How to transform your home entrance with a massive custom door: style tips and wood species.

I’ve started renovating my entrance, and I’m tired of standard doors from home improvement stores that look like plastic and deteriorate after two years. I’m thinking of ordering a serious custom door made 100% from solid wood, without MDF or veneer, built exactly to my dimensions rather than being forced to choose from a limited catalog.

I really like the idea of working with a shop that lets you approve the technical drawings before they cut the wood, so you have total control. Furthermore, I need heavy-duty steel or brass hardware specially designed to support the weight of a massive door, so I won't have any surprises during installation.

For the exterior, I am leaning towards a hardwood species that will resist well over time and that I can refinish in two decades if needed - something impossible with today's cheap products.

What wood species do you recommend for a door that will still look impeccable in 20 years, and how did you manage to integrate the right hardware to achieve that balanced look at your home's entrance?