FRONT DOOR COLORS
SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!
It's the first thing visitors see!
When in Ireland, Britain, Holland or Morocco,
you see so many beautifully colored front doors.
In England, the most common door color is black — not just any black, but a black that’s so wonderful and shiny you actually could apply your makeup in it...
you see so many beautifully colored front doors.
In England, the most common door color is black — not just any black, but a black that’s so wonderful and shiny you actually could apply your makeup in it...
LET'S DO THIS...
First, what else is going on?
Is this door color going to be accentuated in any way by other peripheral items?
Is it complemented by other colors on the home?
Is it the sole focal point of your home?
Is this door color going to be accentuated in any way by other peripheral items?
Is it complemented by other colors on the home?
Is it the sole focal point of your home?
ACCENT PIECES
Kathryn Ireland's door borrows the colors
of the wonderful pots flanking it!
of the wonderful pots flanking it!
PERFECTION!
NEIGHBORHOOD
If you live in a funky, kinda Haight-Ashbury-
or Notting Hill-type neighborhood, go for it.
ARCHITECTURE
Great architecture doesn't need additional focal points, so this soft sage green is perfect on everything.
WHEN TO USE COLOR
Often homes have brick or siding, which needs to stay the color it is. That's when a beautifully colored door becomes a good
“design distraction.”
I love white on white, but this door is boring in all white, it would be fabulous in a café-au-lait color or Brittany blue.
WHAT GETS PAINTED
There are very confusing rules about what gets painted when painting a door.
RULE #1
Only the door itself gets painted — never the jamb or the fenestration or the sidelights!
The door below is correct.
The door below has the sidelights
painted, which is wrong.
painted, which is wrong.
RULE #2
If the door is a beautifully stained wood, it's OK to stain the sidelights, but NOT the jambs and fenestration.
(Painted sidelights still are more elegant.)
(Painted sidelights still are more elegant.)
RULE #3
Never, ever stain or paint the
jambs and the fenestration.
THE CAVE EFFECT
Wood-stained doors, jambs and fenestration make it look like you're entering a dark cave.
RULE #3-A
Stained jambs and fenestration are appropriate ONLY if you're in a rugged, mountain-type home built with masculine material like stone and big timbers.
HISTORIC HOMES
In George Washington's day, color was a sign of wealth, as paint pigments actually were ground from semi-precious stones or extracted from plants, and very expensive to produce.
WHAT COLOR IS RIGHT
FOR YOUR HOME?
FOR YOUR HOME?
BLACK
Black doors always are elegant and always are a winner! They are a bit mysterious and rich looking, too.
Black doors always are elegant and always are a winner! They are a bit mysterious and rich looking, too.
RED
Americans have a tendency to overuse red doors with brass hardware. But red is a great color!
Americans have a tendency to overuse red doors with brass hardware. But red is a great color!
GRAY & GREIGE
Softer colors aren't a statement, they just enhance the architecture by letting the details speak for themselves.
ROYAL BLUE
Stunners! You don't see enough of this blue, and it's just sooo smart looking.
Always chic.
Greens are “honest” and attractive — there's a certain coziness to green doors.
TURQUOISE
Chic as shit, cool, unexpected and happy!
YELLOW
Yellow makes the energy of the house positive.
It screams sunshine all year round.
PINK
Pink is daring and sexy.
BUT it should be used on one thing only on the exterior!
BUT it should be used on one thing only on the exterior!
CORAL
Coral is the now color; everyone loves it, and it's great with any style house.
STAINED WOOD
A stained door needs to be fabricated with a superior species of hardwood, like oak, mahogany or teak, etc. Staining will deepen and highlight the beautiful natural grain.
Shitty steel “insulated” doors with plastic appliques.
Fake-ass Victorian “leaded glass.”Not Victorian, not attractive, anywhere — ever!
Fiberglass colonial doors with “realistic” wood grain...PAINTING YOUR DOOR
I recommend a specific type of paint from Europe, but sold in America. All the American paint companies say theirs is as good, but it's not! This paint rocks and it's absolutely amazing. It costs more and takes a little more time, but the investment is recompensed through the pleasure of seeing it done well, and it lasts four times longer.
The "Hollandlac" exterior paint from Fine Paints of Europe brand offers a complete color chart, directions and kit for a minimum fee.
PREPARATION
Don't take off the hardware unless you know what you're doing. There are a lot of bits and parts to locks and door handles. Buy FrogTape Painter's Tape and tape up the hardware before you begin your painting.
TECHNIQUE
A panel door has many sections, and each section should be sanded and painted individually in the directions shown below
Brush the paint in the same direction you have sanded the door (see above image).
On exterior doors, for weather protection, it is a good idea to paint the top and bottom edges.
You Can Do It, I'm Here To Help!