For your viewing pleasure, here are the doors we're replacing:

I think it would help if you showed a picture of the house too. If you didn't want glass as the side panels you could always have some pretty wood put in there w/trim that would match the door style you choose.

I think waterglass and Flemish come closest to the look of old glass, although the irregularities are denser in them. This would be a good thing -- you might not need to add inner coverings for privacy. The texture in Antique is too sharp and hard-lined.

Thanks so much Chibimini. That narrows it down very well. I like them both. I was able to find a photo online of the Flemish glass, so am leaning towards that.
I would be very happy if I could avoid interior coverings, so I'm okay with the dense irregularities.

Jeannie, I may not have been clear in my post--we have decided on the door style (shown in the architectural drawing). I was looking for help with the glass options. I posted the picture of the existing doors only because I want to share how ugly they are! Thanks for replying.

You could always get plain glass and then apply a film, which is easy to do, to get the finish you want...then you'd be able to change it in the future if you want to...there are a lot of options for window film

Here is a link that might be useful: window films

Thanks for the link, AD. I have used window film on a door in our previous home. It's great stuff, but I think I want the shimmer of real glass for this door.

I am intrigued by the "bevel" tape they offer, though. I've never seen that before, and may just order a roll to play around with!

Thanks again for your help.

How much light is in the foyer behind the doors? If there isn't a window in the background to add illumination, it may be dark enough inside that the public can't see in, especially with the porch roof shading the area. Of course, if you turn on a light in the foyer at night, it will be visible to the outside world, but that may happen only every now & then.

I have glass double doors, but to see inside you'd have to get really close to the house. Despite all the door glass, it's just not bright enough in the foyer for the outside world to see in.

awm, there's a direct view right through the house to a bank of large windows in the family room. So we really do need the privacy both day and night. Of course, now I'm wondering how we'll be able to know who's at the door with this type of glass--no place for a peephole!

Given your choices, I think seedy baroque is the most distorting. Any of them would be beautiful in your doors (I love the renovation plans!). Just be prepared to supplement with sheers if you feel too exposed. Perhaps too you should rethink the other glass choices offered by the company -- not as pretty, but better for privacy.

I have double glass doors and at some point their stained glass was replaced with clear glass. We have double doors to outside that are heavy oak, but even so, when I'm coming down the stairs in my jammies and someone knocks on the door they have a full view...no time to hide! I absolutely HATE that! (you have to go through two sets of doors to get into the house if that makes sense? Victorian thing).

After having lived with this for three years, I would push you towards the most distortion possible...Autumn is nice, and you can't see clearly what's on the other side. This is not a bad thing :)

We will be putting back in stained glass in a very distorted pattern. You can work a peep hole into a frame if you want one, but that's not such a concern for me...I just want the ability to not answer the fedex man in my sleeping gear!

You might look at this web site...not that you need to get leaded glass, but you can see the various types of glass they use and they rate them for privacy.

I love the thin reed glass used in this window ... as I think it's very obscuring yet very modern looking...good for a 60s ranch.

Here is a link that might be useful: ODL blinds

Thanks everyone. I'm looking at the Seeded Baroque again. But I'm wondering if the effect of the distortion would be so pronounced that it might compete with the leaded glass windows on either side of the house (it's been hard to find a glass door that didn't do that), Igloochic, what you described (being caught in your jammies) is exactly what I'd like to avoid! Maybe I should just plan to put sheers behind the glass. I do love the doors and am really looking forward to flooding the foyer with light, so I've got to deal with the privacy factor one way or another.
Thanks for you input, everyone.

I am looking for a new door and I have to tell ya, I loved the Seedy Baroque! Your remodel looks absolutely beautiful. I just love your plans as it looks like a brand new crib!

Enjoy,

Laurie