Projects

Onyx and the Front Door

October 22, 2013

On our pre-party to-do list was the task of painting our front door. Ideally, we could replace the entire thing. It’s terribly dented and it’s not necessarily our favorite design. We have actually been pricing out a dutch door. I can’t stop dreaming about the functionality of a dutch door–where I can open the top and Greta (and soon to be sibling) and Charly wouldn’t escape out or I wouldn’t have to have one hand on a collar and one signing for and accepting packages. I dream about these things. Aw well, for now–paint will tide us over. Our front door was an incredibly glossy maroon. I am pretty sure they brought it into a car shop to get sprayed the same color as my dad’s Crown Victoria back in the day.

I was nervous about painting over such a glossy paint. More about the prep than the project itself. I did a lot of research about sanding vs. deglossing vs. priming and discovered Benjamin Moore’s Interior/Exterior Fresh Start Superior Primer. It says right on the can how it is perfect for high gloss surfaces and no additional prep was needed.

I cleaned the door well and started cutting in the primer (that I had tinted a dark gray since I was painting the door black). Even though this wasn’t the final color, it was so nice to see that glossy maroon start to disappear. Greta really likes to roll paint on, so when it was time for that, I let her help me “go nice and slow.”

This was after my first and only coat of primer. Even though you can still see several of the door’s dents, it was entirely less obvious with a flatter sheen. I put two coats of Benjamin Moore’s Onyx color matched to Clark + Kensington’s Exterior Satin enamel over the door and sidelight and stepped back.

It’s an improvement! It looks so much better than the glossy maroon, and perfect for a temporary solution until we replace the door entirely. Looking at this picture I am wondering if I should paint the white molding around the door and sidelight black, too. Thoughts?

Update: Thanks for all the encouragement! I went ahead and painted the trim the same color as the door and actually removed the kick plate, too. Loving it so much more.

entry, exterior, front door, paint colors

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What do you think?

Lara says:
July 19, 2017 at 4:16 am
I just found your blog and am loving what you guys do to your places. I know this post is old, but I had to comment because I’m so impressed with you letting your little one (who’s probably not so little anymore) help with paint! Very brave, and it probably means so much to her to be part of the team. Nice mom-work! :)
Rebeccarama says:
October 27, 2013 at 6:36 am
I painted my door and trim a plum color last year and I loved the color on the door, but hated it on the trim. I repainted the trim white and it made the door and side lights stand out so much more. And side note- my house is exactly like your old house. Same layout. Whenever I tried to get my husband to do the things you guys were doing, I would say, “look at what our twin-housers did!”
Vanessa B. says:
October 24, 2013 at 10:23 am
I guess I’m in the minority – I like the white trim. From the street I bet it makes the door pop more. Every time I see a house that has the door and trim painted the same color I want to grab a paint brush and take that trim back to white. Absolutely a personal preference, though! Based on every thing else you do (which I LOVE), I know it will look great either way! Maybe you will make me see the light??
Melissa Carandang says:
October 23, 2013 at 5:10 am
I vote for painting the trim too! Also, I loved the door more before you added back the kickplate/toe kick? Is that a possibility?
Anna Rose Johnson says:
October 22, 2013 at 9:34 pm
Love it! We painted our front door black a few months ago, too. Such an improvement until we can afford to replace it! :)
Kristen says:
October 22, 2013 at 9:31 pm
Glad you decided to paint the trim (I saw a peek on instagram!). The door looks fabulous!
theanatomyofdesign.com says:
October 22, 2013 at 11:27 am
i vote with everyone else…paint the trim. it will look more cohesive, instead of the white molding breaking up the black. more sleek… but, already a HUGE improvement!
Ashley@AttemptsAtDomestication says:
October 22, 2013 at 11:17 am
Looks so much better than that shiny maroon! I really love the dark door!
doreenbrit says:
October 22, 2013 at 9:42 am
I vote paint the trim! What a difference paint can make!
Brit Pierce says:
October 22, 2013 at 8:56 am
I can’t believe how ugly and shiny that “before” door is. Painting was sooo necessary. And for sure, paint the trim!
Caroline Nolazco says:
October 22, 2013 at 8:02 am
What an improvement! It does make such a difference regarding the dents. I cant wait for a dutch door! Brilliant!!
Stacie Staub says:
October 22, 2013 at 7:50 am
Love it! I do think you should paint the trim. Funny, we painted our doors and trim throughout our house the same color as your primer. :)
Jessica Holly says:
October 22, 2013 at 7:15 am
I LOVE it! It makes a huge difference!
Sara says:
October 22, 2013 at 6:56 am
Any tips for preggo painting? I don’t know what is safe and what isn’t!
- Julia Marcum says:
  October 22, 2013 at 7:24 am
  You generally want to look for lo-VOC or no-VOC paints and/or wear a mask. :)
C a i t l i n says:
October 22, 2013 at 6:52 am
Yes. Paint out the trim!
- Julia Marcum says:
  October 22, 2013 at 7:25 am
  Thank you!! I was on the edge and I am going to do it TODAY!
Kim @ Yellow Brick Home says:
October 22, 2013 at 6:44 am
You can totally spackle the dents to smooth them out, then paint over it! We did that on our basement door, and it makes all the difference in the world.
LOVE the new color, and I vote for painting the trim Onyx, too!
- Julia Marcum says:
  October 22, 2013 at 7:22 am
  I tried spackling the dents and it would not stick for the life of me! Maybe I’ll try again now that the surface isn’t as slick. And thanks for the boost on painting the trim.
Meagan @ Meagan Tells All says:
October 22, 2013 at 6:00 am
WHOA–that red was gloooooossy! Eeks. The new color is such an improvement. I don’t mind the trim, but what color would you paint it? The same color as the siding? I love that you have brick. It’s my dream to have a brick house, but down here….its all stucco. Ugh.
- Julia Marcum says:
  October 22, 2013 at 7:26 am
  I must say, the brick won us over. I would paint the trim the same color as the door. It tends to make the whole door look larger.
Alisia says:
October 22, 2013 at 5:51 am
Wow! That is incredibly glossy! Until I read your comment stating how glossy it was I thought I was look at light reflecting off a storm door. The onyx is much better to me :)
Pretentious Fringe says:
October 22, 2013 at 5:42 am
Looks great. Rather then black what about a colour? I have a similar colour door with a bright teal on the moulding. The pop of colour makes the door quite cheery and this way when I get sick of the colour I can replace it with another.
Tracey @ Talkative*TLC says:
October 22, 2013 at 5:35 am
Wow, what a difference! It looks great. The satin definitely hides the dents much better too.

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