The Finished Faux Stone On The Exterior Bedroom Door Is Finished!
Y’all, I finished the faux stone around the exterior bedroom door this weekend! And I’m so incredibly excited about how this project turned out.
Let me remind you that this is how the door looked before I got the idea to replace the Hardie trim with faux stone.
I hated the way that looked, but for the longest, I couldn’t come up with a solution. I thought my only option was to paint the trim the same gray as the house and hope that it disappeared. And in reality, taking that easy route probably would have gone a long way towards disguising it. But I know myself very well, and I know without a doubt that the trim would have bothered me no matter what color it is. So I took the trim off, prepped the area for concrete, and made faux concrete stones in place of the Hardie trim.
If you missed the post where I shared the actual process that I used, you can find that here: Exterior Bedroom Door Progress – Replacing Hardie Board Trim With Faux DIY Concrete Stones
And now that ugly trim has been replaced with faux concrete stone. I do want to point out that while the stone is finished, I still haven’t had time to finish painting the white trim and the door. I’ll do that today. So right now, the gray paint on the part of the door trim that’s supposed to be white is looking pretty messy, but it’ll be all painted by the end of today. But I was too excited about the faux stone to wait another day to show you how it turned out. 😀 (Update: The trim is painted, and I added a new photo at the end of this post.)
Now let me back up a bit and show you an “in progress” picture because I want to point out a couple of things. First, you’ll notice that for now, at least, I’ve decided to ignore the wonky area above the door and just paint it gray to see if that would make it disappear. It’s very visible in this picture because it has white caulk on it.
But at least for now, I’m pretty happy with the way that it kind of disappears when it’s all painted the same color. And keep in mind, my main concern is what it looks like from the street and not what it looks like when someone is standing four feet from the door since this isn’t the main entrance to our house.
The second thing I wanted to point out is that I did something a little different on the right side of the door. You have to keep in mind that I had never done anything like this before, so I was pretty much making it up as I went along. 😀 So when I did the left side, which is the side I did first, I decided which stones I wanted to extend all the way around to the door jamb, and which rows I wanted to create all new, separate stones to cover the area where the trim had been. Because I was trying to be random with that decision, I ended up with two rows with new, separate stones next to each other, which made the mortar lines line up vertically.
It’s a small detail, but it’s one of those things that I should have avoided. It’s kind of like when you’re installing hardwood floors, you never want the ends of your boards lining up on rows that are right next to each other. But since it’s one of those small details that will only ever bother me, and it clearly didn’t bother me enough because I didn’t even notice it until I started on right side of the door, I decided to let it go instead of fixing it.
But I kept that in mind when doing the right side, and instead of giving myself only top options (i.e., either continuing a stone all the way around, or ending the stone and starting a new one where the trim had been), I gave myself a third option. I extended the stone halfway into the prior trim area and then started a new stone. That way I wouldn’t have vertical mortar lines lined up from one row to the next.
I think this looks more in keeping with the layout of the original stone on the house, and it just looks more pleasing to the eye.
Once I got all of the stone and mortar finished and gave it a few hours to cure, I primed all of it with Behr Concrete and Mortar Primer. I had never used this product before, and it’s more like the consistency of water than paint. Of course, I didn’t read all of the directions until after I was finished priming it and noticed that it said it wasn’t intended for vertical surfaces. 😀 Oh well. It was done, and it definitely soaked in really well to the concrete. But because it’s so thin, it was a very messy process. Just imagine trying to “paint” a vertical surface with a paint brush and water. It’s going to get everywhere, and it’s going to run down your arm as you’re reaching up to get the high areas. But I went with it, and that porous concrete really soaked up the primer.
I gave that four hours to dry, as per the instructions, and then I painted with two coats of Sherwin Williams Duration exterior paint in Mindful Gray to match the rest of the house. But as you’ll remember, since the rest of the house was painted several years ago, I had to do a little bit of color adjustment to get it to match. It’s still not a perfect match, but I don’t think it’s noticeable. The new paint is a bit shinier than the old, but I’m hoping that sheen will dull quickly in the central Texas sun and heat.
