You may remember that ~11 months ago I wanted to repaint my front door. You may also remember that I thought I wanted a red.
I didn’t. Why not? I tried. I really tried. But the green-gray of my house didn’t like blue-reds and I don’t like orange-reds and there you have it.
The experience convinced me I needed a whole new door. Mid-century modern like my house. Light wood, small windows.
The price of said door convinced me otherwise.
And then, in a flash of inspiration, quite different from the logical processes I usually follow, I knew. Janet lit the fires. Then Amy Beth Cup Dragoo did her barn, and Daniel his garage. Perhaps that means I’m trending but I don’t mind.
As of two weeks ago my front door is no longer a patchworked love child of intransigence and desire.
It’s black.
All black. A blue-green black satin, to be specific, known by its creators at Benjamin Moore as “Blacktop.” Makes me think of Jack Kerouac. The front door as road to somewhere. And ready for Hallowe’en, once I found a dark red planter with black speckles to keep my puny pumpkin company.
Looked nice and spooky with the traditional jack o’lantern hack.
Monday, I planted hot pink cyclamen, in the mood for a little pink v. red dust-up.
Now we’re ready for guests.
Even if we are simply hosting ourselves.
Why did it take me so long? All the things I didn’t know; light plays funny tricks on surfaces, paint, in brief, is not fabric.
Why do I like it? The black door is classic, modernized by a non-glossy finish. The red and pink together, just ornery enough. And the utilitarian hardware store doormat? Even when you spend a year figuring something out, it’s nice to have it look easy when you’re done.
81 Responses
I love a black door. The black paint colour you selected looks great with the style of your door.
If I may ask, did you also paint the interior facing black?
I cannot paint the outer side of my door black (shared duplex) but painting the inside black has been on my to do (future) list for several years…..
Thank you so much for sharing. Love your blog!
Suz
@Suz, Thank you! And yes, I did paint the inside black too. Then I immediately had to hang some light art on one of the interior walls;).
There must be something in the air. This week we are having a new door put on our little old cottage. It will be a bit of a shock at first, to go from the all-glass French door to an all-wood with a square of beveled glass. I will live with it through the seasons before I decide on a colour. I like your black door – classic.
Looks great! Modern and simply elegant.
@Susan (une femme), TY!
Our front door is also black. Black IS classic!
@Susan, In excellent company then!
I love a black front door. My last three houses have had black doors. Great choice.
@Mrs. Blandings, I cherish this endorsement. I’ve been reading your blog since forever, so, if you wrote about your doors, quite possibly I had them in the back of my mind somewhere.
it’s deeply sexy. well done!
@lauren, Something I hadn’t considered but find that I quite appreciate;).
Love it! The black you chose is beautiful, complements your house, and your doormat is simple and classic.
@Katherine C. James, Thank you!
Inspired, elegant, classic.
@Jane, All descriptors I welcome! Thanks!
Oooh. Pretty. The pot looks great with the black door. Another successful project.
@Mary anne, Improving, bit by bit. Thank you!
I love it – black is classic and elegant. I also think it works better than red with your architecture.
@Leslie K, Thanks, and that’s what I realized too.
Simply lovely. I can hear your sigh of rest and enjoyment!
@Candace, Thanks:. There may have been some clapping too:).
Perfection! Well worth waiting for. . .as the best things are, right?
@Frances/Materfamilias, <3
As a red door owner, I was disappointed you didn’t choose red, until I saw THIS! I love it. Reminds me of my vintage Chanel purse (that my daughter now uses). It is gorgeous,
@Susie, That is a brand reference I embrace. The Chanel quilting is iconic. Thank you!
Our front door is black! And the barn doors on our garage. And our shutters. And our foundation….sensing a theme?
It looks fabulous. You were right to wait for inspiration to strike!
@Patsy, A theme;). And I was reminded of gardening, where waiting becomes an act of creation. Thank you.
I love your black door and the whole composition. Some things are worth waiting for……… you did it well. It is serious invitation to be wellcome
My doors are steel grey (windows,too. House is white)
Dottoressa
@dottoressa, Ooh, steel gray!
Your front door, the pot, & the cyclamen look beautiful!
I have been toying with the idea of a red front door, but I’m not sure. Plus, we live in a townhouse community and have to go through a lengthy permission process, so I better be sure! I’ll have to consider black!
@Andrea@WellnessNotes, Thank you:). Good luck with the permissions, at least I had no one to ask for approval, who knows it would have taken in that case!
Your door looks beautiful. Do you mean Daniel of Manhattan Nest?
@BarbG, Thanks. And oh gosh you are right. Max was his boyfriend. I will make the edit.
Bravo! Clean and classic and it makes a beautiful punctuation mark to your house. It took me many years dithering about trying to decide which paint color would suit my door, which had been painted white. I settled on a deep purpley bluey black (same color as my garage door and side door as shown here http://chronicadomus.blogspot.com/2014/09/beyond-plain-white-door.html) which makes more of a feature than a boring white door did (at least on my lightly-colored stucco house that is).
