New Front Doors - Stain or Paint
We have a traditional brownstone and had a new pair of front doors made to match the originals that are missing. The new doors are made from a high quality wood which can either be stained or painted. While I prefer stained doors, the surrounding entrance woodwork is not stain grade and must be painted….
We have a traditional brownstone and had a new pair of front doors made to match the originals that are missing. The new doors are made from a high quality wood which can either be stained or painted. While I prefer stained doors, the surrounding entrance woodwork is not stain grade and must be painted. So I’m considering staining the doors and painting the surrounding entrance woodwork black.
Does anyone know of examples of this that I could go see? If it looks odd, then I’ll just paint the new doors black to match the surrounding woodwork. I just hate to paint them if they can be stained.
If you know of any examples, please advise addresses.
Thanks.
While out walking today, just happened to notice two houses with black surrounds and natural wood doors. Both are in PS, on the south side of the street between 8th Ave. and the park—one on 14th St. and one on 15th St., both closer to 8th.
Take a look at these links:
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/BKN/BKN.htm
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,1222138,00.html
http://www.historicdoors.com/gallery.html
The first is a great site with photos of beautiful and historic Brooklyn architecture, including front entryways. Maybe you’ll find an address you want to look at from these photos. The 2nd and 3rd links have photo galleries of front entrances.
I agree that it would be a shame to paint your doors before trying stain and seeing how you respond when you stand them against the painted frame/surround.
It’s very common and attractive to see entryways with doors framed by contrasting surrounds. in Brownstone Brooklyn there are many wooden doors set-off by black ornamental iron. Worst-case scenario would be that you stained the doors without a finish coat, decided you didn’t like them next to a contrasting frame, and then needed to sand and prime before painting to match.
You may love stain but beautifully painted doors – Use Fine Paints of Europe – look dynamite on a brownstone. Gorgeous. I got doors made – out of poplar, wrong choice — and someone on this site recommended that I used the best paint out there to completely cover and protect the doors. I bought low lustre black (it looks like patent leather for about 2 weeks before losing it high shine to be a deep, rich black) and with beautiful brass hardware against the black window frames and black surrounding molding, it looks so beautiful.
It doesn’t answer your question, but what about having someone faux paint the trim to match the new stained doors?