Today, I’ll get the trim and door painted and then get my work area cleaned up, so try not to get distracted by my mess. But y’all. Just look at this door now! It’s certainly not perfect, but it’s so much better than it was!
And it’ll only get better when I get that white trim painted so that there’s a clean, sharp distinction between the stone and the trim around the door.
So what do you think about the wonky area above the door? I took the picture below from a distance, but I was only about halfway between the door and the street. And from that distance, the area above the door doesn’t bother me at all. But you can tell me what you think. Should I leave it, or does it need a little bit more work?
I think just getting it all the same color did a remarkable job at disguising that area, but be honest with me if you think I should do a little more work to disguise it.
Obviously, when you get closer, it becomes more noticeable. But most people will never get this close to this door. They’ll only see it from the street or from the sidewalk as they’re heading to our front door.
Wonkiness above the door aside, I am absolutely thrilled with how this door looks now. I think it looks so much more intentional now, and I think that passersby might even think that it’s original to the house. I think only my friends, my family, and a few thousand of my internet friends would ever know that it’s not original. 😀
UPDATE: I got the trim painted! Here’s a before and after with the trim painted on the trim around the new stone. I do still have to paint the door, though. 😀
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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.
Looks great. Wait to decide on further fixes until after you paint the door. Won’t it be pink? If it is pink then the wonkiness might be more obvious. If you leave it white like a window then it will be fine.
This door will stay white.
I think the area above the door doesn’t look at all wonky. I couldn’t even see a problem. It has disappeared right into the house. What a great job you did on that whole area!
I can’t get over the transformation! You are so darn good. I’d leave it alone. It is great like it is.
The top does NOT need more work! If someone is approaching the door from the outside (which will happen only rarely), the eyes will go toward the door knob, which is on the right side of the doorway (so away from the left side and away from the top). We (your readers) know to look at the top of stone above the door to look for something wonky…and we have to search to find it. The doorway looks great! The “stone” you added is just wonderful. And it will only be better (how can something that is great even be better??) when the trim is painted. Congrats on your vision and your execution!
Great point and it’s the truth. If anyone will need to go through that door, they’ll be looking for the doorknob.
👍🏻
I think once you have the porch, etc…it will probably be enough eye appeal that it will be even less noticeable. After that is done, if it still bothers you, there the pergola plan.
If that’s not perfect, I don’t know what is. It looks like it’s always been there. As for the trim above the door, even though I know exactly what you’re referring to, my first reaction was “WHAT wonky area above the door?” It was hard to even find it now that it’s painted. This just looks
fantastic, and I don’t think you need to do anything more. Brava!
1000% better with the faux stone. The wonkyness above the door will never be noticed by anyone but you, but then again I’m a “it will never be seen on a galloping horse” kind of girl. Thats just old home character. For someone as detail oriented as yourself, I’m sure it’s going to always nag a bit, but hopefully all your upcoming projects will take the edge off. The faux stones in general are a perfect addition and truly complete your front exterior.
This is something you see because it’s an active project. You can’t always re-build and fix some areas. That’s how rennos and ideas seemingly never to finish, you get to significant completion. Everything is infinitely imperfect.
You are making comparative decisions. Worrying about excess judgement. Do you want to feed the picky self-talk or celebrate where it is at. Try: Is this ready for the next step? Does that complete the project, or tear away good work? The metal plate is necessary. A lot of older masonry has a wonky ledger board. The paint masks it well enough. The look/want I see you are looking for, is overkill, but I can be reading wrong.
Once you work on other things like the closet, this may disappear more.
If you hadn’t told us that the area above the door wasn’t level and the vertical mortar lines to the left of the door were lined up we never would have noticed. People viewing the front of your house from the street certainly won’t. I think once the landing and stairs are installed and landscaping is in place you won’t notice the minor imperfections as much. You can always repaint the front of your house down the road. It looks great!
It looks like it’s always been there! Excellent job.
I would leave the area above the door alone.
What’s that area at the bottom with the crisscrossing?
