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A Pop for the Patio Door

November 6, 2013

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Every night, when we’re tucking Greta into bed, she usually asks what we are going to do fun the next day.  (The girl keeps me on my toes!) A couple nights ago, I wasn’t sure. “Um, what do you want to do?” And she said, “I want to go to the store and get paint and paint the door!”  I am thinking she was really probably remembering and referencing in her mind a few weeks ago when we painted the front door together and she had the time of her life, apparently.  But I did have some paint leftover and there was another set of doors I was anxious to paint. So the next morning, after breakfast, we painted some doors together:

Since we moved in, I have been wanting to paint these doors. The formula was right for this house. The walls were light (now). The windows were large. Everything was kind of blending together and the wall was begging for an accent.

I’m glad we didn’t wait one more day to do it, because it really amped up the room. Even if the room needs a lot more help–it makes everything feel more on purpose, I think.

Like I said earlier, I already had the paint on hand from painting the front door–which, honestly, is the hardest part about doing a project these days. Going to the store for supplies? That’s a task and a half. For the front door I used Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start Primer (tinted dark) and BM’s Onyx color-matched to Clark + Kensington.

It took just one coat of each on the patio door.  After brushing on the primer (which is more of a charcoal color), even though it was super streaky, I kind of loved the color and was worried the darker, practically-black was going to be too much. But after one door, I fell so hard for it that any doubts went away.

The whole process took me (and Greta) about 2 hours. I think it adds a nice layer and depth into the room. What do you think? Ever paint an interior door dark? It’s more satisfying than I even thought it was going to be.

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What do you think?

  1. Kelly says:

    Do you paint both sides?!

  2. Kristen says:

    Looks great! Sweet that Greta is such a good helper!

  3. Sara says:

    Wow this helps so much! Great idea! So glad you painted these doors!

  4. Is it a metal door? Did you use a roller or all paint brush?
    Looks great & I’m ready to tackle my french doors!

  5. Looks amazing…love it! Props to you and your little helper Greta!

  6. Huge difference, I love it!

  7. Adorable! Where did you get the reading lamp in the corner?!

  8. Greta was right! You needed to paint those doors. It really took that room up a new level. And, I love the light you captured in your photos! Gorgeous!

  9. Such a gorgeous color! They look great!

  10. It makes the room! THere’s something so sexy about black trim! Gets me all kinds of crazy :p

  11. Steph says:

    That may be the biggest impact I’ve ever seen with just a door being painted (and a picture hung) :)

  12. Wow. That really makes a huge difference. Good call, Greta!

  13. Ames says:

    I think it looks FANTASTIC!!!! Really– a huge improvement. Chris must have loved it when he got home!

  14. I can’t believe what a difference the darker door makes – love it! We actually just had a new patio door installed and now I can’t wait to paint it!

  15. You’re so right! Painting the door dark really added dimension to the room. Before, it blended in. Now, it’s a statement. I’ve been itching to paint our door. Haven’t done it yet, but I have painted (most) of our interior doors a dark gray: http://ourhumbleabodeblog.com/2012/12/28/squirrel-in-the-house/ I love the high contrast look. :)

  16. Neyir says:

    I am sooo loving this and enjoying watching you guys develop this house into your style. I also have to echo Summer, with kiddos having darker doors is very smart is the war against grimy hands :-).

  17. Summer says:

    I absolutely love dark interior doors! Every door in our current home is Benjamin Moore’s Iron Mountain. A really dark charcoal color. It makes the door knobs pop, and with four boys, it’s been so great to not show finger prints.

  18. Ginet says:

    Wow! A small change makes a huge impact! Adds an extra layer of chic to the whole room.

  19. Elaine says:

    I love it. Looks wonderful.

  20. I think it looks fantastic! It really does just what you said and make the space feel more intentional. Great idea, Greta!

  21. It almost looks like framed artwork – I like the pop against the white wall!

  22. I love it! A few years ago we painted the inside of our front and back door black. They have large windows, and I still love the contrast of the black with the sunshine filtering in. We were so happy with it, we did the same to our French pantry door and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

  23. Jenna S says:

    love it! did you only paint the interior face or did you paint all sides and edges?

  24. Christie says:

    It looks FANTASTIC! Loving the way the color brings everything together in that room. Great job. :-)

  25. Love it!!! I need to add a pop like this SOME place. Hmm…thanks for getting the ol’ wheels turning!

  26. Ooohhh… Pretty! I love the direction that this room is taking. Keep up the amazing work!

  27. Erin says:

    Love it! I’m soooo all over high contrast in spaces. It’s my favorite!

  28. What a huge difference…love it!!

  29. I love a dark door. Our new house has Kendall Grey (BM) doors and they’re simply stunning against the lighter trim and walls. :) Amazing what a little drama does for a space, isn’t it? :)

  30. To die for!!!!!!!! I am so in love :)

  31. Gorgeous! What a great idea for an accent!

  32. Beth says:

    it looks so great. this is one of my favorite spaces you’ve worked on, ever. what’s next in that room…. the fan? dun dun dun.

    :)

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