Front door mini makeover

Front door mini makeover, complete!

Here is where we started:

The door and sidelights are original, and probably looked amazing when the house was a lighter color back in the day (we think it was originally cream with choc brown trim). But the house has since been painted grey, which left the front door lacking much accentual pizzaz. The storm door looked okay from afar but close up it was corroding and had stains. It lived a good 30 year life. :) 

Plus, being original, and with a little house settling in 30 years, the drafts were terrible. Even if it looked good, it had to be replaced for energy efficiency purposes. You could see daylight at the bottom of the door, and don't even get me started on the storm door. Raccoons could have fit through those gaps. Okay maybe not, but it was bad. Last winter, sitting on the living room floor with A, I could feel an actual breeze flowing across the room.

Our to do list:

- remove old storm door and glass covers on the sidelights (so weird)

- patch holes in trim, sand

- install new weather stripping

- install new storm door

- add new planter and rug

- sand sand sand heavily poly'd sidelights, prime

- paint sidelights the grey house color, touch up surrounding house paint 

- sand the door, prime

- paint door!

- spray paint the original pineapple door knocker, install new kick plate, hinges, strike plates (all oil rubbed bronze)

- install new door knob/handle set

Oh, and add a mum because by the time you finally finish, it's practically fall. ;)

Color inspiration came from this blue spruce bush (the red flowered rose bush behind it is being removed. Ugh that thing is messy.)

Visually, the door would look more simple and striking if we didn't have a storm, but we're storm door people. I like the door open during the day, we like the fresh air option w the pull down screen, and I like that I can answer the door without having to open the door from a safety standpoint during the day. So, storm door it is.

I just realized that we still have to replace the doorbell. Doh. We took it off to paint, tried to pick up a new one, realized that we bought the wrong kind, then...did nothing. Ha. Gotta get on that.

But for now, it's done! And a few neighbors have already given their thumbs up. :)

Up next outside: this little courtyard area.

Bench? Fountain? Magnolia of some kind? A row of cute annuals along the walk?

Cute girly playing with sticks? :)