For strength, the longest dimension of the door should be
uninterrupted. This means, if you have a conventional door - taller
than it is wide - the stiles are continuous and the rails cut in. In
a wide, short door, the rails would be continuous and the rails cut
in. With proper dimensioning, you could make either design *look*
right (but not as strong...).

On Aug 6, 12:16*pm, Bill Leonhardt wrote:
I need some input from the group on laying out rails and stiles for
face frames and panel doors.
(snip...)

1. * Is there a structural reason for arranging the rails and stiles a
particular way?
2. * Is there an ascetic reason for arranging the rails and stiles a
particular way?
3. *Would it wrong (ascetically or otherwise) to have the rails and
stiles on the face frame be opposite to the rails and stiles on the
doors?