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?
Want to see into the future? Here’s the wall color we picked for this room: Edgecomb Gray.
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:
Kami says
This definitely makes your ceiling look taller! Are they 8 ft. or 9 ft.? The white on the crown molding helps to visually lift the ceiling, too!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kami! They’re 8 feet.
xo,
s
Mandi says
Hey there!
I love the color but I was wondering why you didn’t take this door off and use your new paint sprayer?
YoungHouseLove says
Cleaning the sprayer takes a bit of time so we like to do a few things at once and will just paint one side of a door by hand if that color isn’t going to be everywhere (ex: if we were doing all the foyer doors that color we’d spray them).
xo,
s
Rachael R says
Looks so much brighter! I really love all of the Titanic references :) Thanks for brightening my day!
Mamaw says
Foyer looks great! Keep up the good work (duh, like there was a doubt).
Sarah says
If this area was more closed off, a fun print on the walls (I know, where you just spent hours taking wallpaper off) would be neat- but I get that you need something to flow in to other rooms. It will interesting to see if you do use wallpaper anywhere down the road…
Linda says
Loooove the color!! We actually picked tranquil blue for our living room (the peacock was a little too dark for it); and loved it so much we used it dor the guest room too. BMs “fun n games” is also another nice, greener, turquoise.
Also had a q about all this trim painting, do you guys use floetrol or something to slow down the drying time? Latex paint just dries SO fast!
YoungHouseLove says
I don’t use that but know bloggers who do and love it.
xo,
s
Gwen says
you’re making me want to find our can of paint from our from door! ours is just a glossy black, but i think it would make a nice, dramatic difference to the white the inside of the door currently is.
Sam says
Finding myself very jealous that your job is to work on your home, I know that comes with plenty of negatives alongside all the positives…but right now, I wish I could burn through improvements as fast as you seem to be able to! It is looking so great. I love the teal.
Mary | Lemon Grove Avenue says
Way to be bold. I totally dig the unexpected pop at the front door. :)
Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet says
I love when the inside of the door is the same color. Such a great focal point, especially with the crisp white trim.
bethblntn says
I totally get the pain-love relationship with a house. We have only ever lived in an apartment but of the four we lived in (in three years) the only two that felt like home was the two we put a heap of labor into. I guess its not called a ‘labor of love’ for nothing, right?! I think its funny you get hot and bothered about painting Sherry, I get this way when I sand something down. I don’t know, something about stripping it naked and seeing the beautiful wood underneath before I get it all ‘dolled up’ just excites me. XD who knew home renovating could be so scandalous? :P
Melissa says
I would spray paint the foyer carriage style light red!
Ronica says
Love it! We have a door with sidelights, too, but I left the back white. Tempted, now, though I don’t know if I want the front door color inside (it’s a true, pinky lilac color, and I love it.) Our trim is white and the walls are SW Hinoki, which is a buttery yellow, and I adore it. It’s so warm and light and homey. I’ve chosen it for our master bedroom, too (just have to do it.) SW says it’s a popular one, especially for kitchens, because it’s warm and fairly neutral without being too screaming yellow.
Thank you for getting rid of the blue and wallpaper. I had flashbacks of a house we lived in briefly when I was 16. My grandpa said it looked like little mice ran all over our walls. Misty blue and mauve should be banned.
Caitie says
LOVE LOVE LOVE the progress you guys have made! Looks amazing! I want to paint my front door now… Ha ha. On another note- I noticed your receptacles and light switches are pretty yellowed.. Do you plan to replace all of those down the road? Or do you have another method, like painting perhaps to whiten and brighten them up again? Or different plans altogether? I know in the grand scheme, it’s such a small part, but when I replaced mine and added ORBed plates, it was like a whole new house!
Can’t wait to see what color you pick for the walls! :D
YoungHouseLove says
We like to replace those with inexpensive white ones as we paint walls (ex: when we painted the bathroom walls we switched two out, when we paint the foyer walls we’ll replace those, etc).
xo,
s
Katie says
Door color looks great but I’m more obsessed with those dark knobs and hinges! Looking into changing my silver ones now after seeing your after photos!
kristen says
sherry you are cracking me up with your ‘oh yes’ at the beginning of comments. is that the new catchphrase? where’s my bingo card?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes! Haha! Didn’t even notice. I’m multitasking since we’re at a secret shoot right now, so that must be my default ;)
xo,
s
Heather S. says
I’m so jealous. Blue makes you happy to be home. I am currently renting and the tan (not beige, TAN like pantyhose) walls and black doors are driving me stir crazy, especially in my 5-year old daughter’s room and my son’s nursery. I’m sure you have covered this so forgive me, but are you leaving the existing tile? It looks like its in good condition and its gray…so. Long-time follower, Heather
YoungHouseLove says
We’d love to work with it if we can repair a few damaged spots and of course we have to fix up that grout :)
xo,
s
Jenn says
Bahahaha, I can’t even get past the title!!! Will have to come back this afternoon to read the post!
