In the world of Los Angeles luxury real estate, front doors have reached extraordinary proportions, with some reaching heights that would make even giants feel at home. The trend has captured attention particularly through Netflix's "Selling Sunset," where viewers witnessed real estate brokers touring a house owned by Erewhon's proprietors, featuring what one broker called "maybe the most insane door I've ever seen" – a two-story tall entrance that dwarfed the humans walking through it.
The Erewhon owners' residence exemplifies the extreme luxury that defines high-end Los Angeles properties. Beyond the massive front door, the house features leather walls, a bathroom crafted entirely from silver-wave marble, and a travertine-clad kitchen stocked with smoothies inspired by Hailey Bieber. However, it was the comically large front door that captured everyone's attention during the "Selling Sunset" tour, marking the first time in nine seasons that brokers made a comment viewers could truly relate to.
Kevin Booker, the Carolwood Estates broker who handled the listing, noted that regardless of buyers' opinions about the house itself, "everybody loved that door." The property ultimately sold for $28.5 million, representing a $6 million profit over what the owners had paid just one year earlier. Booker estimates the door ranks among the top five biggest residential doors in the city, raising questions about whether the impressive entrance contributed to the substantial sale price.
This trend extends far beyond a single property, as browsing high-end listings throughout Sherman Oaks and the Hollywood Hills reveals a clear pattern: oversized doors have become the new standard in luxury real estate. What was once considered a big door has now become normal-sized in the context of Los Angeles' luxury market, creating what industry insiders call a "Big Door Singularity."
The engineering behind these massive entrances presents significant challenges and costs. George Topalian, founder of West Coast Architectural, a luxury door and window manufacturer, explains that a 12-foot tall door can weigh up to 1,500 pounds while still using standard hardware. However, anything taller requires custom hardware and specialized engineering. Topalian has manufactured doors reaching 24 feet in height, which necessitate their own steel or aluminum substructure to support the immense weight.
The scale of these doors continues to push boundaries, with notable examples including Michael B. Jordan's former eight-bedroom, ten-and-a-half bath residence that featured a magnificent 20-foot door when it hit the market in 2023. Meanwhile, a six-bedroom property in Encino currently listed for $9.7 million boasts an 11-foot bleached-wood entrance, with the listing specifically noting that even the interior pocket doors are oversized.
John Barnes, vice president of sales and marketing at Panda Windows & Doors, reveals that the industry's definition of "big" continues to evolve. When his company displays 16 to 18-foot tall pivot doors at trade shows, attendees express amazement, but Barnes considers these "kind of small" by current standards. The manufacturer's largest door to date measures 25 feet tall, with costs ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 depending on specifications and custom requirements.
The psychology behind this trend reflects the fundamental importance of first impressions in luxury real estate. Brent Watson, a broker with Beverly Hills Estates who has observed the door "embiggening" phenomenon, explains that the entrance serves as the initial point of reference for potential buyers. At the ultra-high-end price points these properties command, if clients don't immediately respond positively to the house's appearance, the sale becomes virtually impossible. Watson also suggests that the trend reflects buyers' personalities, noting that "people with big egos want to have a big presence."
Practical considerations arise regarding the actual use of these massive entrances. While some brokers claim the doors are used regularly, with Booker insisting the Erewhon door "was used all the time" and "was very easy to open," others acknowledge a more pragmatic reality. Watson admits that many oversized front doors serve primarily as formal entrances designed to impress guests, while homeowners typically use separate mud-room entrances for daily activities like returning from morning workouts at Tracy Anderson.
The transformation reflects broader changes in Los Angeles architecture and lifestyle preferences. Marc Noah, a Sotheby's broker, observes that the city once featured diverse door styles – from double-doors on Georgian mansions in Beverly Hills to rustic wooden entries on Normandy-style homes in Montecito. However, today's ultramodern residences with 20-foot ceilings have created an environment where traditional double doors would appear oddly small, leading to what he describes as a cultural shift in expectations.
This architectural evolution demonstrates how luxury real estate continues to push boundaries in pursuit of making bold statements. The giant door trend represents more than mere functionality; it embodies the aspirational lifestyle and dramatic presence that defines contemporary Los Angeles luxury living, where even the most basic architectural elements are reimagined on a grand scale.
