If possible, try to do without the storm and I would stain the door first. Once you paint it you can't go back to stain very easily. If you don't like the stain, you can always paint. Get the color strip you found the beam and trim color on, and see if you like a lighter shade on that strip for the door if you decide to paint.

Good idea thanks. What color would you paint if you painted? As for storm, I love having the door open as often as possible to connect house to neighborhood, so would like a simple storm (not ornate iron).

HI -- I Love the porch - beautiful job . What color did you put on the beams ? I think if you matched that color in a stain for the front door. I say stain if the door is new raw wood and use paint if the door has a previous finish on it.Or you could use a bright color for a bit of punch , like even a rich red or any color that you like because your house is fairly neutral. Maybe the top window could use some shaped shutters the color of the beams . By shaped means each shutter would have an arched top to match the window top when closed . The porch lantern could have been a little bigger. When you get your storm door - that could be painted the same color as the front door or try to get a clear view style door.

If you could do without the storm door, I would say to paint the wood door the red color of your planters and tree leaves. If you want to keep a storm door, in a gray/iron color similar to your trim, I would stain the front door the same as your ceiling. Both are beautiful. After that, you could think about a muted reddish concrete stain on the porch floor and sidewalk, which would add a little bit of color, and stand out more from the house color.

Thanks so much...great ideas. Love the arched shutter idea. We were thinking of adding cedar shake to the gable to match the cedar under the porch, but the shutter idea would be way easier, cheaper and easier to maintain. The paint is Benjamin Moore Black Panther. Door is raw so staining will be simple. Porch lantern is a bit of a place-holder till we find the right one. Thanks!!