I feel your pain........

me too...

I'm actually trained as an architect, but no longer in the biz and having a hard time finding simple, modern doors with glass inserts.

Me three...

I ended up getting the Anderson 3000 series from Home Depot. It's a full light door which is modern enough, but the handle is 100% "swoopy". There must be a way to swap out the handle for something more modern, but I haven't looked into that yet.

http://www.homedepot.com/Doors-Windows-Doors-Exterior-Doors-Storm-Doors/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xitZas85/R-100095667/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

My dad works for a company that makes custom doors. They are in LA and probably no help to you, but I'm sure there must be a place that can make you the door you are looking for.

Splatgirl, you are so awesomely handy that you should be able to hack something awesome. Go for it and post it on yur truly inspirational blog.

I think you need to focus on replacement handles. The outsweep tulip door knob is fairly simple

http://www.swisco.com/cl/Replacement-Storm-Door-Handles_Locks

Here is an article from readers digest about replacing a storm door handle. Good Luck!

http://www.rd.com/advice-and-know-how/how-to-fix-your-broken-stormdoor-handle/article10815.html

splatgirl,
I commented earlier about the Anderson door w/ a replacement handle. I ended up getting my swoopy handle in brushed nickel to avoid the "shiny" look, but in searching on the internet a site like this may have potential:

http://www.thehardwarehut.com/door_levers.php?start_no=0

w/ this being a handle option that comes in a brushed finish (if in fact they can just be replaced which I haven't tried):
http://www.thehardwarehut.com/door/emtek-stuttgart-ss-square.php

I see you're from TC MN. Me too! It's cold out there so get that storm door on! :)

Splatgirl--you can definitely replace hardware on storm doors. I did it with three storm-doors/security doors on my house to update the doors without replacing them, using Wright replacement hardware--I had to order it online, because I couldn't find the finish I wanted stocked anywhere locally--but it was pretty straightforward to install.

In my case, I wanted a dead bolt on the inside. But if you don't need your door to lock--seeing as you already have a front door, and aren't putting the door on for added security--you could probably just get a modern latch set like this: http://www.hospitalitydoorhardware.com/interior-door-handles/omnia-industries-1200-interior-door-handle_g274871.html--and install it so that you can open and close the door. When ordering this one, you're supposed to specify door thickness, so you can probably get one that is just right for whichever storm door you choose.

Just in case, you could go talk to a local locksmith about whether this would work, possibly showing him the hardware you want to install. If he tells you there is some fundamental incompatibility between a regular latch set and the way a storm door is constructed, you can always send the hardware back.

Ooooo! Loving those door handles!

I have no answers, but are there pictures of this house anywhere else? I'd totally love to see more of it!

I need storm doors too--the old aluminum ones aren't cutting it, and I'm cold!
Have you looked at the Emco doors in person yet? I have--and they are shabby. The Andersen doors have pretty good colors, but Pella is supposed to be the better brand.
So glad you posted this--I think am going to go with Pella doors, but maybe I'll be able to find a better handle with the resources posted here. I had only given thought to choosing the metal finish.

Thanks for all the suggestions!
I'm amazed that after four years of looking, nothing seems to have changed as far as what's being manufactured.

I would really like a mortised storm door vs. one that just has the chintzy little surface mounted hardware, but those are the more expensive, higher quality doors with the ugly hardware. The door part of these is acceptable, but I cannot abide the swoop.
Such a seemingly small thing, but since this is the first part of the house that people experience, it's a really big deal to me.

It seems like the vast majority of replacement hardware that's out there is the latch style. I did find a few that are for mortised doors, but they are swoopy or don't come in anything other than brass.

The problem with storm doors is that they're thinner than regular doors and the backset (the distance from the knob to the edge of the door) is different so regular door hardware will not fit. I have a slightly different version of the SS Omnia lever that was linked on the regular doors in my home, so that's the general look I'm trying to adhere to but those knobsets definitely will not work on a storm door.

What I did find:
ttp://www.dkhardware.com/product-13292-k5053-keyed-aluminum-screen-and-storm-door-mortise-latch-3-screw-holes.html
again, for the thinner, cheaper type storm doors but an acceptable look.

The swissco stuff...all but one (looks ok but brass, ugh) for non-mortised doors doors.

the Wright brand hardware looks to be either swoopy or surface mount only.

custom made door? still needs hardware. Custom made hardware? only arty stuff with fish and bears on it for regular doors as far as I can tell.

Next I'm going to look into the possibility of having brass hardware powdercoated to silver or gray, but because of the thickness that adds, I'm not very optimistic.

Keep the suggestions coming! I am bound and determined to solve this problem once and for all.

Why not use a normal door like the one you have. You could mod it so you can replace the light with a screen in summer. Storm doors are thin so they will fit within the door frame. Yours is very thick which would allow you to use a normal door with normal hardware. It would maintain the look you have. I have enjoyed following you blog.

You probably have already found your handle - but you might want to know that I've found some great help at FOLGER & BURT Architectural Hardware, Inc. in SF. They have a wide collection of modern door harware - and are really helpful and creative. (1616 16th St @ Rhode Island) www.folgerandburt.com

splatgirl, please tell me you have found a modern storm door solution. I just had the very same discussion with my husband at HD, standing in front of the Anderson 3000, saying - I simply cannot do this. Do what? he asks. That swoopy handle, I reply. The full glass door is great, and the handle is LAME, and it is not up to the task of representing the front of our house. We also went to look at the Pella, same deal. I have no idea where to turn....

They're out there, but pricey. Try Rockymountainhardware.com, or go to the commercial product lines of more mainstream vendors.