Architectural design in conversation with history.

Each region in Spain has influenced the design of its doors. Portera carries the most comprehensive selection – rustic Andalusian portals, Mudéjar-inspired archways, ornately carved double doors and wooden gates. A door for every taste, function and application.

For every home or building, the door represents the main focal point and is an opportunity to distinguish the architectural character of the structure. Portera Antique Spanish Doors will allow you to make an extraordinary design statement.

Portera not only represents this collection of beauty and quality but pairs it with exceptional client service. Our design specialists will work with you to select the most beautifully suited doors for your project.

We work closely with clients and client teams, including architects, interior designers, and builders. We begin a project with a design consultation and can assist you in measuring for specs for your doors.

Antique Spanish Doors Installations.

This section of our Flash site contains photographs of antique Spanish doors at their actual installed locations around Southern California.

Soraya Dancsecs is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of Portera Antique Spanish Doors, the United States’ exclusive purveyor of antique Spanish doors based in Pasadena, California.

Born into a culturally diverse family of Afghan-Italian descent, Soraya grew up fully immersed in foreign culture and traditions. Well-traveled and passionate about art and design, she found the perfect culmination of art history and functional design when she formed Portera in 2006.

Soraya graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in English studies. Following graduation, she began her career as an executive assistant to actor/producer/director, Kevin Costner. In 2001, Costner promoted Soraya to Head of Development at his production company, Tig Productions, where she managed several film projects.

After a long and fulfilling career in entertainment, Soraya left Tig Productions in 2005 to pursue her passion for art and design. It was then that she and friend, John Simpson, realized that there was a void in the US marketplace for authentic Spanish antiquities. In an effort to make Spanish culture and tradition more accessible to consumers, architects and designers in the U.S., Soraya and John created Portera. Since launching in June, 2006, Portera boasts the largest collection of antique Spanish doors the world has to offer.

Soraya Dancsecs is a newly elected member of the Board of Directors for the Southern California chapter of the ICA & CA (Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America). She also plays a very active role in the Pasadena community where she serves as a committee member of SCRUBS in support of the Huntington Hospital.

Soraya currently resides in Pasadena, California where she lives with her husband and two children.

John Simpson, Co-Founder and Managing Director

Best known for the development of technology-based service firms, Simpson turned his focus to another niche market when he established Portera in June 2006. While renovating his 1920’s Spanish-style home in San Marino, California, Simpson realized that there was a void in the U.S marketplace for genuine Spanish antiques. He traveled to Europe in search of the perfect entryway to outfit his new home and it was there in Spain that the inspiration for Portera was born.

Prior to Portera, Simpson worked in a variety of leadership roles at Deloitte & Touche, and at age thirty was widely believed to be the youngest Partner admitted. Following his tenure of thirteen years at the firm, Simpson left to form the California Credits Group, a company that developed a tax incentive screening technology for Fortune 500 and middle market companies. In keeping with his background in technology, Simpson created yet another successful venture when he founded Cyntron, a premier software provider offering fully customizable payroll solutions to the accounting and insurance industries.

Since its inception, Portera has created the only comprehensive collection of one-of-a-kind antique Spanish doors available to the US boasting over eighteen hundred unique designs.

Heather Lillard, Design Representative

Heather Lillard is a Design Representative at Portera Antique Spanish Doors, the United States’ exclusive purveyor of antique Spanish doors based in Pasadena, California.

Heather has always held a deep affinity towards Spain and its influence on American culture. During her undergraduate studies at University of California Los Angeles, Heather traveled to Spain to attend the Instituto Internacional de Madrid where she continued her study of the Spanish language, literature, history, art and architecture.

Following her studies abroad, Heather began her career at the Walt Disney Company where she worked in the marketing department organizing special events for the portfolio of company film releases. During her tenure at Disney, Heather was tapped to manage an international promotional campaign where she visited thirteen countries and over seventeen different cities.

With her extensive knowledge of the Spanish culture Heather’s passion for art and architecture undoubtedly translates into her profession as a Design Representative. As design liaison at the Portera showroom in Pasadena, Heather helps guide clients through the door selection process based on their unique taste and precise specifications.

Heather is a major supporter of several local charitable organizations in Los Angeles, one of them the Madison’s Foundation, which provides resources to parents with ill children, where Heather serves as board member. Heather is also an active member in both The Pasadena Children’s Guild and Circle of Friends, supporting Kidspace Children’s Museum, as well as SCRUBS in support of the Huntington Hospital.

Heather currently resides in Pasadena, California where she lives with her husband and two children. She remains passionate about Spanish culture and returns to Spain often.