Thanks for your thoughts, everyone. The reason I am hesitant to go the permanent route was it is so permanent. And if we don't like how it turned out, that's an expensive mistake. The reason I am hesitant on film is because I'm not sure how it holds up from a quality perspective. Oaktown: Wow, that's cool film. I wonder if it works? Very interesting. Virgil: We have tried pinging the architect on it. He hasn't responded to our emails. I wouldn't mind him being more engaged on the issue, but maybe he thinks it is too small an issue to get involved? I imagine if he did weigh in, he would say to just leave it all plain glass (no obscure). I will try to give him a call and ask about it. I get the impression that he thinks we over-think things.

For those of you that used the film, can you see who is at the door? My house seems like grand central station of late, and we took the pinched old fashioned curtains off about a year ago. I have actual curtain panels there now that we close up at night and open during the day. That way we have the privacy at night and during the day we can see who is at the door from the family room without going to the door (which is kind of a pain with child gates). If it is just the mailman, UPS., Fed Ex, etc. then we don't get the door.

I would think carefully about using the film. Why are you concerned about privacy. Someone would have to be really trying to look in to see much. The door style was made to be this way, why cover it? Get a ring doorbell or security cameras if it’s a concern . I saw the Beautiful door in your other post.

Hey There: You can install minimalistic light filtering bottom-up top-down shades to the door. This allows for light coming in the home but still gives you full privacy... This is a great way to manage light and privacy without having to block the light all year round.