The First Impression: Cool Doors

When we redid our whole house a few years ago, we left the front door to the very end. It became an afterthought. I wouldn't make that mistake again.

I'm happy with how it turned out - a coat of paint was enough to spruce it up - but completely underestimated how important the door is to the overall look of a house. Color, design elements, shape, lighting - they're all important to think about and all play a real role in how your house looks overall.

Fortunately, that also means you can give your house an aesthetic overhaul just by updating your door. No, it's not an inexpensive enterprise, but it is less costly than, say, residing a whole house.

I've been thinking about this more than usual lately, after watching the finale of "9 by Design" on Bravo (anyone else watching?). The Novogratzs, the designer couple the show's about, stenciled big, surfer-inspired numbers on the doors of the Bungalow Hotel in New Jersey. I love the look and it's a great reminder that little things can make a big difference.

If you're in the market for a new door, or just a little change, here's some inspiration:

Kit Pollard

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This door is so incredible - I think about it all the time. What a statement!

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This door is both solid and ornate and works perfectly with the staid brick.

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These little windows feel modern, but also remind me of the oh-so-midcentury door on my parents' house when I was growing up.

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Speaking of Asian influences, I love the simplicity of these details.

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This foggy glass and the simple lines have a decidedly Asian feel that I like very much.

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It's not practical to wallpaper doors to the outside, of course (unless you only wallpapered the inside), but I love the look.

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These heavy, detailed wooden doors are solid and serious.

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These angles and windows are interesting enough to attract attention from the inside, too.

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I like everything about this simple door - the color and the cool shade.

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I have to be honest - glass doors make me a little nervous, just from a safety perspective, but they sure do look great.

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I like the way the circles on these doors contrast with the roofline. Plus, the whole look has kind of a Brady Bunch retro vibe that I find very appealing.

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There's no way I could write an ideabook about doors without including this yellow door - it's one of my favorites. It's also a good reminder that sometimes, all you need is a great coat of paint to give something a facelift.

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These doors almost remind me of refrigerator doors - they're super space agey. And just right for the end of a path that's equally out of this world.

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I was partly inspired to write this ideabook because I am so in love with these doors at the Bungalow Hotel. I can't stop thinking about the door numbers!