I Know What I Want! (Yes, It’s Another Post About Doors)
As most of you probably know by now, I don’t work on Wednesdays. That’s the day that I have lunch with my mom and brother. My brother only has an hour for lunch before he has to get back to work, but my mom and I stay and talk until 4:00. Then I host my church group at 5:30.
So that’s why you’ll almost never see me posting about actual progress on projects on Thursdays. On a rare occasion, I might fit in a couple of hours of work from 8:00pm to 10:00pm on Wednesdays, but that’s only if I’m really close to finishing something and I’m feeling motivated to get it done before I head to bed.
Anyway, all of that to say that yesterday while we were sitting in Rosa’s Cafe, my mom had some opinions about the doors in the back entry of the studio. After looking at all of the pictures in yesterday’s post, she felt pretty strongly that white was the right color for the doors because any other color caused a visual separation between the two curtain panels. Since the background of the curtain fabric is white, the white French doors made them look cohesive. I’m not sure if I explained that in a way that makes sense, but it did make sense to me the way she explained it.
So after she convinced me that white was the best option for the French doors, I thought that all white doors would be my only option. I’ve got to be honest. I had a really hard time getting excited about this look…
But then she pointed out that there was really no reason that all of the doors had to be the same. The back French doors could stand on their own with the curtains, and then the two side doors (i.e., the bathroom door and the storage closet door) could be something totally different. There are no hard and fast rules I’m required to follow here.
I had already briefly considered that possibility, but for some reason, I wrote it off almost immediately. In my mind, for a reason I can’t explain, all of the doors did have to match. But when she mentioned that, I started to consider the possibilities. I obviously didn’t have my computer with me, so I didn’t have a way to mock up the different ideas we talked about while we were sitting there in Rosa’s. So I couldn’t wait to get home and try out our ideas.
Since the Behr Black Sapphire (the really deep, dark blackish purple that’s on the buffet in the breakfast room) seemed to be a crowd favorite in the comments of yesterday’s post, I tried that one first. (You’ll have to pretend that the French doors are the same white as the trim.) I like how this looks!
Next up, I tried the Sherwin William Iron Ore. I like this one as well!
But there was one option I was super excited to try. We kept talking about how to make the two sides of the room cohesive. So how do I make the back entry of the studio cohesive with the front mural wall? Here’s what the front mural wall looks like…
So if the goal is to make the back entry cohesive with that mural wall, I don’t think that Black Sapphire or Iron Ore are the way to accomplish that. But there is one thing on that mural wall that seems like the obvious choice to add to the back entry. Do you know what I’m talking about?
Wood! That wall has a 20-foot wood countertop and two wood window shades. I couldn’t wait to see what wood doors (particularly the dark walnut color of the window shades) would look like in that back entry. In my mind, it would be the perfect option. So I edited my photo to include two walnut doors, and….OH MY GOSH, I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!!
I mean, I can’t even get over how much I love this. I can’t stop staring at it and dreaming about rich, dark walnut doors in that back entry. Here are the two sides of the room together. I think this is just perfect.
After bringing up this possibility, my mind immediately went to, “How can I get this look?” My first thought was to use Retique It on my doors. That’s a primer that has wood in it, so whatever you apply it to can then be stained. They have a whole line of stains and graining tools that can be used to make just about any surface look like wood. Here’s a good example of a dark stain color using Retique It products. If you can’t see the embedded Instagram reel below, you can click here to watch it on Instagram.
While that’s an option, I hesitate to jump right in and start purchasing those products because, if I’m being honest, I rarely see projects done with that product that actually look good close up. They may look fine from a distance, but close up, they fail the visual test and don’t look anything like real wood. I may see 1 out of 50 projects that turn out looking decent when seen close up, and the ones that look really nice (as in, they could fool you into thinking they’re real wood) are even more rare than that.
In trying to think of other options, I knew people would recommend gel stain. If you’ve been around here for long, you know that I can’t stand gel stain. So using that isn’t even an option for me. I know gel stain is a go-to product for a lot of DIYers who want to produce a wood look on projects, but I’m just not one of those people. Again, I rarely see a convincing outcome (especially when viewed up close) when it comes to gel stain.
Another option I considered was swapping out my six-panel doors (which were pre-primed MDF when I bought them, and have since been painted twice, I think) for unfinished wood slab doors, which look like this…
I could use the same Behr water-based walnut stain that I used on the storage cabinet in our bathroom. The sides of that cabinet are MDF, and the back is plywood. And that stain gave me a consistent color on both surfaces. I was so shocked!
