Alternate post title: Paint Me Like One Of Your French Girls. Yes, much like Rose once begged Jack, the dusty blue back of our front door was just begging to be painted (ok, so Rose said “draw me like one of your French girls” but it’s close enough).
The new paint color of choice? The same happy teal tone that’s on the front of it.
There’s no hard and fast rule about carrying the color that’s on the front of the door back around to the inside of it (in our last two houses we chose bright colors on the front and plain old white for the back) – but for the first time ever we have sidelights and we want to draw attention to them. So bringing that color into the foyer via the back of the door is a fun way to make that door-and-window-combo into a nice little focal point in an otherwise neutral/classic space. We’re going for something like:
- this (oh how my heart siiiiiings for that old Domino pic)
- this (those dark floors, those light walls, oh man)
- this (this door’s subtler, but there’s more color on the walls/runner than we’ll use)
- this (there are no words except holy cuteness, batman)
You guys get the idea, right? White sidelights + a colored door = true love. And just as you might have guessed, the painting process was extremely romantic. Picture me and the door, just staring into each others eyes – er, panels? At one point there was steam on the sidelights and I slid my hand down it like this.
Visit website with painting tips for anyone else who’s planning to show their door some love:
- If your door is super shiny/glossy (either sealed wood or semi-gloss/high gloss paint) you’ll want to use a liquid deglosser to wipe it down before priming and painting, but since our door was chalky and matte to start with, I could skip right to the painting step because we used the same self-priming quart of paint that we used on the front (Benjamin Moore’s MooreGlo paint in Blue Lake with a semi-gloss-like finish called Soft Gloss).
- Whenever I paint the front or back of exterior doors, my favorite method is to start in the morning so the door can be open (just cracked) all day and has time to dry before you have to close and lock it at night.
- I like using an angled brush to paint the entire door – although John loves a foam roller, so it’s a different strokes for different folks thing.
- I have a certain order that I like for painting doors: first I paint the frames of each raised rectangle, then I paint the inside of each one as you see in the photo below. Then I paint the flat planks around and between them, always going in the direction of that plank (I pull my brush from top to bottom to do the vertical plank down the middle, then I go from left to right to get all of the horizontal slats, and at the very end I drag my brush from top to bottom to do those vertical parts on each side of the door).
- I wait for that to dry about an hour (or two if it’s super humid) and then I do the whole thing again, in the same order. Then I just give it the rest of the day to dry and lock it up at night.
- I prefer to remove the hardware over taping it off, but Clara was having an off day and I worried it would add more time than I had to spare (I wasn’t sure she’d nap for very long) so that’s why it’s taped off this time, even though we took it off when we painted the front.
When the pheremones cleared paint dried, the back of the door was looking pretty fiiine. Admittedly it looks a little crazy with the yellow walls and the brassy fixture, but we’re just getting started in here, so we’re holding onto some serious faith that the other dozen to-do list items in here will make more sense of things as we go (remember this old saying?).
It’s definitely a more welcome sight than this before picture though. Ah. We can breathe. And weirdly enough the ceilings feel about a foot taller.
This is my favorite after shot, just because there’s a certain man and child that I adore in the background. And those dark doorknobs and hinges aren’t half bad either.
Next up? More painting! We have to pick a color for the walls (we’re sifting through swatches as you read this) and still have to finish painting the vanity in the half bathroom as well as – you guessed it! – paint the blue spindles on the stairs. Among about a million other blue-trimmed-and-wallpapered rooms that are on the list. So our fingers might grow around our paint brushes, but they say beauty is pain, right?
As weird as it sounds, the more sweat we pour into this house, the more it feels like love. It’s sort of like when you go through a harrowing experience with someone and it brings you closer. All of this painting is pain, but it’s bonding us like Jack and Rose.
I’ll never let go. I’ll never let go…
Psst- Wanna know where we got something in our house? Just click on this button:
It looks so good you all! Love that color!
O.M.G. This might be my new favorite color!
I think it’s funny you all painted a cute blue over the ugly blue :). Love it! It’s coming together!
My husband and I are about to move into a townhouse and we aren’t able to change the color of the door on the outside- it will be black. :( (Our last front door was almost the same as your current color) Any thoughts on ONLY painting the inside of the door to give the interior some character?