It’s a vent to the crawlspace beneath the house (pier and beam foundation), but it’s actually closed up from the inside, so it doesn’t really serve a purpose anymore. It’ll be covered when I build the steps.
It looks incredibly perfect to me, and I would guess, even you will not spend much time that close to the door. Maybe just when you are doing yardwork?
It looks amazing! I think once you get the white trim finished it will be absolutely perfect! Love following your process. Wondering, can you cut the pvc pipe down closer to the ground so it isn’t as noticeable? We have one in our driveway and it is cut flush to the ground.
Fantastic work as always!
I probably could, but instead, I might just paint it. It’ll eventually be hidden among plants in that planting bed.
It is fabulous. and when you step a few feet away the top blends right in! Great work.
I think it looks amazing. It’s hard to believe how much of a difference the stonework has made. You always amaze me with your innovative solutions! I agree that the top blends in and it would take a very observant person to see it. The only thing standing out to me still is the board in front of the door threshold. The bare wood color stands out to me. Would it blend in better if you painted it with the stone color? I assume when you finish the porch, you will take care of it, but I’m thinking of an interim solution until you get to that in the fall. No one else has mentioned this, so maybe I’m just the weirdo who keeps focusing on it. 😉
It stands out to me, too. Once I decide exactly how I want to do the steps, I’ll make a decision on whether I want to paint that board or use the pine tar on it. So I’m holding off for now.
I would mix up a little bit more mortar and fill in that top left stone so it looks like it’s sitting on the metal plate.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing there for the mortar to stick to, so it would probably crack and fall out. Since that area is filled with caulk, I’d have to come up with another idea for something that will stick to caulk to fill it in. I supposed I could just fill it in more with caulk and then try to texture the caulk so that it blends in more, and then paint it.
Wow! Wow! Wow! Your mad DIY skills have hit it out of the park again! The bedroom egress door DOES look like it’s original to the house! The wonkiness above it is hardly noticeable, and if you still intend to add a small pergola over it, that should completely disguise it. Have you decided whether or not to paint the door to match the shutters, as some readers have suggested? GREAT job, Kristi!
For now, I’m just going to paint it white and add some big blue planters on either side to see of that’s enough to bring the blue to that corner of the house. If that’s not enough, I’ll do a mockup of a blue door with the rest of the front of the house and see how that looks.
Whenever I see “wonky-ness” in stone I figure, well, stone is by nature wonky so there! And as to the top part, it does disappear 100%.
And the paint job is perfect in the photos; stone has texture so there are highlights, lowlights and again, it’s imperfect stone. Even the area on the right towards the corner is in a bit of shadow. I know your mind finds irregularities like a heat seeking missile but trust us…I’d bet most comments say it’s absolutely beautiful and a huge improvement
OMG amazing! I thought you had fixed the problem above the door. That’s how well you blended it in. As for the stone around the door, it does look original. Watch out, Joanna Gaines.
I love this comment!
I think this is my favorite project to date! It looks amazing.
I would 100% leave it. I didn’t even think about it until you pointed it out. It looks great!
The new door does look like it was original to the house. You did an amazing job creating the new stonework free-hand! And unless you’re right up next to it, the wonky top just disappears. Wonderful!!!
It’s coming along great! In my opinion, I would paint the trim around the door with the gray. It may be the angle of the photos, but to me, it looks like one side of trim looksw a tad bit wider than the other side. If you paint it gray, it will blend in with the stonework.
Also forgot to mention the top part…which looks fine!!! You don’t even notice it anymore, which is why I suggested gray trim too. I think when all is done, it will be amazing!
Did you notice that in the original house, to the left of the door down by the lowest panes of glass, also have two vertical mortar lines that line up exactly. So it was done in the original stonework. Once I noticed that, the “mistake“ you pointed out didn’t look like a mistake anymore! What an incredible job you’ve done. The door looks like it’s original to the house now.
I agree with other commenters that you should live with it for awhile and see if it still bothers you. Since you pointed it out, yes, I can see it. It’s obviously that thin, straight piece that catches your eye. Perhaps try a little caulk or spray foam to break it up. It doesn’t have to be a perfect looking stone but just something that breaks up the line.