Kelsea says
I love the way it turned out! I’m considering painting my door a saffron yellow (inside and out) and spraypainting all the hardware and knobs that dark color. It’s been really fun watching the transformations to your new place- excited for future updates!
Lauren says
This looks great! You guys do such a good job painting trim. I’ve painted some of the trim in our house, but get nervous every time. Can I ask how often you ‘re-paint’ or touch up the trim? Do you see yourself having to re-paint it in 5 years, etc? Just trying to get an idea of what the up-keep will be like. Thanks so much!!
YoungHouseLove says
We usually just paint trim once and then dust it or magic-eraser it occasionally when there’s a stain and then do little touch ups down the line (ex: we did a few quick baseboard touch ups before we moved out of our last house after all the furniture was out).
xo,
s
Marilu Luna says
Love it!!! I can’t wait to see the rest of the house projects. Love to see the progress of your new home and can’t wait to see it all done.
Betsy says
Whenever I see your door’s new color I think, “YHL blue”
It’s sooo you!!! Love it!
Stephanie says
Hey there. I truly enjoy reading about all your new house adventures. I recently painted the inside of my back door (in the kitchen) a similar shade of happy aqua. I love it!
Have you considered painting your shutters? Not that it’s any of my business, but I feel like you could do something really neat with those black shutters. Maybe a dark grey?
YoungHouseLove says
We like them black for now (we have always loved brick houses with black shutters – our last two had that combo as well) but who knows where we’ll end up!
xo
s
Holly R. says
Everytime, I see your bright blue it makes me want to paint the old white doors on the place I rent with my husband. We have been here about 3 years and the doors need a pick me up. We will probably have to tell our landlord or ask permission first. I am sure once I show him the picture of your lovely door he may agree with some updates!
Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating says
Amazing the difference a little (or a lot) of paint can make!! The door looks incredible, and your entryway is looking so bright, fresh, and inviting.
I know you’ve probably mentioned this…but is the ceiling in your entryway 8 feet high? It looks like it judging by the doors (unless your doors are taller than standard height), but it just feels more open than 8-foot ceilings usually feel.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kristi! It’s a standard 8′ high ceiling but it feels so much bigger now that the heavy blue trim and sidelights are white!
xo
s
Katherine says
I love those inspiration pics….
wouldn’t it be awesome to open up the widows around your door a little wider? Maybe just replacing the lower panels of wood with glass?
I’m assuming that’s something you guys would be able to do, since, you know, you’re wizards. DIY home decorating wizards!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Heck yeah, that would be awesome!
xo
s
Kara says
Wait a minute… didn’t you guys say you might move slower with this house? I can’t believe how far it has already come. It is looking great, and more like you with every post!
Kara says
This looks great! But did I miss in a previous post what you did with your door hinges – did you replace or ORB them? I have an 80s house with antique brass everywhere :(
YoungHouseLove says
We just bought a contractor pack of them in ORB from Home Depot (they’re cheaper in bulk!).
xo
s
Elizabeth says
I love how much the slate has changed tones as you’ve painted the walls/trims/doors. It all looks gorgeous!
Also, your Jack/Rose comments made me think of this:
http://veryhilarious.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/jack-and-rose-fit-on-wooden-door.jpg
You’ve probably seen it before, but if not it’s pretty funny :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hilarious. Oh man, if only…
xo
s
Betsy says
The door color looks awesome and so fresh inside!
Now, it’s time, you seriously need to take down the ceiling fixture — it’s dragging the freshness factor way down! Simply put a lamp on your foyer table for light (we leave ours on 24/7, kind of like a fancy night light) and cover the ceiling hole with a white metal plate. Done!
Liz says
I still laugh anytime I read a post about painting the front door – it takes me back to our own DISASTER when we built a home and the door was painted but they got the wrong paint code, and it was MARTIAN green…I almost put a sign in the front yard to let the neighbors know we really did have good taste…talk about a crash entry into a new neighborhood! :)
Pics here if you’re interested to see JUST how bad it was! Ha! Love your blue! http://www.lifeinyellow.com/2011/11/door-drama/
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I love that story!
xo
s
Natalie / Half Asleep Studio says
How timely! I just bought turquoise paint to do our front door this week – home makeover soulmates, much?
YoungHouseLove says
Twinsies!
xo
s
Diana Buchanan says
Can I just say that I’m having my own Jack/Rose love affair with those door knobs?? SWOON! What a difference!