Im struggling with moving into new construction… I don’t want it to feel too new and too much like my neighbors houses. Open for suggestions from anyone….
I have seen so many interior doors in bold colors in magazines like Domino (even on apartment units where I’m sure the front was the same white or black color as the rest of them in that hallway) so I think it could work!
xo
s
Guys, its amazing! The foyer looks sooooo much brighter! And I loved that peek into the office where John & Clara were playing! Lovely!!!
But Sherry, excuse me, I have a question for the king of the spray painter: At my home I have inclined wood ceilind, wooden doors and wooden trim. I’d like to paint them all white, to brighten things up, my question is: Do you think I can paint the ceiling with the spray paint? Or better using a traditional method?!
My ceiling is like this one here:
http://hgtv.sndimg.com/HGTV/2010/03/01/Bedroom-Design-Guide_BrookeGiannetti-vaulted-ceiling_s4x3_lg.jpg
Thanks guys! Brazilian greetings for u all!
Oh yes, I’ve seen those sprayed on HGTV shows really well. That will be gorgeous! Just be sure to tape everything off so you don’t get paint on the floor, etc.
xo
s
Thank you!!! Painting in 3, 2, … :)
The inside of your door looks just like mine now! http://maggies-house.blogspot.com/2013/01/free-project.html
I haven’t painted the walls yet (mine are yellow also), can’t wait to see what you pick. Maybe I’ll get some ideas!
So pretty!
xo
s
My front hall has very similar floors to yours. Are yours in good shape? Are you planning to clean/gloss/seal them? If so, what are you doing?
Three flooring companies have refused to take on the job because it’s too small, so my husband and I need to DIY.
Oh yes, we’d love to clean them and think we need to do something to fix the grout (and a few damaged tile spots). Will keep you posted as we go!
xo
s
The inside of your door looks just like mine now: http://maggies-house.blogspot.com/2013/01/free-project.html
I still need to paint the walls also, can’t wait to see what you pick so I can get some ideas!
I might have missed it in one of the front door posts, but why did you paint the front door on different days? It seems like it would be easier to do all at once when you have the hardware off, so you don’t have to remove it twice. Even if you hadn’t decided on a color for the back yet, wouldn’t it have made sense to wait until you had chosen (white or aqua) and painted the whole thing in one go?
I think one way we try to stay sane is to focus on one area at a time, so since we were working on the front/outside of the house (and weren’t even 100% sure we’d bring the color into the house until after we were done) we didn’t even let our brains think about all the trim and walls and the back of the door that we had to paint inside! One thing at a time seems to work better for us (especially since we have a three years old running around, so our projects are usually as long as a nap or an evening instead of being all-day :)
xo
s
Funny that you said the more sweat you pour in the more it feels like yours. As I was reading the post and saw the after shot of the foyer, I thought to myself it is starting to look more like their house!
Jennifer
We have a terrible metal door that I’d love to take down but it isn’t in the budget right now. It’s super gloss burgundy with a nasty kick plate and the previous owners door knocker. Oh and it has a bunch of dents. I have no idea how to make it look better.
This is the greatest article title you’ve ever posted!
Thanks Kelly!
xo
s
Front door cracked open all day? How do you keep Clara and Burger from making their escape?
Burger’s funny about openings needing to be as wide as him or he’s convinced he’s trapped (he won’t even try to get through a curtain with his nose unless there’s an opening as wide as his body). As for Clara, distraction is the name of the game. We play out on the deck while it dries, then we paint in the kitchen, etc.
xo
s
Wow! The title alone just made my morning!
Love it!, It’s so gorgeous!
Wow! I’m not into the way the color looks on the outside of your frontdoor (don’t know why), but on the inside…just wow!
Have you decided about the tile in the foyer yet? I loved it from the first picture I saw. With all the painting going on, it looks even better.