If that stain can make plywood and MDF look the same, I think it could do wonders on an unfinished wood slab door.
And, of course, the most expensive option would be to purchase real walnut veneer, like this gorgeous walnut veneer from Oakwood Veneer Company.
That’s the place where I purchased the walnut veneer that I used on our vanities and storage cabinet in our bathroom. It’s amazing quality, but it’s definitely not cheap! If I went that route, I’d only purchase enough to put on one side of each door. I’d be okay with both doors being painted white on the inside. White goes with the studio bathroom perfectly, and I couldn’t care less about what the inside of the storage closet door looks like.
But I’ve now become a bit obsessed with this idea. Now that I’ve seen a mock up of walnut doors in that back entry, I won’t be satisfied with anything else. I just need to figure out how to get that look without spending a lot of money. Either that, or I need to decide that this is important enough that I’m okay splurging and spending $550 on real walnut veneer so that the entryway side of two doors can look like real walnut doors. I’m considering it, but I’m not quite there yet.
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
Perfect!
You’re on the right track. Lowe’s and Home Depot make a solid wood 6 panel door, I know, I have been slowly replacing them in our home. I am painting them all white, but they are really amazing wood. You can use a pre-stain treatment used on pine to even out the color and then go with your dark walnut stain, then finish as usual with General Finishes. Truly, no one but you will know if they aren’t solid walnut doors, but they will be solid wood doors and I really love them. They have added value to our home and given it the feel that our farmhouse is really old, not just 25 years old. Here is the link for Lowe’s, https://www.lowes.com/pd/EightDoors-Clear-VG-Pine-Door-6-Panel-80-in-x-32-in-x-1-3-8-in-Unfinished/1002828006
I hope this helps. I love what you are doing, it gives me confidence to get on with some of my projects. Thanks for that. Cheers.
I love the wood door idea. I think staining the wood doors would probably be enough without the veneer. But if you don’t like the way it looks simply stained, could you apply the veneer afterwards?
It might be difficult to find a pair, but can you find used wooden doors? There has to be a salvage place near you? Unless you are in a big hurry.
Grest resolution. Try Rockler Woodworking. https://www.rockler.com/wood/veneer
They have walnut 4×8 sheets for $164.
They are my go-to. I have used smaller sheets for veneer repair & it is excellent IMO.
Or make one or both doors a hidden door bookcase…..
Here is an account who has actually used Retique. Her results were pretty great. https://youtu.be/ASUcF-ZfSc0?si=UmbUaSwpkVSfVfz9
Another option would be to paint them using faux bios technique. Daniel Kanter on IG did that in a house he is rehabbing and the results were phenomenal.
Just some possibilities.
The window panes in the French doors look like the windows in the studio. Painting the French doors white like the windows makes sense to the eye. I like both the Black Sapphire or Iron Ore paint on the rest of the doors in the entryway. I’m not fond of the walnut wood stain. The distinct wood grain in the mock up looks busy to me and the brown color makes the beautiful green walls look dull and muddy.
I’ve got to say, I agree, though it appears we are in the minority. When I saw the purple doors and the white french doors, I thought YESSS!! I am not fond of the wood doors at all.
And I make a third “not fond of” regarding the walnut doors. I also loved the Black Sapphire colour, and totally agree that the wood grain doors drags down the pretty green walls.
Aren’t Moms cool! When your 16 everything they say sounds corny. After you are grown and married you are amazed to see they are so up on everything.
Kristi, I can’t wait to watch you navigate through this idea and see where you end up. I just know you won’t stop until you have your studio entryway ‘all Kristi’.
I clicked on the Behr water based wood stain link you inserted to check it out. I am excited to know the details of it.
What about the thin sheets of plywood that are used under laminate? Could that be an option to rip down and maybe do a herringbone pattern and stain it? The sheets are pretty inexpensive and can be practiced on to get the right shade of stain.
Under laminate flooring I should say…
With your love for color why not pull one of the darker colors from your wallpaper?
Dear Kristi,
I love the gold light fixture! That was a great way to utilize what you already had and make it work for your new vision of the studio.
The black screws (on the globes) are taking my attention away from the beauty of the fixture. Please consider gilding or painting them gold; so they disappear.
