Before and After: This 1970s Front Door Got a Springy Redo in Just a Weekend

A front door may not take up much room, but it can do a lot to impact the curb appeal of a house. At the home of interior designer Katherine Thewlis—who blogs at Hausmatter—the front door was definitely not pulling its weight. “The original 1970s storm door, sconce, and number sign had never been updated,” Katherine says. That meant that they were sporting very 1970s touches, like ruffled edges on the door—and the dulled finishes were looking not-so-welcoming.

“I am trying to create more living areas outside,” Katherine says, “so I’m trying to approach each space as I do a room in my home—tackling the details, working on a color scheme, space planning, etc.”

First up: removing the ruffles! Katherine and her husband unscrewed the glass piece and removed it from the door, then used pliers to rip the ruffled pieces off the metal door. Then, they primed the door and storm door before painting both matte black.

A new, much more modern cone light is a serious upgrade from the grimy old sconce. Underneath, Katherine added a trellis that she painted sweet pink (Benjamin Moore’s Delicate Rose), plus a planter painted slate gray (a custom mix of white and black paints Katherine already had on hand). The planter houses a rose bush that Katherine hopes to train to climb the trellis.

The custom-made metal address sign, from Fall Mountain Workshop on Etsy, is functional and beautiful. Ditto the new “hello” doormat, from Infinity Custom Mats on Etsy. Finishing touch? A pretty, colorful felt wreath from Simply Seasonal Shop on Etsy. All told, Katherine spent $400 on the makeover and did it in just a weekend.

“This entry was seriously neglected, and now it is another happy spot in our home,” Katherine says. A perfect way to welcome spring!

Inspired? Submit your own project here.