There are so many wonderful whites available. If you are looking for a warmer white, I recommend using "Parchment Paper" by Dulux paints. It has a hint of yellow to give the warm glow that the wood offers and works well with neutral tones. If you do a little searching on your Favorite paint websites (Behr has great colour selections in rooms that will give you some idea), they offer great options for choosing a white, just remember your light in the room could give your color choice a new look. I am using a Behr paint currently in the house as a trim colour with the Parchment Paper wood painted doors called Snowy Egret PWN-50. Hope this helps, good luck.

@kimber11: So you are painting the doors the white Parchment Paper color and the door trim/baseboards the Snowy Egret color? Wouldn't two different tones of white right next to each other look funny? I can't picture it.

@Tee8...I will take a picture for you to show you what it looks like. You can see the same affect if you go onto a paint website and looks at their white room examples.

Now that we have settled on painting the doors white, what is the process exactly?

Firstly you will need to lightly sand the doors (this step will assist in the flat smooth finish); secondly, apply a coat of primer, use a small foam roller brush to avoid the brush lines that a normal paint brush creates. Best to take the door off and paint the door flat. Then one or two coats of your paint colour. Wait for a day between primer coat and paint to ensure the primer is fully dried. Use another small foam roller brush to apply the paint. Even if your paint is primer plus paint in one, I recommend using a coat of primer separately, it helps smooth out the wood grain somewhat. You may still get some wood grain lines showing through the paint but it will not be overwhelming if you prime first. A semi-gloss paint will add a little finishing shine to the doors. If you use a flat, it will not reflect the light and will look dull. Good luck.

I vote for white too -- have a professional do them. They will spray them and they will look great.

@kimber11 what about sealer? Since it's new wood, is that required?

If you paint or stain wood, here is a good resource for tips before doing either: http://woodenwindow.com/products/care-maintenance/painting-instructions/

I vote for leaving them wood. those are nice doors. Just varnish them. With OIL based pro polyurethane. GOSH I love the stuff. It gives that color that you drool over in old old houses! Just beautiful. I vote for oil poly them. They are pretty. Wood is pretty.

I'd stain them, but not too dark. Our kitchen doors have a similar style. We used a light stain, and satin poly. The wood grain really pops!

White doors are elegant and classy

Paint same as walls so that the room looks larger

@joecalta3 your doors look great! Funny thing is looks like the stain of your doors match our hardwood that is in the living room/railing for stairs..but hubby hates that color. I'm not as picky as he is. One thing I do have to say is your trim is gorgeous! where did you get it?

@gramma907 do you have any examples? Also, did you see our living room pic that shows the wood floor and our bow window? different colored wood than if leaving doors in their natural state.

Paint white.

Paint all wood that is dated oak, white for a updated look.

@travisinteriors do you agree with painting the doors white? or just painting the trim/baseboards white?

I like the doors as is, just add the trim to match the rest.

Paint them gloss Swiss Coffee

@jacksmomdawn..what paint line is that?

@jacksmomdawn if it's by Behr..that's a GREAT white!!!

@tee8. Thanks, the moldings are original to this 1938 colonial here in NY. Some have been replaced but the style is original. The stain on the doors is Minwax Polyshades Pecan. The wood grain is almost iridescent in the sunshine.

@joecalta3: sounds gorgeous! Gotta love those old houses with the gorgeous trim!

I think I'm finding it hard to decide here because of the door handles and hinges...I'm not sure they go well with the lighter wood. I'd suggest a softer style and colour to blend with the door more.. It all depends on what your style is throughout the rest of the house. The handles would go better if you decide to stain the doors darker though. Good luck deciding it's a tough one!

@tee8 - The primer acts as a sealer.

@kimber11: what primer do you suggest?

Choose a high end paint store if you plan the paint job.. or hire a professional. They would know exactly what primer and what paint to use. I think having to hire someone that is experienced will save you much trouble and mess. If you do it, you want it done right. Don't go to Lowe's or Home Depot, but a Porter Paint, etc.. They can give you the name of professional painters. I believe it would be worth the money.

I have painted many doors, infact I come from a long list of professional painters. Definately get a higher quality of paint and tell the sales person what you are doing, they can help point you in the right direction. Don't be intimidated by this project. Totally doable.
I primarily use Behr (sold at Home Depot). Little fact, did you know that only a few paint companies make the many different brand name paints. So don't be fooled by the 'high end' paint, it's probably made by the same company that make the discount commercial paint.
All that being said, if you are overwhelmed by this project and/or have the budget go ahead and have them professionally sprayed (big $$).

@ tee8 - Here are the set of closet doors that I did, solid wood. Used Parchment Paper on these doors. Another great trim colour is Antique White.

@ tee8 - Ask at the paint store what they recommend for primer on a wood surface that is getting painted. I do not use anything special for primer, commercial grade primer.

The dark hardware is great. We just replaced all the shiny (cheap) brass colored hardware on all our white paneled interior doors. What a difference.