Oh yes we’d love to keep it if we can repair the damaged spots :)
xo
s
What a fun color, looks great! I love the new trend of painting interior doors, so why not the interior of the front. I told my husband the other day that I wanted to paint the interior doors of the current house we’re building; to my surprise he didn’t look at me like I was a loon. Can’t wait to give it a whirl. After all, it’s only paint
I would have never before connected the love between Rose and Jack and the love of a freshly painted door. I’m totally converted now!(Off too look for some french girls um…I mean doors to paint.)
Sherry: I can envision the basket pendant hanging in the foyer. Change it up just to ex-nay the brass 1970’s one. Speaking of 1970’s, the house I’ve lived in for 8 (count ’em — 8!) years is still rocking it’s original Brady Bunch dark wood trim. I become exhausted thinking about painting it. I know it will look Sooooo Muuuucccchhhh better with all the wood updated in white. And yes, it will take 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of Benjamin Moore. Your place is taking shape. Love the updates.
And now the trim painting will go on and on…
Sing it with me… “Near, far, wherever you are…”
Where’s Celine Dion when you need her?
xo
s
Ok, I officially love that shade of blue. I amazed at how great this is looking already!! When you posted about buying it I admit, I was a little leery because I’ve been in many similarly laid out homes that always felt dated, not as fresh as your old houses. I should have known you can make anything look great! And I’m more excited than I should be about your color post….
Love the door color! I primed and painted the trim around one window yesterday and I may or may not have muttered out loud “I don’t know how Sherry has painted all that blue trim.”
That looks really nice!! It brightens up the area and makes it super cheery! :)
LOVE IT! Also if it’s helpful to others, the “Hoverzoom” extension for Chrome is GREAT because you can see all the photos in your links without opening them in a new tab! Love the linked doors as well! :)
Who would have thought that an article on painting a door could make me laugh so hard and blush at all of those “certain” Titanic references. Sherry, you are awesome and perhaps it is because we share the same birthday, but our sense of humors are so similar. Have a great day y’all!
Titanic references FTW! Looks awesome you guys!!
I love the happy blue in the foyer! It’s amazing how a little paint can brighten up the whole space! And honestly, I’m jealous of the white trim. I keep telling my husband that I want to paint the trim and our bedroom and our front door and he just laughs at me. Would you like a painting buddy? I love to paint! Too bad I don’t live anywhere close to you guys, keep up the awesome job!
Yes, come on over! I’ll grab an extra brush!
xo
s
How do you do it???? You pick the door color before you pick the wall color? You seem to be starting with the details and moving on to the big things. I love it! It has been really fun to watch the progress!
Aw thanks Molly! We tend to just bounce around and do anything in any order (the thing we’re certain we love, in this case the door color, trumps any half-considered wall colors – and now the door color can inform the wall color so it’ll hopefully all work out).
xo
s
It’s looking great – more and more like YOUR house!!
I love all of the changes that you have made to the new house and it seems like you are making them at lightening speed! Great job! Also, the simple color change to the trim and removing the wallpaper are starting to make the floors in the entryway and half bath look like new floors. Its a great affect!
Spit out my coffee at the hand on the window pic. Oh Rose, why didn’t you just scoot over a little and make some room for Jack on the raft? But back to the foyer — it’s amazing how much lighter and brighter things are looking! Adore the door color!
Love the color of the door! We will be downsizing into a house built in 1914 in a month. It has a lot of character, but the color choices – egads. I too will be painting doors, walls, trim, and spindles, so I’m reading your current posts with lots of interest. Luckily my kids are old enough they get to help me – they just don’t know it yet.
Love the difference. Looks so much better!
I painted the inside of our door to our backyard turquoise about a year ago. It’s one of my favorite parts of our living room.
I second Lori’s comment: you must paint the spindles next, please. They hurt to look at!
I love that, it looks great! I love what you said about the more sweat you pour into your house the more it feels like love. I feel the same way about our house and when we first moved in I was not liking it at all. But its looking so good now!
I LOVE IT! That is the perfect color for a front door. I cannot wait to see what color you paint the walls. You guys are so so busy, i don’t know how you do it all!
It looks so great! I love the color of the door & how you guys have already transformed this house!
We just closed on our first home Friday, so I will definitely will be checking in for ideas<3
Wow, not all blues are created equal… that’s seriously beautiful guys. Open, airy, tall, and kinda coastal.
