Front door color and hardware

5 years ago

Hello, we are lovingly updating this little workers cottage in Chicago. We've done the inside in a sort of shaker/craftsman style and I'm including a picture of the 5 panel doors throughout (still adding to the trim and painting so things will have an unfinished look as you'll see).

Inside knobs are all satin nickel and the pic shown is the front closet bang opposite the front door. I'm also showing pics of the inside of the front door and the front of the house. My phone isn't getting great pics but it's what I have.

We are redoing the whole porch and adding all the plants into the front yard in spring so no need to comment on that :)

My questions are...

What hardware finish and style? I have satin nickel inside but don't see many people doing that outside. The inside knob and deadbolt provided with the set seem to come in the same finish as outside so does that mean it's ok to have the front door knob (from inside) not match the rest?

Secondly what color paint would you do outside given the color of siding?

Finally I would really like to avoid buying a whole new door so please avoid that suggestion. Only ways to upgrade/integrate/modernize existing door please. Thanks!

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Deb Bayless - Design for Keeps

5 years ago

Hey Devi, I think you could still go with the pewter and then the lanterns, fence and maybe even your leaded glass - can't tell for sure if it's black or deep bronze - all coordinate. And, yes, you can paint the front door different colors inside and out. Mine is bottle green on the outside and stained to match my tongue & groove ceiling on the inside.

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Comments (9)

Rachel Lee
5 years ago
The front has no strong focus, so you can go any direction you like on the door. A forest green, brick red, or navy blue would lean traditional. A turquoise, lime green, or coral would be unexpected and fun. Your choice! I would match the door hardware to the lanterns.
Devi
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks, I am going to get black lanterns so with black door hardware, would that mean it's ok to have a black inside doorknob if the closet opposite has satin nickel along with the rest of the house?

Also does the inside of the front door color have to match the outside color, or the closet doors (as in white)?
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Deb Bayless - Design for Keeps
5 years ago
ooh, even a deep garnet purple could be wonderful! Yes to matching the lanterns - can't tell if they are a pewter like color or something bordering on verdigris. Or stick with a steel/nickel finish that bridges both the lantern and the satin nickel inside.

Available in a pewter finish and has 2 round glass knobs for the interior side of the door which might pair nicely with the foyer door knobs.

https://emtek.com/tubular-entrysets/hamden

A bit of a modern flair - in satin nickel:

https://www.build.com/baldwin-sc-sanxsqu-r-csr/s1211974?uid=2899311&source=gg-gba-pla_2899311!c1044541334!a54152148154!dc!ng&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi57gBRDqARIsABhDSMoWHbnxCuoUILeNY2RjTGtTc2HxAGdDq6BOrSliqAX-xb39o6_OA1IaArlLEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Devi
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you. I like the first look a lot. The second may be slightly too modern for me. But can I conclude that it's then OK to have pewter on the front door and nickel on the closet all in the same foyer?

The lanterns are verdigris so that leaves me at a bit of a loss. I was thinking of changing them to something black but if these are fine then I would just not match them and do something else right?
PRO
Deb Bayless - Design for Keeps
5 years ago
Yes, pewter with the nickel will be fine. You are complimenting the foyer closet doors with the shape of the knob so that gives some continuity. And, as luck would have it, mixed metals are in! With the exterior lights, you might try to use an exterior paint on them - a deep charcoal or matte black, perhaps - that would then pick up on the picket fence.
Devi
Original Author
5 years ago
Ooh I had thought about painting the lanterns but wasn't sure. Glad to have that idea brought up again.

If I did paint them matte black then would I still do the pewter or go to more of a direct lantern match?

Another question... Can the inside and outside of the front door be different colors or should I pick a single outside/inside color that matches the inside of my house?
Devi
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks so much. It looks like I need two locks on my door -- we currently have two and would like to have that added security. I found this: https://www.baldwinhardware.com/products/details/door-hardware/entrance/soho-two-point-lock-handleset-85385-151

I could do it in the antique Nickel. Would that also work? And yes, the leaded glass has black!
PRO
Deb Bayless - Design for Keeps
5 years ago
Absolutely! Nice work.