The front door to our 107 year old Chicago Greystone was looking worn and faded, and the hardware was never properly replaced after the originals were apparently stolen. Hence, the next project on my list was to freshen up the entrance.
After sanding down these original solid doors, I chose a darker stain to bring out the richness of the wood and for a stronger contrast against the stone structure. (Varathane Black Cherry wood stain & Minwax clear gloss urethane)
Next was to upgrade the hardware, which after an exhaustive search through various antique shops and specialty shops, I ended up finding the perfect door knob and plate at www.vintagehardware.com. The original kick plates were too tall for the proportion of the doors, so I chose a 10" tall plate from a local hardware store.
Finally, the topiary trees were upgraded to a boxwood spiral design. A taller topiary was chosen for its more substantial look, flanking the entrance and making the doors appear even taller than they are. www.silktreewarehousecompanyinc.com