Q: We have a nearly 100 year old colonial revival. We were left with this plain wood door (larger photo below) when a previous owner took the original with them. We're thinking of painting it a light greenish blue color, maybe even adding moulding to it, at least until we come across an old door that "fits" our house. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Sent by Linda
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they took the original door? awful!
i'm liking the idea of a teal, or a deep red.
Bright yellow.
I'd either paint it Black or leave it As-Is until you can procure a replacement door.
Painting it a bright color would only emphasize the inappropriateness of this door for the style of your home.
I'm totally biased, but having grown up in the Northeast, I'm very partial to red doors on colonials. Partly because I think they look spectacular, and partly because there's such a rich history associated with painting a door red.
Red. For all the reasons ktbski said.
High gloss red
High gloss red or black would be gorgeous
Sherwin Williams has come out with a series of color guides for historic houses. I have used it (interior and exterior) while I have been restoring my 1909 Arts & Crafts apartment. I think they have one for Colonials as well. I would get that and see if any of the colors catch your eye; at least you would be doing some historically accurate to the house.
Red! Also, will you be replacing the faux shutters with working ones as well?
I can't believe they took the door! Curious if they showed the house with the original door when you decided to buy it! In most states anything that is attached to the house needs to stay unless the seller says otherwise in the contract.
Back to your question, I always like high gloss black on colonial homes (I have one too). I would pay a visit to a salvage store and try to put an authentic door back in there as soon as you can.
~Tracy @
http://www.dailydecorator.com
"they took the door" Yikes!! Buy a new lock and paint the door a bright and cheerful Perriwinkle. Good luck in your new home!!!!!!!
"...will you be replacing the faux shutters with working ones as well?"
...and removing the window air conditioner?
If this were a correct door, I'd have jumped on Red too...
...but that would just make the 1950's/60's MCM diamond-cutout window stand out like a sore thumb.
Since you're thinking about a "light greenish blue color", Winterfresh by Behr may be a good fit. I like it next to my white trim. But I think glossy black would look classy !
They took your door! Awful.
I love turquoise more than anyone, but such a classic house I would be inspired to go with a stronger hue, a kelly green, or a royal blue.
I think your idea of applied trim would work, but we might need a wider shot of the house to give you some cues.
Who takes a door???
Another vote for red! Although it could make the fact that this is the "wrong" door stand out more.
I think a teal/turquoise would be gorgeous, and slightly less predictable than red. Red seems overdone to me. Or a vibrant shade of blue would work, too.
YES they took the front door BEFORE we saw the house, also some french doors that were between the sunroom and dining room, and also an attic window. Our neighbor told us. Sadly we had to vinyl side the house since the cedar shingles were deteriorating so badly, so the shutters are staying, they are just for decoration, not meant to be historically accurate. And for now the air conditioner stays as well, until we can upgrade the furnace that must be as old as the house-with whole house air. Thanks for all the comments-I hadn't thought of painting our door black, but I really like that idea. And also the teal/turquoise sounds appealing. There is no window in the ugly door, it's just a metal windchime thing hanging there. Looking around for one of those stores that sells old doors, mantels, etc. to try to at least get one from the right decade!
red
Black. I think black and white are classic and would really accentuate the architectural details of this home. I feel a red door would overpower and distract from the rest of the building.
Black would look best, nice house!
I'm loving navy blue more than black right now. That said, you could get away with something bright like a peacock blue too because of the covered entrance. The green also sounds nice. Check Re-Store for doors (they always have tons)!
"Sadly we had to vinyl side the house since the cedar shingles were deteriorating so badly, so the shutters are staying, they are just for decoration, not meant to be historically accurate. "
As a heritage planner, this makes me so depressed. There are other options besides vinyl, but that is the sort of advice hardware and siding people tend to hand out.
Forget about painting the door; it is not worth it. Painting it will just draw attention to its inappropriateness, and to all the other issues.
Check out The Old House Journal (and I don't mean This Old House) back issues at the library, familiarize yourself with the style of your house and what historically appropriate doors look like, and then start hunting doors at architectural salvage places.
p.s. part of what is depressing about the vinyl is that it has destroyed the original detailing and trim of the house...
Please, please take care of those 2 wooden columns (they are, to varying degrees, rotting at the bottom), and don't replace them with plastic ones...
glossy black or navy blue
I think adding some moulding until you find the "right" door is a great idea because it might be awhile before you find the perfect fit. I think glossy black or deep red would look great with the current colours scheme of white with black trim (it is black, right?). But if you're liking greenish-blues, go with a deeper teal. With the white, a light colour might look washed out. Good luck!