Our front door is something I’ve been meaning to paint since we bought the house last year. It was a dark turquoise on the front and white on the back – just fine but nothing exciting. It took me quite some time to figure out what color I wanted to do, but as the inside of the house started to come together a color made itself known.
After scanning many a swatch, Valspar’s Montpelier Red Velvet was the clear winner. It’s a true berry…not too muddy, not too red, not too purple. I love it’s contrast to the cornflower blue pendant light.
I wanted a color that could go on both sides and to be honest, I chose this color more for the inside than the outside. We have plans to overhaul our exterior someday, so this is just a fun choice for a few years. I love how it plays against the dining room and brings a presence to the space. The entry is so small that it needed one big, bold statement.
Remember last week when I said I was taking some time off to focus on family? Well, I lied. Not only to you, but to myself. Thursday I had some time and I decided to tackle the door. I had the paint and this beautiful door handle had already come – this wouldn’t take very long, right? And then it’d be all done in time for trick-or-treaters. Easily a project I can do on my own. Wrong.
For starters, it took me nearly all morning to get the old handle off. The sucker was practically painted on and I’m certainly not known for my strength. After I got the door prepped I started painting and forgot to prime the back of the door. Even when a paint has a built in primer, always prime when you’re going light to dark or dark to light. Six coats later…
And then there was the handle. In my lust for the classic, brass beauty I didn’t think to make sure it was the perfect fit. I just assumed standard is standard, right? Nope. The door was drilled for 6″ between knob and deadbolt and this set is 5.5″. It was in this moment that I realized, “there’s a reason I was feeling the need to relax this week. I should have listened to myself instead of being stubbornly ambitious.”
We ended up putting the old deadbolt on for the night and brainstorming options. I was bound and determined to keep the set I’d fallen in love with, and we needed something to work by All Hallow’s Eve. Poor Micah tried a lot of different things before he bought this saw kit to make my wrongs right. Thank goodness for better halves.
I love how the color looks inside, and I think it compliments the blue outside too. We hope to overhaul the exterior someday, but I think this was a small improvement for the meantime. I dream of a new door and sidelights, fresh white paint and no shabby chic “welcome” sign next to the doorbell, but those will have to come later. Taking down that sign was one of the first things I went to do when we got the keys to this house. As I lifted up I was “welcomed” by a huge gaping hole where they must have taken out the original doorbell. What a lovely coverup…
And then there’s the storm door. Do you have arguments about storm doors too? I get the functionality of it, but it’s just so much prettier without it when you’ve got a beautiful door to show off. For now, I’ll let Micah win, but you better believe I’ll have my gloves on when we redo this portion of the house for good.
Are you a storm door supporter or opposer?
See the evolution of our entryway here.
Karen Salp says
I'm with you, do not like the look of a storm door. We had a new door and sidelights installed and did away with the storm door. Love it!
Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles says
Pretty, that color choice is perfect with your dining room! We removed our storm door pretty quickly after moving in. Never miss it! A new door and sidelights are on my some-day list too.
Lisa Dean says
The new color looks ,so rich…we nixed rhe storm door 2 days after moving in!
hollarbackhouse.com says
Yes! We totally have gone through the storm door discussion, multiple times. I hate how they look but as much as I want to get rid of them I don't know if I could do without the massive amount of light coming into the living room and kitchen (we have two). What's with husbands and storm doors?! And this makes me want to paint my door asap:).
Krystle
themakerista@gmail.com says
I totally get that having the front door open and letting that light in is wonderful. I just don't love the look on the outside…always something, right? 🙂
Julia Konya says
I don't like the look of a storm door either but we need it and I love the functionality of it so much. It's perfect for me to keep an eye on what the kiddos are doing outside. Love the door color
Haley says
Oooh, love this color! I don't like how storm doors look, but I love opening up the main door and letting in lots of light.
Arielle says
Ugh, that color is just gorgeous! Love the deep berry with the blues inside. Really I just love your way with color!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Thanks so much, Arielle!
Denise Greenwood says
Love, love, love the color! Now I'm itching to repaint our door!
