Black Patio Doors Add Modern Contrast to a Classic Chesterfield Home

This Chesterfield patio door replacement gave a 50-year-old home a dramatic yet refined refresh. By upgrading multiple entry points to black-framed Pella® Reserve™ — Contemporary doors, the homeowners achieved a unified look that enhances their home’s curb appeal and everyday comfort. The new doors not only modernize the exterior but also improve insulation and energy performance throughout the main level. 

Working with Pella St. Louis, the homeowners opted for a full tear-out installation to ensure precise fit and lasting durability. Their goal was simple: replace aging, drafty doors with a modern solution that felt cohesive, elegant and built to perform for decades to come.

At the back of the home, the original French doors had begun to show their age. The white frames, once crisp and clean, had dulled over time and no longer matched the homeowners’ evolving style. Replacing them with new double inswing doors completely transformed the patio’s visual impact. 

The new full-glass panels feature narrow sightlines and squared detailing that accentuate the home’s geometry, creating a sleek contrast against the traditional red brick exterior. On the inside, black-stained wood frames tie beautifully into the home’s hardwood floors and warm neutral décor. The SunDefense™ Low-E insulating glass helps block solar heat gain during Missouri’s humid summers, while the satin brass Spiere hardware adds a touch of luxury that feels timeless rather than trendy. 

The result is a door that not only looks custom-built for the space but also enhances year-round comfort. From morning coffee to evening gatherings, this refreshed patio entry now serves as the home’s most inviting focal point.

For the homeowners, design continuity was essential. They wanted every black exterior door to share a consistent finish, sightline and material palette. Pella’s Reserve Contemporary collection made that possible, offering the same modern profiles and high-quality craftsmanship across hinged, French and sliding configurations. 

The team replaced both a side entry and a garage-adjacent hinged door to match the new patio doors. Each features a black EnduraClad® aluminum exterior for lasting durability and a black-stained wood interior for a polished, coordinated look inside. The 5/8-inch integrated light technology (ILT) grille pattern gives the glass a subtle sense of structure without overwhelming its minimalist design. 

Together, these updates give the home a sophisticated rhythm—every door echoing the same visual language of clean lines and contrast. From the driveway to the back patio, the entire exterior now reads as one cohesive, thoughtfully designed whole.

The existing sliding door on the main level was functional but outdated. Its bulky white frame limited light, and its older glass allowed heat transfer that made the adjoining room warmer in summer and cooler in winter. The homeowners replaced it with a new sliding patio door, gaining both performance and style. 

This updated door features SunDefense™ Low-E insulating glass with argon gas, designed to help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while still allowing abundant natural light. The advanced coating also helps block a significant portion of the sun’s UV rays, reducing the risk of fading on wood floors, furniture, and fabrics over time. The black aluminum-clad frame and expansive dual-glazed glass panels open the view to the backyard, visually expanding the living space and connecting indoors and out. 

Beyond the aesthetic transformation, the smooth-gliding operation makes everyday use effortless, while the high-performance weatherstripping improves energy efficiency and sound insulation. Whether closed during winter or open for a summer breeze, the new sliding door perfectly balances function and beauty.

This project was a full tear-out replacement, which meant Pella’s installation team completely removed the old frames and trim before setting each new door. This method provides a cleaner finish and ensures that the new products are properly sealed to prevent air leaks or water intrusion. 

Outside, the team added black aluminum coil trim around the siding and brick for a clean, polished finish. Inside, they replaced casing to match existing paint lines and made sure everything was back in place—trim, alarms and all—so the home looked fresh and finished by the end of the project. 

Every step was performed under EPA Lead-Safe guidelines, following Pella’s exacting installation standards. The homeowners now have doors that not only look beautiful but are built to perform through Missouri’s changing seasons—rain, heat or snow.