You need to plan all your material and color choices now before touching the door finishes.

You really cannot go wrong if you plan ahead.

Have you considered slate for the floors?

@kimber11: thank you for the visual really appreciate it. Did you use Parchment paper for the baseboards too?? I would think I would have to use the same white that is on our stair treads as well since the front closet is right next to them.

Yeah We'll ask at the store what primer to use as this is bare wood..no previous stain/paint on them. Were your doors bare wood or were you painting over previously stained/painted doors?

As far as paint quality that's actually the same deal with makeup. Only like 3 manufacturers.. But a lot of differences in price.

@tee8 - You are welcome.
My doors were also bare wood. The trim was painted with a different colour of white. I agree you should use the stair tread colour for the trim.

Ok. It doesn't look funny with two shades of white?? I can't tell in your pic how it looks sorry.

@Kimber11: Disregard my comment regarding the two colors. I can tell now!

I think they look nice as they are.

I like them as they are too. To me painting them white makes too much white. I like natural wood and I like the contrast of the dark handles with the light.

@beth scheel; @BLDG Workshop: did you see the pic of the door by the staircase? You would still agree to leave the door in their natural wood color?

It depends on what your decorating style is and also the period if the house. If you want to be more traditional, stain the door darker. If you want to make it all cleaner and brighter, paint the door white a long with the base boards.

it probably depends on what you're doing with everything else, but i like the raw wood doors better than anything else (if it were coated to give that honey lacquered look i wouldn't!). so i would use that as the inspiration for all of the other changes rather than vice versa. just my two cents.

@taylvs3: Our house is a 1954 cape cod. As far as decorating style..we are all over the place. Really haven't decorated too much. But I personally love the farmhouse/traditional style. Our house needs a lot of updating, but has good bones.

@BLDG Workshop: We like the natural state of the doors as well, but feel it just doesn't go with our hardwood floors and the bow window that we have in there already. You can see a pic here (which shows the original doors that were there when we bought the house)

I think the contrast of stain with the light walls would be spectacular

Agreed! Keep in mind the floor is also a light (white?) tile... Unless you put down a runner of some type you are looking at alot of white.

@joecalta3: I agree with looking at a lot of white. Attached is a pic of when we first moved in and what the doors looked like down the hallway

I wouldn't want to see doors... They draw your eye and I think they should blend in with the wall color more, especially since it's not just one door you're talking about. Re the "high end" paint store.. They'll know local professionals that can be recommended, and as a courtesy, I'd buy my paint from them. That money savings is not a big issue. You get a more personal treatment as the same people are there each day. you can call on the phone if you have questions.. Can you do that at Home Depot? That's why it's good to go with a paint specialty store.

Maybe you should narrow down the overall feel you are looking for with your house. You know there will be more projects in the future and the things you do to the house now may or may not work with the bigger changes down the road. Lots of opinions and ideas here, try looking at some hallway designs on Houzz, browse rooms and see what you can imagine living in. Remember it's your home and your money to spend, it's great to have others opinions but at the end of the day you are left starring at it! Good Luck!

I'd paint them a light color and paint the moulding white , but not as white as the moulding around the doors. Having 3 dark stained doors side by side may look awkward in such a small hall. After you paint them a light color, say, cream or white, you can accent the inside moulding's with a tinted glaze or a similar , but darker color. I think the moulding around the door needs to match the door no matter what you decide. Perhaps add crown moulding.

Speaking of more projects in the future; referring to the photo you just posted, showing the wall with the counter attached to it plus four cabinets; Was the vantage point of that photo the same but 180 degrees opposite the picture of your entry and living room? I see leather recliners in that room to the rightt, what room is that? Have you considered opening that wall up and putting in a kitchen island? You'd have to consult a competent builder or engineer or architect, because it looks like it may be a load bearing wall, but such problems can usually be overcome.
A kitchen island (sans wall) would really open up the kitchen for entertaining, interacting with the family, etc. It also might give you more storage and workspace than the current counter and four cabinets. It might also add considerably to the value of your home.
Hope I didn't complicate your life more than it is, but some walls just scream at me "take me away!" Of course removing/opening that wall up could really complicate your project plan. What would you do about floors then? what kind of transition, or all one kind and color floor?
Just a few thoughts.
Again, have fun.
Dave

@springlakedave: funny you mention this because this is our other design dilemma! We want to do soooo much with our house just don't have the funds. But yes, my husband is dying to take down that wall. It separates the kitchen from the living room. That pic I just posted was taken from the kitchen table. It's an eat in kitchen, we have no dining room, or I guess you can consider that the dining room. But we desperately need that cabinet space as that holds all our dry foods. That long counter also really helps out too, especially for family gatherings/parties. But yes, then the issue comes down to the flooring once again. We were actually just thinking of creating a some sort of cut out/pass through to the living room, but who knows. That is WAAAAAY down the road. We have a decent sized basement (1000 sqft) that we would like to finish too. Our home has a TON of potential, just bought at the wrong time, and funds are short!