How family heritage inspired the naming of EVELIN interior doors

The process of making a house a home is changing. Instead of contracting a team to do the work, more homeowners are rolling up their sleeves and taking it on themselves. In fact, 79% of homeowners tackle more than one DIY home improvement project every year, according to a recent study.

But some DIY projects can be more daunting than others. While many are choosing to repaint or put up a backsplash, fewer homeowners are choosing to replace things like windows and doors.

So, if you need a little inspiration to take a DIY leap of faith, let us tell you about Evelyn Wendt. 

Evelyn was the mother of JELD-WEN founder Dick Wendt. Known for being strong, intelligent and supportive, Evelyn is the inspiration for the “E” in JELD-WEN. Her inspiring spirit lives on with the EVELIN® DIY Designer Door Kits.

These door kits were created with a goal to empower people to step out of their comfort zone, do big things, and make the world beautiful. Just like Evelyn. 

“When we were thinking about the name of these doors, we kept thinking back to the JELD-WEN name and the Wendt family,” said Lindsay Tinnell, doors marketing manager. "Evelyn was a foundational part of the beginnings of JELD-WEN. We wanted to recognize both her contributions to the company and who she was as a person."

You may be wondering why the interior door line is spelled with an “i” instead of a “y.” Simply put, the shift from “-yn” to “-IN” comes from the line of doors being interior doors. The shift signifies not just a change in spelling, but a transformation in perception—a nod to the accessibility that EVELIN™ brings to interior design.

"EVELIN® kits are designed to change the way homeowners think about and purchase their doors, helping them see interior doors as an integral part of room design," said Jennifer Matson, vice president of product management in doors.

As Evelyn’s legacy lives on, JELD-WEN invites homeowners to unlock the door to possibility, to make beautiful, doable with EVELIN® Interior Doors. 

If you’re curious what the other letters in JELD-WEN mean, read about our company’s personal story here.