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.
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! :)
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!”
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??
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?
Love it! We painted our front door black a few months ago, too. Such an improvement until we can afford to replace it! :)