Paint selections

Kathleen
by Kathleen
Hoping you can give me some input and advise on paint selections. I am in the finishing stages of an addition on my home. It is right off my kitchen so the back door from inside the kitchen will now be an entry way into a 7' x 23'L hall/foyer. Across from the kitchen entry will be a hall coat closet door and a bedroom door to the largest part of the addition (my Mom is coming to live with us and this will be her bedroom/living suite).
Our entire house trim and interior doors are painted a sand color and I plan on continuing that on all the new interior trim and doors. (photo attached of color)
I have also attached a photo of the entry door that goes into the new hall/foyer. I am considering painting the entry door either a dark red or a sage green (original house is a small 100 year old colonial). How would you paint the door? Where would the exterior paint color go? on just the face of the outside of the door or on the sides/edges of the door also? Would you paint the inside the same color for a pop of color inside or paint the inside the same color as the interior trim (sand). The exterior trim around the door would be white so the door jams would be white too? So confused....
Please help!!! Thanks !!
  7 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Sep 27, 2013
    What is the exterior color of the main house's door?...I would match that. When I paint doors I typically just pait the doors face. Leaving the edges their Pre-painted color. Keep in mind the pint should fully cure with the door open so the weather strip does not lift the paint along the edges...I see this happen way too many times.
    • Kathleen Kathleen on Sep 27, 2013
      @KMS Woodworks The main house actually has a very small (about 4x4) entry hall/porch that just has a storm door on it. We also need to replace the storm door so we need to decide on a color for that too - it doesn't face the same way as the addition door - it faces toward the side of the driveway you see in the picture. Was thinking about black to match the shutters? Don't think I would want to buy a new storm door and paint it right away so the black might make an easier solution. The exterior door for the front of the existing house is actually inside the entry and is painted the same color as the woodwork and trim (sand) that is inside the entry hall and house.
  • Vicki Menton Vicki Menton on Sep 29, 2013
    Drive around and look at other homes in your area and see if you find something you love. We found a house similar to ours in the area and live their paint colors. That is on our spring to do list.
  • Leslie Adamson Leslie Adamson on Sep 29, 2013
    If you want to add color to your home, I think the sage green would blend better with the sand color, especially since both are earthy tones. Regarding the inside color of the door I would match it to what the other doors in the home are. Color is a great way to add character to something otherwise drab, but if you color be sure to add some decor that compliments the color you paint the exterior side of the door. You don't want it to stand out like a sore thumb and be your only pop of color.
    • See 1 previous
    • Leslie Adamson Leslie Adamson on Sep 30, 2013
      @Kathleen That is probably best to wait until spring for any painting outdoors. Good Luck, would love to see pics when you get it done.
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Sep 29, 2013
    Check out the colors of the storm doors you are looking at,..... it may help .... beige, chocolate brown, dark green, wine.... are the most common,,not all companies make all colors in all styles.... If you want a certain style,,or look for the front. We needed a screen sectin for cool breeze in the summer.. We got one with a roll-up hide-away screen, with deadbolts for security. We can now leave the door open, and locked and have a great breeze.... Our home is light tan brick, windows in beige frames, gutters, downspouts and roof in dark brown. After much looking we found the only one we really liked the looks , with our combo was the wine colored. We color matched, by computer, at the local paint store and painted the front door to match..Not hard prooject just several trips to get it right..We are very happy with it..
  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Sep 29, 2013
    BTW love the beveled front door..
  • Jeannie Jeannie on Sep 29, 2013
    Make a list of colors you like and would consider. Take your photo in photoshop or some program that allows you to "paint" in color. That's how I decided on my back door color. I even made several color choices and let my family vote. If you don't know how to use a photo program, maybe you can print several copies of your photo and use map colors or crayons.
  • Go to a craft store and buy some inexpensive colored paper in the colors you are thinking of. Then tape those colors up (one at a time) on the largest panel of your door. This will give you a visual as to what color you would like to paint the door. ( I learned this from a designer to find a color to paint balusters on staircases before actually doing so).