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Black Apartment Entry Door from 30 Rock

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Watching a recent episode of 30 Rock, we couldn't get past the black front door to Liz Lemon's apartment. We've talked about the 30 Rock set over at Apartment Therapy San Francisco and colorful interior doors at Apartment Therapy Chicago, but this black entry door really solidified some things for us...

 
 

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Seeing Lemon's apartment entry door made it clear that: 1) painting it black gives it a little more visual heft, 2) it evens out scuffs, gouges, and fingerprints that often mar the front doors of apartments, and 3) a black door looks great with standard brass front door hardware - it even makes those clunky d-shaped locks look better!

It also surprised us that we liked the black door set in a white-painted casing. This allows you to carry white trim throughout your apartment and go black only at the front door. We wouldn't like this nearly as much if the casing was also painted black.

(Images: 30 Rock episode 316: Apollo, Apollo)

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inspiration, painting, fixing & repair, 30 Rock, black door

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Comments (23)

YAY. im so going to do this att my home.
why didnt i think of this?

posted by Connie_L on May 4th 2009 at 9:04am
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Black doors = bad vibes!

posted by Doris loves art! on May 4th 2009 at 9:05am
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I think this is really cool. Anna from Doorsixteen also has black doors in her living room and I love it!

posted by Lillian on May 4th 2009 at 9:14am
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I agree the door is intriguing. The first photo, however, is a bit odd. It looks like she just had an accident. :o

posted by alisonK on May 4th 2009 at 9:24am
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2) it evens out scuffs, gouges, and fingerprints that often mar the front doors of apartments

As anybody who owns anything black knows, black (matt, semi-matt or gloss) shows up EVERYTHING

posted by idontdobeige on May 4th 2009 at 9:59am
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That first photo is totally Lemon. She makes that face about 18 times an episode.

posted by cakekick on May 4th 2009 at 10:05am
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What about a super dark brown? That would show less fingerprints and marks, maybe? My daughter always asks "why do we always have to paint the doors white?". Huh... good question.

posted by sfteri on May 4th 2009 at 10:21am
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this is a case of the interior of the front door painted the same color as the exterior. in many ny apartments, especially in prewar buildings, the doors have been painted to match the interior colors. i think the liz lemon door treatment works best if you have a foyer. if the front door opens directly into the room, it might visually chop up a small space.

posted by patrickmc on May 4th 2009 at 10:22am
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Funny, those are pretty much the EXACT colors of my apartment....black entry door with white trim and cream/beige-y walls. (I didn't paint it that way, my landlord did.) Good to know AT approves!

posted by highsociety on May 4th 2009 at 10:29am
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LOL DENNIS

posted by birdablaze on May 4th 2009 at 10:50am
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I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I see a line of cars and they're all painted black
With flowers and my love both never to come back

I see people turn their heads and quickly look away
Like a newborn baby it just happens every day

I look inside myself and see my heart is black
I see my red door and it has been painted black

Maybe then I'll fade away and not have to face the facts
It's not easy facing up when your whole world is black

No more will my green seagull turn a deeper blue
I could not foresee this thing happening to you

If I look hard enough into the setting sun
My love will laugh with me before the morning comes

I see a red door and I want it painted black
No colors anymore I want them to turn black

I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
I have to turn my head until my darkness goes

I wanna see it painted, painted black
Black as night, black as coal
I wanna see the sun blotted out from the sky
I wanna see it painted, painted, painted, painted black
Yeah!

posted by LindaJeanne on May 4th 2009 at 11:22am
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Ugh. I just copied and pasted the lyrics, but now I'm noticing whoever did them up made a couple of mistakes (green seagull? wha?). Wish I could edit my post to fix.

posted by LindaJeanne on May 4th 2009 at 11:25am
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I have black doors in my house -- love them!
http://www.doorsixteen.com/2008/11/21/pocket-doors/

posted by Anna at D16 on May 4th 2009 at 11:33am
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Workin' on my Night Cheese!

posted by redbeard on May 4th 2009 at 11:34am
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Not only do I love Lemon's decor, but I often find myself admiring some of her clothes and accessories as well.

posted by CallDoctorBison on May 4th 2009 at 11:48am
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I bought two apartments! I bought a black apartment!

God I love that show.

posted by kellylc on May 4th 2009 at 11:48am
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there is a commercial (orkin?- or some other bug killing business) where a woman opens a door for a roach delivering a pizza (because hes trying to get in the house) and they have a 6 panel door in glossy black and i LOVE it!

we are closing on our 1st home soon and i hope i can convince my husband a black door will look awesome!

posted by erinpearce on May 4th 2009 at 11:57am
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oh also happy to see it looks so good with white trim which is a must for us.

posted by erinpearce on May 4th 2009 at 11:58am
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Black doors also make the Beeper King of Chicago look better.

posted by megslist on May 4th 2009 at 12:01pm
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I'm not a fan of this door. But, I am a fan of the apartment doors on "the big bang theory" which you can see somewhat here: http://stiboo.com/pics/S01E02.jpg I love the rivets in the door detail!

posted by nkr707 on May 4th 2009 at 12:26pm
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There is a good round up of some pictures here. I adore the one with the dark grayish walls and yellow doors. It is making me think of repainting my whole loving room but I think my husband would kill me if I even suggested it given how long our house to do list is. Someday...

http://littlegreennotebook.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-love-for-painting-interior-doors.html

posted by Auburn on May 4th 2009 at 12:50pm
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We have a glossy black door, white trim.
On the interior its painted white. Looks great.

posted by DahliaCactus on May 4th 2009 at 3:28pm
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im going to have to agree on the not having the door frame panted black. cause mine is, and im not diggin in anymore..

posted by deeboyayay on May 4th 2009 at 4:17pm
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