 Front Door
Fabulous
Check your old
look
at the door
by Janis Turk
Would you forget to clean and care for your front entry way or living room? Probably not. But when was the last time you polished or tended to your front door? The quality of your front entrance represents the quality of your welcome, so it’s important to ensure that the threshold to your home is as attractive, clean and well maintained as the rest of the house. Bringing good taste and design to the forefront in your home begins at the front door and sets the tone for the rest of the house. If your exterior doors are weather worn and unwelcoming, your home will seem that way, too. Remember: First impressions are important.
Ready to make a difference in your doorway? Perhaps it just needs a good cleaning and polishing, or maybe a new paint job, or a light sanding and stain will do. Maybe you need a new front door because the old one has a dated, dowdy look. Whether your project is large or small, a positive difference takes only a couple of days and leaves a lasting good impression when it’s done.
Several things to consider when moving forward with your front door renovation are the door size, style, color and finish.
Painted doors are a bit rarer in South Texas than wooden doors with stained finishes, but that’s why they look so refreshing when we encounter colorful doorways. Monochromatic color schemes are fine — to make your front door color match the brick, for instance — and help to make other colors stand out in the landscape or home design. Some will choose jet black doors with nickel or pewter doorknobs and knockers to make a bold, sleek statement in a more contemporary home. A traditional, British red door with a brass kick plate, knocker and ornate door handle may be the look you want. Color can make all the difference in your front door, so don’t be afraid to experiment: Color can mean pizzazz. But be sure that the color is echoed in other elements, such as in shutters, window trim, window boxes, or other trim at the roofline, so it all comes together with a central design.
Oversized doors: The standard front door measures about 6-feet, eight-inches; however, depending on the scale of the house, sometimes bigger is better. Oversized front doors can make a bold statement on the home, creating a dynamic, grand entrance. Another option is to choose a double front door to create a wide welcome for guests.
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