by tresangeles
14 months ago in Design Dilemma
Painted Interior Doors with Stained Trim ?
New construction - time to think about colors!! I do prefer stained window trim and baseboards - but, am considering painted doors (coordinated just a shade or two darker than interior wall color). Wood trim will be medium-to-light stain. This combo is hard to find example of -- but have attached one I found (altho not quite the right shades). If anyone has anything to share -- boy, I'd to see or hear about it. Thanks!
 
motherbear I like it!
14 months ago ·
Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. I like this look, but I would go the other way around. I would paint the doors a color slightly lighter than the walls. I also like the black or oil rubbed bronze hardware with this look. Hope that helps and good luck with your project. Charmean Neithart
14 months ago · ·
betsyweisberg I like what I see from the picture. What style are you going for when you do the paint update.
For a color face lift I suggest, crisp white trim, keep wall color, go darker as you suggested on the doors and rubbed bronze hardware. You will be amazed at how different and bright the space will be.
If you want to keep the wood trim, make baseboard and door wood trim dark stain and paint all window trim white. This will make a beautiful contrast and brighten up without going all in on white.
Looks like a beautiful home!
14 months ago ·
leanneberry White trim and white doors would give this a fresh clean look and appear more spacious. Depends on the look you are going for, timber is lovely but make it look busy.
14 months ago ·
houssaon I painted the doors in my upstairs hallway pumpkin color, the trim was white and the walls were a light cream color. I really liked the result. So much more architectural interest. My house is a 1935 Colonial and I love using paint to update the look. You could also think of putting an accent color on the doors in some rooms.
14 months ago ·
RMG Miami I also agree with the painted trim and the stained door. Ties the walls into the trim, then the trim highlights the door. Of course, if the quality of the door or trim is home depot, or the stain is min wax, then paint everything.
14 months ago ·
markcooke I like this look, although I probably like the opposite better, i.e., painted trim and stained doors. In either case, the contrast creates interest and energy.
14 months ago ·
jansgirl Poster says she prefers the stained trim.

It's hard to find examples because EVERYONE is wanting painted trim now days. (like granite and stainless.....)

Good for you for thinking outside the box.
14 months ago · ·
Craftsman Construction I have all stained trim and doors in my craftsman style home with painted windows. I love your idea of painting the doors and staining the trim, but you need to be careful here. The trim in the picture you are using looks like knotty pine. This wood is way to busy and really pulls your eye to it. Also it is a wood that is hard to stain properly as it looks blotchy. If you want to pull this off you need to use a more subtle grain pattern. Mahogany or cherry would be a great choice. This are very warm woods. The cherry will age nicely over time as it is photo sensitive. Sherwin Williams has an Arts & Crafts color pallet that has some great period colors that would go well with the stained wood.
14 months ago · ·
shirleyfaas That trim looks like a "paint-grade" trim which was stained, resulting in a blotchy, unnatural finish. Unless you've got beautiful wood, meant for staining, that trim should be painted.
14 months ago ·
michigammemom I like the look as shown in the photo, but keep in mind that over the life of your home you most likely will change your wall color and you may be limited by the color choices you made for your doors. A stained trim with doors to match might be more versatile for the long haul.
14 months ago · ·
albertd I have designed a new home on a wheat ranch. We are doing exactly this combo. Wood stained trim with painted doors. I think the doors should be a darker hue than the walls, but this color shown is a little dark. Using a mushroom or deep tan color depending on your color scheme. We are using Alder stained trim (not knots) with a creme sagebrush colored doors. We are using this exact door. Good Luck.
14 months ago · ·
tresangeles albertd -- if you have any pics -- i would sure appreciate it!! I put this subject pic up only because it's about the only example I could find of stained trim with painted doors - this isn't my exact scenario. I do agree on using a nice wood species (Alder would be good -- but, in any case, not knotty). And, I too think the door is a little dark too.
14 months ago · ·
albertd The project won't be to that stage until fall.....sorry. I am sure that is a little late for you to see. But if not, I will be posting all of the pics of the project on my facebook pro page DORMAIER.
14 months ago ·
hollyclouse If you like the contrast, keep it. If not then paint the trim a shade lighter or darker (depending what effect you are looking for...) I'm not a big fan of knotty wood trim - but if it feels like home to you - that's all that matters.
14 months ago ·
Ashley Dyller_Gallo Thank You!!! I am going crazy trying to find postings of painted doors and wood trim! I like the warm feeling of the wood trim, but I have flat panel doors and want to paint them and add some panels or now am even thinking panels and wainscot...It seems like such a decorating faux pas because you don't see it anywhere.
13 months ago · ·
tresangeles Hi Ashley! I was going crazy looking for pics/postings of painted doors and wood trim as well! But, I've decided that's exactly what I'm going to do. The windows will be fully cased with wood, 6" wood baseboards, and, of course, wood door trims. The wood will be a smooth species (probably alder - but, definitely not knotty). And, the wood will be stained with a very natural/light stain. The doors I've selected are the solid-mdf "shaker doors". Wall paint will be a nice taupe -- and the doors will be painted with a slightly lighter complimenting color. For my taste/lifestyle, I simply prefer stained wood baseboards. I feel like they are easier to keep clean and fresh -- ie, a nice wipe-down with an oiled rag does wonders! And, I'm also going to use the bullnose adapters on the rounded drywal corners. The bullnose adapter will take the rounded corners back to a 90-degree angle at the baseboard. Again, I think the 90-degree corner for wood work looks better than the rounded corners. Wish me luck!!
13 months ago · ·
Ashley Dyller_Gallo I think that it's going to look beautiful. I too love the wood baseboards, but recently regret it with the addition of a short haired white dog...I just can't seem to keep up with them and might paint them :/ Go with your instinct and your heart. It's what makes your home YOUR home!
13 months ago ·
tes77 Do you happen to know what brand and colors are in the pic? I am having the same dilemma and really like this look. Thanks
11 months ago ·
uberoma We are doing a lot of renos in our cape cod style home...we have always had natural trim..it is so much easier to keep up than painted trim...we are going to replace our interior mahogany slab doors to a painted shaker style, because of the cost. We will be painting all the doors the same off white colour. I was hoping to see some more examples of natural trim with painted doors.
10 months ago ·
14thstreet My brother replaced all his flat panel hollow core doors with fresh white painted 2 panel doors in his interior, and kept the medium birch stained woodwork everywhere else. It looks great!
10 months ago · ·
tresangeles 14thstreet -- I would love to see pics if you have any. This is still the direction I'm headed. But, I sure do get a lot of puzzling looks from the painters and decorators. Thanks for the validation :-)
10 months ago ·
14thstreet Well my brother lives a few hours away and probably won't want to take pics for me right now--but I did find a house with pictures that has the same combination!

http://www.iahomesforsale.com/ListingDetail.aspx?Listing=6400
10 months ago ·
albertd I just think the white color of doors is too stark and does not flow properly. In the home for sale, the wood is light. Even if they had painted a color closer to the wood color (or beige tone to match some other elements of the rooms) I would have been ok with it. It's tricky, but personally for me, never white.
10 months ago ·
tresangeles @albertd -- I agree. I haven't finalized a wall color -- but, generally speaking, it will be a warm taupe/beige shade. It would then be my plan to select a coordinating, and slightly lighter shade, for the doors (not white!!). Tricky -- yes!! But, I like the thought and hope I get the right shades of wood stain / wall paint / door paint to all work well together.
10 months ago ·
Sign Up to comment