreath, put a thumbtack(the old-fashioned flat kind) into the top of the door. You will probably have to use a hammer, since the wood can be pretty hard. Hang your wreath from fishing line that loops around the tack. This allows the door to close, and, unless someone get on a chair and looks at the top of your door, no one will know that the tack is there.

If you prefer to hang your wreath from a ribbon, put the tack through the ribbon and then put the tack in the top of your door. The ribbon is unlikely to affect the closing of the door.

I would like to see two big urns on either side of the path, right up against the porch, but on the ground. I think they would crowd the porch if they were up on it, but photos can be deceiving.

Beautiful house!

we decided to add a storm door too (especially since my hair would blow in our foyer without one thanks to our old door.)

I do like being able to have the front door open and just have the storm closed and let all the natural light in - that is one definite plus to a storm.

Here is ours - we have an Andersen full glass.

A storm door is a no brainer here. Jumping in with another question. I want my main door painted in a deep blue green. Would painting storm door to match be odd? I do like the photo of the black over white. Current door is white with black trim and white storm.

Love your home Phyll and all the suggestions, options given.

How much of a hassle is the interchanging of glass and screen in those type of full view storm doors? I was ready to go with retractable screen ontop but now rethinking and like the idea of full view (without the center horizontal bar).

Thanks for the compliments. I will try to find a "before" photo - it's been an unbelievable change!

The Anderson full view storm doors - schoolhouse - changing out the glass for screen is definitely not as easy as the retractable ones. But I just can't have a horizontal bar across my front door after all this work! I will do the slide up/down one on my side door however.

Tech - I personally do not like a different color storm over a door. I think it shrinks the entry. I chose the storm door and color first - ie black, and that drove the decision to make the door black. I did not like the red that Anderson offered, nor any of the other colors. Suggest you find a storm door in the color you like (or ask for a custom color). I think we do not ever paint these types of storm doors nowadays.

My painters won't touch the Anderson window finishes - inside or out. Just my 2 cents.

Schoolhouse it's a matter of moving a few switches that hold the insert in, removing one insert and putting in the other. It takes all of a minute. The glass insert is very heavy but I assume you have help or someone who can carry it away for you.

One advantage to a storm door is that it protects the hardware on the inside door. Another advantage is that you can use a wreath that is not weatherproof I have a southern facing door and no matter how much I pay for my hardware, the sun eats the finish off. I'm just now going out to shop for storm doors.

The disadvantage is, if you have pets, you may end up replacing the screen once before you are able to train them to stay off of it.

phylhl, I just concluded my research on storm doors.

"you just never know with our winters whether a storm will provide necessary protection or not, from the elements, bugs, etc."

If the protection you are seeking is for energy savings, according to my research the savings is insignificant and it would take over 20 years for the door to pay for itself. And that will only occur if it's a very good door and it is properly installed. A completely sealed door will make it hard to close one door against the other and if it is not hard, you are not saving any energy.

When researching I saw one article that said people tend to leave the inside door open so they can enjoy the window. The storm doesn't provide the insulating value of the solid door, so in extreme weather you are losing money by using it as a window.

If by protection you mean it makes it easier to paint the inside door (I hear you on that), or that the hardware will retain its finish, sure, any storm will do that. But it certainly does create an extra hassle to come and go, especially when carrying stuff. I've decided, again (I've been here 27 years and I consider this periodically) that I don't want any storm doors after all, lol.

Those that need a storm door do have some relief from the elements. I use mine for an extra security lock too, specifically when the main door is open. Also it was amazing how much noise was tampered from the outside with one on. Mine is a good solid quality and has three openings for changing screen/glass. I actually like the look.

Agree that two doors to get through can be a pain.

Yes to the storm door with the full length window.

Yes -- to installing the numbers above the mailbox.

Yes -- to hanging the wreath from a nail carefully tapped in to the top of the door. But watch for scratching from some wreaths ...

Yes -- add two large black pots or urns -- for seasonal color. First position a large flat patio stone on the ground (dig out slightly and add a layer of play sand and gravel under the stone) Large black urns would be stunning with seasonal color from flowers or foliage.

Also -- consider adding a strong boot scraper to the porch entry -- always handy!

Here is a link that might be useful: boot scraper

Google 'wreath hanger', it's a longish metal bracket sort of thing that hangs over the top of your door, the one I have works really well.

As a fellow New Englander, I say you need a storm door. I use mine in the warmer weather for a breeze. Can't imagine not being able to, or dealing with bugs and birds getting inside the house. Even if I had central air, I would want fresh air.

I never keep my door open in colder weather. That's a huge waste of energy by letting the cold air in. But I do have a lot of large windows and six panes in the door as well so it's not dark.

Would the wreath become impossible with a storm door?

No, there should be adequate space between the doors to hang a wreath. I was wondering if I should hang it from between the lites, or below the lites.

Thanks again, all.

ive had it both ways. Now i do not have a storm door but thats because i live more secluded but if you like looking out and letting the outside in like I traditionally do, I'd say go for the full view that matches the door color or the frame, especially if you have a screen insert for it for more air when you dont have your heat or a/c on I just love the inviting look of a storm door with the front door opened. It looks so inviting.

I talked to a lumberyard this morning that can order an Anderson full view storm door for me. The lady I spoke to also has an older house and went through the same thing about ordering a storm door instead of keeping wooden screen doors! She priced the door at $316.71 + $35 delivery to my house. That sounds fair for delivery. Then I questioned the "clear tempered glass" of the door and how about insulated glass? With insulated glass total cost of the door w/delivery will be $420. I told her I would call back tomorrow with my final decision. Seems if I'm going to pay that much money for a storm door I'd might as well get the insulated glass, right?

Wow, schoolhouse - I wish I knew there were different glass options for the Anderson doors. I wonder now what I have. I paid about $400 for the door through National Lumber.

I think I've decided to put the storm door on the front. I really appreciate everyones opinion on this, and all the good ideas and things to consider. I agree oopsie, it's so inviting to walk by someone's house who has the front door open (with the storm closed). My dog will definitely be happy. Once it's installed, I'll post another picture. I'm still waiting for the Baldwin hardware to come in, I don't know what the holdup is.

As far as the potted plants - seems there are very few mums left; I may have missed the window. Pumpkins will have to suffice for now.

Thanks again!

Beautiful house. Instead of a nail I would use a magnetic wreath hangers. They use magnets to hold a wreath on a glass window by using 2 magnets that securely attach to each other.

Zoey awesome idea - magnetic wreath hangers. I looked online, seems the kind generally offered don't work with double paned glass. Do you know of any that do?
I was about to order, then I read the fine print.

Thanks!!!