Adding color & style to front door

January 23, 2010


Before. The original dark-stained door and peachy orange color on the door surround just weren’t my style. Lackluster porch ornaments thrown into place after our recent move weren’t helping either.

After. A leafy green paint job on the door brightens the entry, and painting the surround to match the rest of the porch brings more light into the space. I switched out my benches and added a colorful pillow that pulls out the accent colors of the red wreath and the blue-glass mulch in the new potted plants. A new mat with green, blue, and brown diamonds adds a bit more color.
Little changes, but they make a difference.
My thanks to Robin of Getting Grounded for her color advice. She has a keen eye for color and helped me choose the door and surround paint.
Door paint: Herb Garden by Benjamin Moore
Surround paint: Stucco by Sherwin-Williams
Doormat: Target, Smith & Hawken aisle
Glass mulch: Target
Pillow: Thrift shop
Pots & plants: Barton Springs Nursery
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

0 responses to “Adding color & style to front door”

  1. Cyndy says:

    Love your makeover – okay to super sharp! During our summer of rain my door got painted chartreuse.

  2. Looks great! Not having a separate color for the surround helps that door show up so well–even without the gorgeous leafy green color, it keeps the competition down. Great choices!

  3. It screams welcome to me with that green door. I like the changes.

  4. Your green door looks fantastic! I’ve been wanting to paint my new front door red, but maybe I should reconsider. 🙂

  5. It looks great! A welcome look with the colors, accessories and bench.
    Cameron

  6. Diana says:

    Much perkier, indeed — how do you like it? Step 1 of many more, right?!

  7. Pam, it’s fun to get to see the results. Love that bench and pillow, fabulous! I wonder how it would be if you painted the ceiling pale sky blue now, to repel bugs? Could be interesting…
    That’s an interesting thought. I actually have a pale blue paint that I was going to use for something else. —Pam

  8. Jean says:

    Oh my, much better! Love that green color. Hmm, I think I like Robin’s idea for the pale blue ceiling too. On a different although slightly similar note, you challenged me to reveal my front yard a while ago. I just posted about it today. Argh!

  9. Vertie says:

    Looks great! Amazing how much difference a little paint can make!

  10. Iris says:

    I think it looks great, Pam! I really like the potted plants, too–cool containers. Aren’t you excited?

  11. Lovely. That green paint is so “you.” Paint brightens almost anything doesn’t it?~~Dee

  12. Love it! Yes, just a few little changes give us a fun, new look! I love “fun with paint!”

  13. Jayne says:

    What a lovely inviting entryway. Love the green door and the bench.

  14. Nicole says:

    Looks very warm and inviting. I agree, the dark stained door and peachy color door surround did not look good on your house.

  15. Jenny says:

    You did a fine job Pam and how nice to have a color consultant. Was that the hanging ornament you picked up at the Antique RE this fall? The bench is more in keeping with the porch. Oh and where did you get the large pot? Our pool pot suffered some frost damage and lost its rim. I need to replace it. We bought it at Miguels about 10 years ago. Do you know if he is still around?
    You have sharp eyes and a good memory, Jenny. Yes, that string of copper bells was one of my purchases at the San Antonio ARE last fall. The large pot, all three in fact, came from Barton Springs Nursery. I bought them during their annual post-Christmas sale. Bummer about your pot, but yes, Miguel’s Imports is located on Burnet Road now, just south of 2222. I just went by this week, but they’re closed between Christmas and Feb. 1, a sign said. —Pam

  16. Darla says:

    Much more inviting! Love it.

  17. Meredith says:

    Very friendly and welcoming, Pam! Looks great.

  18. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Your front door screams WELCOME. Beautiful job.

  19. M A says:

    Looks fantastic! A big improvement.

  20. Robin says:

    Small changes that made a huge difference! It looks great!

  21. Susie says:

    Oh my gosh, that green is the perfect color! I love what you have done…talk about curb appeal!

  22. Chookie says:

    Lovely! That insipid peach…!! I like the diamonds in the door and on the mat.

