A shame to paint a solid wood door, even alder. Get yourself a scrap of alder and use that to test your stain choices. There are gray stains out there but I won't recommend as the whole gray thing is waning fast and I'm weary of it. Plus it just tends to make some wood look sludgy or milky. (And do chose a better brand than Minwax please). I'm actually liking the natural color of the wood showing here. Usually I'm all for unifying wood tones throughout a space but with all the gray and black going on I'm voting for keeping the door lighter/natural looking.

The door is beautiful and all the knots add character and interest to natural or stained wood. I'm not so sure how those knots would look if you painted over them.

What else will be going on in the room? color and style of furniture, etc?

Very nice and there is your answer: stain the barn door a compatible gray to compliment the floors.

STAIN

You've probably done this, but I'd search Houzz photos, entering Knotty Alder, and see which looks you like. Sometimes you can find the stain used in the questions people have asked about the photos. If it were my door, I'd be trying to get close to the tone of the island, I think, not use a grey.

Something like this:

Rather than this:

Transitional Kitchens · More Info

Can the doormaker help you out? It's drop dead gorgeous, btw. Congratulations!

Beautiful door. I think I would wait until you get your space finished, and walls painted. You will have more perspective at that point and make a better choice. I think you might grow to like the lighter look of this wood because too much dark weighs down a space and your other elements are fairly dark. When you get window treatments, things will darken up as well. So, my advice, wait. Give it a couple of weeks once you have everything finished and then see. I wouldn't paint it though. Stain if you have to.

@ctdowdell-- Great choice!

Thanks for the update! Looking great!

Really pretty door! Is it the Masonite kit door? I have one sitting in the box waiting for a bathroom remodel to start. We were going to paint ours but your post and pics are making me rethink.

Turned out gorgeous!! Thanks so much for taking the time to post the photo.

Don't paint it, it's so beautiful! Stain definitely.

is that one coat of stain or multiple?