Polished brass threshold strip on a tiled step under an aubergine front door fitted with a gold rain deflector, autumn leaves on the tiles
Front door · Autumn and winter

A front door ready for winter

Polished brass that does a job: a threshold strip and rain deflector at the foot of the door, a brush tidy behind the letter plate and a viewer for dark evenings.

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The look
Fittings
Polished brass
Front door
Aubergine
Porch
Edwardian red brickTerracotta tileCream tile
Autumn
Copper beechGolden leaves

An Edwardian semi in late October, with a leaded fanlight, a tiled porch floor and a deep aubergine door. The polished brass here is practical as well as handsome. A threshold strip protects the step and gives the door something to close against, a gold rain deflector throws water clear of the gap underneath, and a viewer lets you see who is calling once it is dark at five. Inside, a tidy with a brush strip seals the letter opening against the wind.

Up close
Polished brass cylinder pull with a round rim cylinder near the edge of an aubergine front door, a tweed scarf hanging from the autumn wreath Edwardian red-brick semi-detached house with a white gable, bay window and aubergine front door, a red Japanese maple and fallen leaves on the tiled path Polished brass 160-degree door viewer framed by a copper beech, rose hip and dried hydrangea wreath on an aubergine door Aubergine front door at dusk under a glowing lantern and leaded fanlight, polished brass fittings, threshold and rain deflector catching the light, pumpkins on the tiled step Polished brass letter plate beaded with raindrops on a gloss aubergine door, a golden maple leaf caught beneath it Polished brass letter tidy with a brush draught excluder on the inside of a white door, an envelope and seed catalogue dropping through
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Polished brass to keep winter out

Aubergine Edwardian front door under a leaded fanlight with an autumn wreath, fitted with a polished brass viewer, letter plate and cylinder pull, a gold rain deflector and a polished brass threshold strip on the tiled step 4 6 5 2 1
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Good to know

Small fittings that keep the weather out

Best time to fitEarly autumn, before the first storms
Trend statusSeasonal; draught-proofing searches peak October to January
Inspired byEdwardian porches with tiled floors
SuitsPainted timber doors with a step or tiled porch

Start at the bottom

Most of the cold air and rain that gets past a front door comes in underneath it. A rain deflector on the outside of the bottom rail throws water forward, away from the gap, while a threshold strip covers the joint between the step and the hall floor and protects the edge of the tiles from wear. Together they make the foot of the door far tighter.

Then the letter box

A letter plate is a hole through the door, and in a wind the flap rattles and lets the draught straight into the hall. A tidy with a brush draught excluder fixes behind the letter plate: the bristles close the opening when the flap is shut and still let post through.

And a viewer for dark evenings

From late October it is dark before many people get home. A 160-degree door viewer lets you see who is at the door without opening it. In polished brass it sits neatly with the rest of the furniture and suits doors 35 to 55mm thick.

Fitting notes

Choose the threshold width

Measure the depth of the step or the gap between floor finishes. The single-bevel strip comes in several widths: fit it with the bevelled edge facing out so nothing catches a foot, and the square edge against the door frame.

Cut the deflector to fit

Rain deflectors are supplied long and cut to the width of the door. Fix it to the outside of the bottom rail and check the door still clears the threshold when it opens.

Size the tidy to the letter plate

The 310mm tidy covers the opening behind a standard 250mm letter plate with room to spare. Fix it centred over the cut-out on the inside face of the door.

Viewer height

Drill the viewer hole on the door's centre line at the eye height of whoever answers the door most often, usually 1500 to 1600mm from the floor.