And yeah, let’s get the light fixture Rust-Oleum’ed dark bronze or something like that! :)
I didn’t think I’d like this idea, but your inspiration pics are really lovely.
To be honest though, it’s so hard to tell how yours actually looks since the picture is so blown out. This seems to be consistent with a lot of your painting posts and pics (people aren’t reading the color the same way you guys say it is in person).
I know this is your ‘DIY Diary’ and you don’t consider yourselves professionals, but would you please consider taking a photography for beginners course? It would help a lot.
Sure, I’d love to take a photo course!
xo
s
Allison, your comment has such a passive aggressive undertone to it that I feel the need to reply (because John & Sherry are far too nice to do it themselves).
Your comment is the equivalent of dinner guests coming to your house uninvited, eating a meal you prepare lovingly for them, and then asking you to take a cooking course because the meal was crap. It’s just plain rude.
I can see the detail in the photos just fine. Perhaps you need to get your eyes checked?
This is a time when I wish there was a ‘like’ button. Consider Tanya’s reply to be liked x1000!
Tanya’s reply is nonsense!!
To use your example, Tanya, this would be more like going to a restaurant and ordering filet mignon yet receiving minute steak…. I would most certainly let the Chef know!!
What is with the YHL commenters!!! Jeez back down!! Not everyone has to be in complete awe of this blog… Which seems to be going down fast!!
And then she let go!!
I’m loving the gradual improvements. I can’t wait to see the stair railing/spindles done – they are killing me.
x
My husband painted our front door black (not my first choice but he was motivated to change out the window and replace the hardware so I didn’t discourage him!) I’ve tried talking him into a pop of color on the inside but he didn’t go for it. I’m guessing he’d go for black on the inside – but do you think that would be too dark? Better than white? I’m not sure.
Q
Black could be gorgeous! I’ve honestly seen doors of every color inside and out and have usually loved them all!
xo
s
I love that color and putting on the inside was brilliant! That is the color of our nursery. Also, I laughed out loud several times in this post and I love your commitment to the Titanic analogy throughout the post :) Hilarious!
Gosh, I love the changes. The door color is so pretty inside as well, and I have to say, the floor has really calmed down since you got rid of the country blue trim. It’s becoming just a pretty neutral underfoot. Can’t wait to see how your tile and grout clean up!
Ok so what about the inside of the door the little side strip did you paint those too? If so how did you do it without removing the door?
The side of the door was painted when I did the front since that was the same color as the old front door (I wanted to cover all of that color so I just used the old paint as a guide and repainted those areas then). When the door is open it’s easier to access the other side (the one with the hinges) and you can tape those off if you worry about not having a steady enough hand.
xo
s
Love a good Titanic reference. I saw that movie like three times in the theater, trying to figure out why she’d pick Leo DiCaprio over Billy Zane. Still don’t get it. That dude is super hot.
I totally read, “there’s a certain man child” and had to do a double take.
It’s looking good in there!
Haha!
xo
s
The door looks great J & S! My husband & I have been reading your blog daily for almost 2 years now and just love it! While discussing & completing DIY projects around our house you will frequently hear one of us start our sentence with “Well, John & Sherry said…” or “John & Sherry would do it this way…” :) You are like the friends we have never met!
Keep up the hard work and awesome blogging. We are readers for life!
Aw thanks Erin!
xo
s
What a great house! It has some wonderful details…molding, paneled doors etc. I will be totally curious if you end up painting it almost all gray again. I love the gray, I don’t know why but it would not work in our house at all. It would look so dreary, not sure why. I’m not saying this in a rude way, because I know that you put a ton of work into this “job” of yours, but how cool is it that you are fixing up your own house and getting paid for it? I would love to read a post about how awesome that is (and I’m SURE a ton of work)….If I missed the post, please feel free to link it up for me.
Aw thanks MG! We do a bunch of behind the scenes blogging posts each year on our blogiversary. Here’s a page full of links for how we make money, how we spend our time, the anatomy of a post, a day in the life, etc :)
xo
s
Blue is my all time favorite color, but all that blue on the doors and trim was just too much! I love the happy shade of blue you chose for the front door!
Nice work! Already looking like a million bucks! :O)