Question. If you do white French doors, wood/wood-look doors on bath and storage, how will you finish the door to the breakfast room and the entry door from the side of your studio? Have you considered the overall plan? Just curious.
What a happy, happy place for you to work and design…the studio is a wonderful space! I’m looking forward to the other wall of cabinets and your finishing touches.
Have a great day!
YHWH Bless You : )
The strange thing is that those screws are gold, not black. I don’t know why they’re showing up so much.
I’m planning on doing the breakfast room door and the side exterior door white also.
It’s clear that with your tag team of your mom & brother you come up with genius results. Talking things through with others that understand your vision is 5 star support.
I could not put words to why I found colors on the French doors jarring. Bless your mom as her observation struck truth with me.
And yes exterior doors don’t have to be the same as interior doors or with each other. I have 3… a walnut colored oak, a white, and a cadet blue with interior doors in walnut stained oak. Everything plays well together.
The only thing I would add is that if you end up with wood doors make sure you have multiple protective clear coats so that you have easy maintenance for dirty/painty project hands.
Whatever you do will be lovely.
Absolutely love it. White patio doors mirroring the white windows on mural wall, with the addition of the wood echoing both ends, as well, really hums. Is there a better feeling than when you come up with the just-right idea? Wonderful!
(I second the distraction of the black screws on the light fixture…not a big deal, but also not one that is hard to fix. ;-))
I love this room!!!!
The wood doors are absolutely the right call! They’re so pretty! Go with the wood (not the paint). The vanities turned out so pretty. Bring some of that into the studio. The white french doors makes sense too.
Walnut laminate sheets
I don’t think you’ll be happy with anything but real wood veneer. go for it!
Your Mom’s a helpful ally and good consultant. Are your doors the same? Probably just my screen, but the bathroom door looks paneled and the other flat, which I would think would make you crazy. Also, I can’t recall where the French doors lead — to the space between your pantry and TV room, or to the end of the music room? I need to locate your video tour to get re-oriented. P.S. Where are you storing your scaffold?
The doors are both six-panel doors. I wish they were flat slab doors, though. The French doors lead outside to our carport. The single 15-lite door next to the paint swatch cabinet is the one that leads to the breakfast room. I haven’t had to store the scaffold yet, but I’m thinking that it’ll make a great workbench in the carport when I don’t need to use it as scaffolding.
Can you buy slab doors, and store the six-panel doors somewhere until you build the extension. Then perhaps you can use them there?
If you’re going to spend $550 you could probably order walnut doors from Home Depot and save yourself the work of applying veneer.
If you place mirrors on those doors, you could still do a wood look or the actual veneer – but less of it would be needed…
And, the beauties of that entry would be reflected and the outside light/scenes might be seen at just the right angle…you could try out a full length mirror on hand in front of the door to see what it might give view to…
I think this looks awesome!
My husband and I faux painted a whole room to look like an English library in our last home. It was 25′ x 20′, with 13′ high ceilings, so I feel like I’m an expert when it comes to faux wood. It is actually very simple to do. I taught my husband in 30 seconds! The finished look even fooled carpenters! It was a very large room, and it took us about a month to properly finish.
First roll on a solid acrylic paint coat of the lightest color in the wood, next dry brush on the darkest color in a very randomly spaced top to bottom layer, and lastly dry brush a glaze of walnut, lightly. Let each layer dry thoroughly between coats, and add more to the glaze layer if you think it needs heavying up. I wish I could send you a finished photo of the room, but I don’t see a way. It was magnificent! Classic, and if there are any scratches that happen over time, it’s easy to touch up.
Kristi,
I’m glad you went with white behind your curtains. I do like the walnut look but that seems like a lot of money to spend on veneer. Stain would look just as good on doors that are hardly seen by anyone but you.
Whatever you decide it will be beautiful.
What is the comparison between just buying wood doors and staining them or buying the veneer and going through the labor of applying it? I do like the final decision of painting the exterior doors white and having the bathroom door and the closet door in wood; it gives some warmth to that side of the room while not distracting from the beautiful fabric on the French doors.
Do you mean buying walnut veneer wood doors? I haven’t been able to find any that look like what I want. I want unfinished walnut. I did find something that was close, and they were about $450 per door.
Have you thought about painting them to match the wall and letting them blend in so the focus stays on the French doors? Doorframes and doors same color as the wall.
Yep, I did a mock up of it and didn’t like it.