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Monday, April 4, 2011

My Front Door: Before and After

My front door is my favorite thing about my house. I LOVE that it is the original door to my 1938 home and I LOVE that it is rounded. I love that it is solid wood. Thick and strong. But I did NOT love the orange color of the wood. I held off on doing anything at first because I didn't want to take it down and have to sand it clear down to the bare wood. And then after awhile I just got so use to looking at it that I forgot it was orange. Well, Better Homes and Gardens coming to my house changed things! I suddenly saw my house with new eyes and I realized the orange had to go.



Somewhere along the time when we bought our house and now, I found out about Gel Stain. You don't have to sand it completely down to the bare wood. In fact, you don't have to sand at all! I am planning on writing a whole post devoted to staining but until then you can see my clip from Good Things Utah HERE.

And here you go!!! No more orange :) I love the dark rich walnut. They have 10 different colors in Gel stain. You certainly don't have to use a color this dark. I sealed the inside using polyurethane and the outside of the door using Helmsman.






Do you know what else I LOVE about my front door??? I have the original key! And it works!!! I framed it and put it on my side table in my front room.

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37 comments:

  1. DandoisLion DeLightsApril 4, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    I can't wait for your post on staining. I need to strip and stain my front door. I LOVE that dark color!!

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  2. AnonymousApril 5, 2011 at 12:01 AM

    Thanks for the inspiration....I too have a similar door but with original inlaid carvings of hearts & flowers! Yours looks great!

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  3. Vivienne @ the V SpotApril 5, 2011 at 12:29 AM

    What!? No sanding?! It looks fantabulous!

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  4. Dee in N.H.April 5, 2011 at 4:04 AM

    Your door is beautiful! and no sanding? How cool is that!?

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  5. nicolette {momnivores dilemma}April 5, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    What a luscious-looking front door! That dark stain really makes it POP.

    Mi casa was built back in 1938 too. We don't have a rounded front door {but I do have rounded door ways and an arch in my master bath}...

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  6. Little City FarmApril 5, 2011 at 5:37 AM

    Wow,...what a transformation. I love the new colour. It goes so well with your other wood tones and the brick. Gorgeous!!

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  7. Randi~Dukes and DuchessesApril 5, 2011 at 5:59 AM

    Amazing door ... I love that it's round. The new paint job looks fantastic. Love what you did with the window and I LOVE that you have the original key!

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  8. RachelApril 5, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    I love the new door! I love that dark color! :)

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  9. Tish - GaMtnScrapApril 5, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    I love the door! I wish I had a cool amazing wood front door, but it's the standard run-of-the-mill metal door. Would gel stain stick to metal?

    I'm patiently waiting on the tutorial about gel stain. I'm thinking about redoing my kitchen cabinets (which are, oddly enough, the same orangey color as your front door was), but wowzer, there's soooo many of them! I've put it off simply because of the amount of sanding I'd have to do. You're giving me hope that maybe it don't have to be that bad??? (Oh, gosh, please please tell me it won't be!) ;)

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  10. Tish - GaMtnScrapApril 5, 2011 at 7:20 AM

    Okay, I just went and looked again at the gel stain can and it says right on there, "for metal". Doh....my bad! But, that's good news!

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  11. Mandy BeyelerApril 5, 2011 at 7:22 AM

    I want to do my cabinets - this gel stain could be a dream come true- really, no sanding?? Do you wipe the stain off after you apply it?? I see this in my future!

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  12. The Miller FiveApril 5, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    LOVE it! Your new door looks gorgeous! I dig the rounded look...too cool.

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  13. JesterApril 5, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Definately the right color if you ask me!!! I love dark wood, & that door looks gorgeous!

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  14. BrandiApril 5, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    Your front door is Beautiful! Thanks for Gel stain tip!

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  15. RitkissApril 5, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    Amazing, I love the key framed, we have an old key and we want to do something like that with it.

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  16. Brandy J.April 5, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    AMAZING transformation and I love the framed key -- such a nice touch!

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  17. Kelli WApril 5, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    Great makeover! I love the darker color and fun that you have the original key:)

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  18. laxsupermomApril 5, 2011 at 8:31 AM

    Wow! Love the new color! And I love that you didn't have to sand it down to get it there. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. Mary @ Redo101.blogspot.comApril 5, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    Wow, what a beautiful "new" door! Love the stain color you chose, and really love the framed key! thanks for sharing.

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  20. KristaApril 5, 2011 at 8:35 AM

    What a difference! I love the darker color. Where did you find the key? That's very cool.

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  21. The Single NesterApril 5, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    You did a great job on your front door. May only nice people enter!

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  22. Patricia @ ButterYumApril 5, 2011 at 11:43 AM

    What a fantastic change... it's amazing what a little stain can do to transform an object. Love that you framed the key too - great touch!

    :)
    ButterYum

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  23. JenniApril 5, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    it is beautitful and i love that you have the key and it still works!

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  24. TanyaApril 5, 2011 at 5:17 PM

    Looks amazing. That's exactly the color I was thinking about using for my kitchen table...now I'm sure about it. Turned out great =)

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  25. AnonymousApril 5, 2011 at 6:10 PM

    Simply beautiful...

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  26. UnknownApril 5, 2011 at 11:17 PM

    Great job!! And that framed key is just adorable!! I'd love for you to link up to Wow Me Wednesday!!

    http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/

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  27. nykki and erikApril 6, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    I want to do my kitchen table... would this stain work and whats the best way to do the chairs?

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  28. LeiApril 6, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I love your door... I have always wanted a rounded front door!

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  29. AmandaApril 6, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    Awesome! Looks brilliant.

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  30. Jayna RaeApril 7, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    I really love front doors. I think that they can be so beautiful. I love the shape of yours, and your new added touches are great!!! Thanks for sharing with the world.

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  31. Comeca JonesApril 7, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    Looks wonderful major difference! I love it!

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  32. phasejumperApril 8, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    That's awesome! I want our front door to be black, but the thought of sanding all those nooks and crannies (shudder)....

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  33. heather {WhipperBerry}April 15, 2011 at 11:42 AM

    Oh my stars... I want a front door that looks like that. Seriously, I would buy the house just for that!!

    kisses
    heather

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  34. chrisApril 15, 2011 at 8:54 PM

    AWESOME. I have always had a secret wish for a rounded front door. The stain was just what it needed.

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  35. AnonymousApril 16, 2011 at 3:36 AM

    Much better! I love the shape of the door.

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  36. Kelly April 16, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    wow, looks great! and I love that you framed the key!

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  37. foreverdecoratingApril 16, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Your door looks so good now. And the bonus? That key!

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