Patty Lunde says
I have to raise my hand in favor of a storm door. In fact, that was the first thing we put on when we moved in, unlike lots of you. For 6 months of the year, that door is open and fresh, cool air comes right in and makes such a difference for the indoor temps for us. Many like it for safety reasons, but that part never crossed my mind when we chose our door. Just this summer, I painted our door a very close shade to what you just chose and gosh, I love it!!! Made a huge difference on the inside and the outside and soooo worth it. We went one night without the door all the way closed to make sure the paint was dry and I do not think I slept a wink, worrying and wondering about the house not being locked. The things we do for beauty!!!
themakerista@gmail.com says
Ha, yes, I would be nervous too! I totally get why you love a storm door, and there's no denying the perks of them either. 🙂
GreenCanary says
The storm door looks tons better when it's the same color as the front door. I had my front door replaced last year and had them install the matching storm door with it. The size of the glass was larger than most doors I'd seen, so the colored portions took up less visual space and you can see the front door clearly behind it.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Agreed!
The Auburn Fox says
I don't care for the look of most storm doors and would love to not have one. But, I love letting natural light in our dark entry and love getting a breeze through there as well. Since I don't want things coming in like insects or letting things get out,(cats and dog) I kept my storm door. It's not pretty but until they make pretty ones that are affordable, I'll deal with it. Love the color you chose.
Tricia says
I can certainly relate to the snafus you had with this project. Switching out hardware always seems to be an issue. There is no "standard" and I guess in reality I prefer it that way or we'd all have the VERY SAME look. YIKES!! The color is great. My house has the original 112 yr. old door with 3/4 length beveled glass and I love the fact that I can see out and the light is allowed inside. I have a storm door that helps some to control air flow around a not-so-tight-fitting door. I Would love to get rid of the storm door. Now that you have me thinking about it, it might just happen.
themakerista@gmail.com says
Sounds so beautiful!
Lori Terceira says
I love my storm door. We don't have sidelights to let any light in so, in the warmer weather it is so nice to keep the front door open but have the storm door.
Danielle Perkins says
We have a steel front door that is about 50% window, so we don't have to deal with a storm door – I'm not a fan of them, but do understand why people like them. I've read somewhere that they can actually trap in heat and moisture and cause damage to the wood if they don't have some sort of spot where air can get in – not sure if that is true or not though!
themakerista@gmail.com says
My "forever" door is definitely one with 1/2 to 2/3 glass! I like how it would function as both a light source, but also much cleaner looking. 🙂
Lauren Kate says
Love your blog and I also hate storm doors too!
Patricia says
What a perfect shade of red! Seems like a frustrating project when you were working on it, but now it's done, it looks so lovely! Great job 🙂 It somehow reminds me of beautiful houses in Nothing Hill in London. Storm doors is a new concept to me, I live in Belgium and don't really know anyone who has one, but I agree the house would look better without! x
All Things Big and Small says
I love the new color! I just painted the inside of our door black and it is so much better! I am still working on my husband to let me paint the outside of our front door and the storm door. It is all maroon. And not a good maroon. An ugly 80s maroon. Love what you have done with the house! I love how it looks with your dining room!
Annie- All Things Big And Small
OKC Homestead says
We just had a storm door put on and I love it!! Natural light plus it proctects the original wooden door on our old house. It's Pella dark brown with bronze hardware and I have to say it's pretty good looking.
Rebecca King says
I'm in the UK and I have never known anyone have a storm door or windows here, I hadn't even heard of them before I started reading blogs! I guess that is because we have less extreme summers and winters?
themakerista@gmail.com says
Interesting! Maybe so. But you all do things a bit more classy and traditional than us Americans when it comes to homes I think. 😉
Rachel Wray says
So funny I came across this post. I JUST installed my storm door today. I love it. For one, our dog was scratching up the wood frame and the door. I couldn't paint the door because he would scratch it anyway!
Now I can paint it and I can keep the door open for all the natural light! We got a full glass one and I love it so far!
I love the color you chose for your door!
Amanda @ Warm Fuzzy Home says
That color is gorgeous! Really beautiful.
Kerri Lindley says
I like the idea of a retractable screen. You could paint the frame the same color as the door. (Nice color!)
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