I’m also a fan of the old-fashioned coir mat you’ve opted for. Another timeless classic. Oh, and they wear pretty well too.
@Chronica Domus, Your door(s) are gorgeous!
“And then, in a flash of inspiration, quite different from the logical processes I usually follow, I knew.”
#EmotionsMatter #EmotionRevolution
@TheHuntingHouse, Where do I know you from ? :)
@TheHuntingHouse,
Guess whooooooo! ;-)
Oh, by the way, I meant to share the front doormat I got to go with our black painted front [double] door. Yours is great as is, just put this in your files for another day, but this doormat is pretty great, we got the long rectangle. https://media.restorationhardware.com/is/image/rhis/prod520002?$l-pd1$
So perfect…
@Marie, Thank you!
Well worth the wait for such a stylish result. It fits so well, it is as though it has always been this colour.
@Cathi, Ah that’s perfectly what I hoped for. Thank you!
Perfect. And I like the way the pattern in the pot echoes the front door’s pattern. It does look like it’s always been this way, which is the best.
@Kathy, I did not even NOTICE the pot and the door patterns. Ha! See why I need you along on the journey?
I LOVE it!
@K-Line, Thanks!
You totally nailed it! The black color on that particular door is the essence of sophisticated simplicity, but the fact that you kept the existing escutcheon plate adds such a zany touch!
@Diane, Thank you! And I didn’t know that was called an escutcheon plate;). I kept it because whenever I see modern interpretations of mid-century modern designs I always want to say, “You should see my doorknob!” It’s the 1953 original, and I just get a kick out of how dreadful it is and yet how wonderful.
Black works because you have that awesome side window and GREAT door hardware. Perfect pick, TM!
@WorthyStyle, Thank you!
Perfect! The black door, the planter, the pink. All look like they were intended to be there all along, with style and humor as well. I think this is how things happen, gradually, through iteration. Creativity is in sticking with the process and being open to the evolution of the idea.
@Mardel, :Creativity is in sticking with the process and being open to the evolution of the idea.” Well said. I’m learning a lot.
oh lisa, if ever a door deserved to be black! the massive size and pattern are perfect for it. it looks amazing!!!
x
@the gardeners cottage, Thanks! Thank you for the inspiration!
Black looks very nice. Sadly, we can’t have a black door because it faces due west, and people would get burned by it in summer.
@AK, Ah, my door faces northeast, and is under a roof, so no direct sun ever hits it.
I love the black door! All color flowers look great with it and you’ll never tire of it. Hoping you can deliver posts as they happen! Great seeing you yesterday.
@Jennifer, Great to you too. Will work on the mail doohickey soon;).
I have a black door that faces towards the setting sun and haven’t had a problem with the door heating up, it’s not under an outer storm door, which definitely traps heat and can cause problems, but I am curious about how your color will weather.
Does your door face a strong sun? If so, how about an update in a year?
@RoseAG, No, I face northeast, from underneath a little roof:). I’m more worried that the cyclamen will freak out.
Excellent choice! Black is perfect for your door. I’m so glad you kept it.
@Linda @ a design snack, Thanks, oh mentor! And you mean, kept this door and painted it vs. getting a new one?
My door is currently red (it’s been white, royal blue and apple green at various times). I never thought of black and love it. What a splendid choice. I see another painting project in my future!
@Kris, You sound like a very fun door person!
Good choice, black. Caution, keep it dusted (ask me how I know!)
@Kathy, Oh no! I’ve never dusted that door in all the ~30 years I’ve lived here! What happens if I carry on my wayward path?
It looks great! Reminds me of charcoal which Val Easton, my favorite Seattle garden writer, said is a great neutral and looks spectacular with everything.
Black doors are the best -they add such ‘architecture’ (for lack of a better word) to a space or the house. Always makes the hardware look fantastic. No more boring white doors!
PS -I have the same doorbell cover as you -the shield. It’s so charming!
You have the shield too? Where did you get it, can I ask? I mean, where does one find these things nowadays?
Perfection! I just painted the front door of my mountain home a Sherwin Williams Salute….red. Love yours and loving mine! PS…the pot and door mat are great choices!
@Cat Rowe, Thank you! And red doors in the mountains sound so festive. I imagine snow, and birds, and red berries.
I love a black door too! After years of agonizing, I can’t even tell you HOW MUCH MONEY we spent to replace our east coast front door with something that looks like wood (including an authentic hardwood grain pattern) but is finished with the equivalent of an automobile painting process, which should last a lifetime (if you’re already middle-aged). I so, so LOVE it … and YOURS. :)
@Lee Rosenthall, Thank you. And, I imagine the door looks amazing with its industrial strength coating?
I love it! So chic…great choice.
@Mamavalveeta03, Thanks!
I love when a front door has some character. Your front door is perfect. Thank you for sharing.
I totally agree with you. Choosing the right color for your door really will make all the difference in your home’s aesthetic! I really like the black! So sleek and clean. Very nice! Thanks so much for sharing this idea!
The black door came out great! And it goes with any season. Great choice!
Nice and simple door. You could play with colors a bit. For example, paint small squares inside the niches.
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