Not only is our current storm door one of the most hideous available in recent years (That horrible scalloped edge!) it’s too small for the door opening, the bottom of the screen is busted through, and, most insultingly of all, when our house was painted by the previous owner, they just went ahead and sprayed the white metal door the same tan, matte color as the rest of the house. But while my reasons for needing a new door are plenty, my choices, not so much. The doors at Home Depot are serviceable but boring. Lowe’s isn’t much better, though they do carry some old fashioned wooden screen doors. They may not block the chill (not that our scalloped horror has been) but I just like the look of retro screen doors better. Check out these fab metal screen door inserts from Moon Shine Lamp & Shade and Hip Haven, $250 (just for the insert, not for the door). It might fit a vintage-style aluminum door from Columbia Royal Aluminum, $135 according to this post at No Pattern Required. I also found Garden Woodworks, a Seattle company that will custom make and ship you a wooden door wherever you are in the States, starting at around $300. Will a storm door make a big difference in our utility bills? (It hovers in the 50s for most of the year here.) If I go for efficiency, must I sacrifice style? — Mary T.

Photos via Garden Woodworks