  23. Amy says:

    Now, it has some personality. I love that shade of green. Also, the porch looks much more welcoming. You could not have picked better containers to go with it. Love it! 🙂

  24. bill says:

    And what are the plants in the pots? I imagine you have told us somewhere but I missed it.
    From biggest pot to smallest, there’s a squid agave, spike rush, and dyckia. —Pam

  25. TexasDeb says:

    Wow – can’t leave your blog alone for a minute – so much going on with you – and yet you still manage to get photos and blog to boot. What energy you’ve got!
    I’ve heard about green thumbs – now you’ve got the door to match. I am seeing more colorfully painted doors in my neighborhood this year. Maybe a subtle reaction to the drought leaving us with less color in the beds? Like it a lot no matter what the cause and won’t hesitate a second to show my Hub in my efforts to convince him our door should go from drab dark to bright. (Thanks for the ammo!)
    I’ll third the hope you paint that ceiling blue a la New Orleans porches. I’ve always wanted to know if that works or not…. I think you better take a day of rest now, if you get too far ahead of the game who knows what trouble you’ll stir up? : )

  26. I agree with TexasDeb….you have a LOT Of energy.
    It’s lookin’ good.

  27. melanie says:

    Pam, I love what you have done here, nice and fresh.

  28. Perfect! Good job Pam, how does your family feel about it? Do they love it too?
    DH doesn’t really care one way or the other, teen son thinks it looks fine, and younger daughter hates it! Like me, she has definite tastes. 😉 —Pam

  29. Michelle says:

    Love, love, love the green door!

  30. Phillip says:

    I love that color. It looks beautiful Pam!

  31. cheryl says:

    “Pale sky blue” paint repels bugs??
    Love the door.
    I’m skeptical too, Cheryl. It’s true that Southern porch ceilings are often painted blue, and one reason given is that wasps think it’s the sky and won’t build nests there. Old wives’ tale or not, it does make for a classic and pretty porch-ceiling color. —Pam

  32. Gail says:

    It looks fantastic! gail

  33. Denise says:

    The porch tiles look so much brighter against the now white woodwork and green door. Looks like a spot to hang out rather than pass through. Beautiful, Pam.

  34. Aiyana says:

    What a difference a little paint makes. Love that Herb Garden color on the door.
    Aiyana

  35. Chris G says:

    Hey Pam – Absolutely beautiful! The glass mulch you got at Target? Do they have a garden section that carries stuff like this now? Which Target did you go to?
    ChrisG
    I’ve seen the glass mulch at several Targets, ChrisG. They offer several colors (green, blue, plus red, I think) in plastic cylinder containers. You can find them on the aisle with glass vases and other home accessories. —Pam

  36. katina says:

    I like the new look!

  37. It’s amazing what a transformation you can create with just a little paint. The new color of the door connects it with the plants growing in front of it and eliminates the cave-like feeling it had.

  38. Kathleen says:

    It looks gorgeous Pam. I’m a fan of paint too!

  39. Mamaholt says:

    Oh my goodness…that looks WONDERFUL!!!

  40. Ginger says:

    Love it, especially the green door! It’s so much more modern now.

  41. Jemima says:

    HI there, I just LOVE the colour of your door and want to use the same paint on my door, or trim for my house. I looked it up with Benjamin Moore and it looks waaaay darker and not near as pretty. I am curious, have you adjusted the colour for the photo, or does it actually come out that way?
    I would love if you could give me some feedback on this…
    Thanks! Jemima
    Jemima, I didn’t adjust the color, but of course color can look quite different on various computer monitors. On mine it looks pretty much like it does on my door. Best to try a sample first though. —Pam

  42. Kaedra Blue says:

    I stumbled upon your awesome door on Pinterest. And absolutely love it! We are moving soon and our new house needs a front door makeover. I am actually curious about the style of your door. Do you happen to know the style name/type, can you share that info with me? Thanks for any help & for sharing such a great makeover!
    Kaedra
    Kaedra, our door is original to the house, which was built in the late 60s/early 70s. I’m afraid I don’t know anything about the maker or brand. —Pam