Carly says
I love the dual-sided door! We just sold our house and we had painted our front door a vibrant orange. And we had a big yellow glass sidelight…it was kind of a modern HoJo 70s vibe, but the house was 1963 midmod, so it all worked! I always wanted to do the back too…now I know I will have to do that for sure in our next place!
Amy L. says
Wow. That white trim really does make the ceilings look higher!
Will says
Absolutely love the front door. On a side note, your grout lines are really bothering ME! For some reason, I like the blue tiles, just wish the grout color was cleaner, to make the pattern pop! Or am I wrong?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes the grout’s a hot mess! Dealing with that is definitely on the to-do list!
xo
s
Sarah says
I love the new door color! My husband and I are looking at painting our front door as well. I am in love with all of your dark hinges and door knobs and plates.
Currently we have all brushed nickle fixtures (knobs, faucets,appliances, lights, threshold plates… etc.). I would like to change the hinges and door knobs/plates to a darker color. Do you think that I would need to change the look of the faucets and shower/kitchen fixtures to match or can they remain brushed?
YoungHouseLove says
We like to mix and match, so as long as a few things are one and a few things are the other it can look intentional and layered (if one thing’s the odd man out, then it can look accidental).
xo
s
Ashley says
LOVE the color of the door, its amazing how much paint changes everything! The house is looking great!!
Diane Olsen says
Have you painted your entry hall? If so, what color is it? I sure like it from the pictures with the new white trim. What color white?
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Diane! We haven’t painted it yet but can’t wait to get to that! The trim is Simply White by BM though :)
xo
s
Megan Poletti says
I love, love, LOVE this paint color! I’ve been gone for two weeks on vacation and yesterday I read all of your blog posts that I missed. It’s amazing how much you’ve accomplished so far! I’m starting to see your vision develop as you go, and it was especially fun to have that gap of time and then jump back in and see what you’ve done. I just wish I could repaint my own door! Maybe my landlord will let me ….
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Megan!
xo
s
Kathy says
Your foyer is so much brighter and beautiful now!
I’m going to take a guess at what you might pick for a wall color, okay? A very soft, warm dove grey?? —But definitely not a hard, cold “Titanic” grey! :D
YoungHouseLove says
Haha! What about Iceberg white? Or a deep Sea Green? Maybe blue like Jack’s pretty eyes…
xo
s
Nora says
You guys are really moving fast. What a transformation. The house looks like it’s taking off it’s old tired sweater and splashing out some fresh new summer colors. Great work.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Nora!
xo
s
Kim says
Looking good! Funny how a small change can make a room (or foyer) seem so much bigger!
Brooke says
The door looks great and the whole foyer is really transformed. I’m surprised how nice the floors actually look without the blue trim next to them. I can’t wait to see what colour you paint the walls. It really does show that a little paint and effort (and not expensive) fixes can really change the way a space looks. Great job!
Cathrynj says
Zap! That is the bolt of inspiration your post gave me about our teeny tiny entry way with no walls. We have the front door, big window in little wall, side stairway railing and walkway and only big enough to open the door and pile a couple of pairs of shoes. The drapes match the rest of the living room; they are neutral gray. I have an orange rug to try to brighten up the space but it somehow just highlights how plain the rest of it is. Painting the back of the front door will give it so much personality. Thanks so much for the inspiration!!
Kristin says
I think this may be my first comment ever. I’ve been reading your blog since 2009, and loved it back then. Maybe I’m the only one who notices stuff like this, but this post is almost exactly like the one you posted on July 8 when you painted the outside of the front door — whole phrases are repeated You have 3-5 paragraphs that are nearly identical.
I used to come here to read because you guys always had something new and creative going on. This post’s self-plagiarized content really weirded me out.
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve actually always repeated helpful tips if we think they’ll come in handy (people seem to like that better than scrolling back through our archives for them). For example, this post and this post from two years ago have a few of the same spray painting bullets just to be helpful. We could leave them out but that usually leads to a bunch of comment questions :)
xo,
s
Tricia Fike says
A. Best post title EV-ER
B. Thank you. I love you. That wedgewood blue trim nearly gave me a seizure and / or made me cry every time I saw it. It was so awful. The 90’s came in there and vomited profusely.
Tricia
http://www.mash-upchic.blogspot.com
Jenn says
God bless you guys for painting so steadily! It’s such a pain after a while but it really makes such a great difference. (and I love the cuteness in the last picture you linked!)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Jenn!
xo
s
Brandi says
EEk! I love your blue door. My front door is blue too, but the inside is black; maybe I should repaint it…
Gayla says
It is downright amazing to me how much better this looks already!
wow!