I truly didn’t think it necessary to do this stone but now that it’s finished you are so right. It now looks like the door was always there!
Now that it’s done, I might suggest that you only place one blue planter on the left side. I think it will actually catch your eye more than two. And not look as formal and grand which I believe is your goal. You can always add another if you don’t like one.
The area above the door looks great from a distance, and not even that noticeable up close. I’d leave it be.
It really looks fantastic, considering what you started with it turned out absolutely beautiful. I don’t think anything else at the top needs to be touched up, or added to. Landscaping will bring the focus and eye level down and they won’t be looking up at that area. You’ve talked about shutters and possibly a trellis or pergola above the door and those will distract from that area. You will be the only one aware of the spot because you know it is there and may be focused on it more but others will never see it.
I love the stone work you did. It is the perfect solution in that space. Who could guess that you hand modeled those stones! I always notice straight and even relationships of things as it has been part of my work to do so. I wonder if a middle way could be found with a small stone lintel above the door? Perhaps fashioned with that wire as a base and modeling over it?
I think it looks amazing. Weren’t you thinking about putting a trellis above the door anyway? If so, that would solve the problem for everyone. 🙂 You have worked so close to it that you know where all the imperfections are. If you had time you could write such an inspiring book.
Looks fantastic!!
I think it’s just about perfect, such a beautiful job! The before and after are amazing. I think with the bright blue planters your eyes will be drawn to the color on the porch not up toward the top of the door. I never look at the top of doorways, just what’s right in front of me, especially if it’s pretty:)
You did good girl !
Everything is just beautiful!
I am so inspired by your stonework.
Your “stick-to-it-iveness” is admirable and your stones look like the real deal! Congrats on your finding the perfect solution.
I think you did an amazing job! It looks wonderful! I just wish I lived next door, because I would learn so much from you…but probably, I would just be envious. I try to never be jealous or insecure, but I do like a person that wants to do it all. Thank you once again to your perfectionism!
I really don’t think anyone will notice the above door wonkiness at all. But I can just hear the people driving down the street saying, oh my gosh, she put two grout lines in the same place……..LOL JK Anyway, if you put that little trellis or whatever above the door it really won’t be noticeable at all.
Re: the wonkiness of the top of the door: The ENTIRE PROJECT is AMAZING!!!! But weren’t you considering a small arbor/lattice above the door?
Yes, I still am considering it. It will depend on if I can get brackets to sit flat on the stone, so I’ll have to think through how I can do that.
I dont even notice from a distance. Its only up close when youre looking right at it in front of your nose that’s its a little “wonky”. You dud fantastic. I think its beautiful.
Wow – what an amazing difference Kristi! It looks so much better – kudos to you for finding a solution!
You are amazing! It’s perfect. And above the door? No one will really see it when you have plants etc. to distract. And to be honest? Who cares if they do notice. Just look at what you had to work with!
Looks great and once you painted it the same color as the stone your “wonky” area disappeared. Job done.
Absolutely 100% FABULOUS!!!! ❤️
What a fantastic transformation of this door surrounding, from looking partly unfinished to completely finished. It’s such a night and day difference. You’ve impressed us all yet again Kristi with your vision and skills. Well done!!!!!
It looks fantastic, the area above the door is all done and good to go IMO, and even my husband (extremely picky with DIY work in general) thought you did great. I’m super impressed with the results – totally worth the time in the heat and will last for decades!!
I love that the bedroom entry door looks like it was part of the original build. Really good remodel on the front of the house!
I’m consistently impressed with your skill sets and your creativity.
I have a small question. In Michigan we have building codes that require either steps or a landing at all exterior doors. Do they not have that type of codes in Waco?
Yes, I’ll be building steps in the fall. It’s too hot to keep working outside now.
Just when I think you can’t amaze me more with your mad skills–you amaze me again. Doing DIY inside is one thing–concrete work? Next level. It looks original to the house and the top isn’t even an issue in my mind. I doubt a professional could have done that! The front of your house is gorgeous now–just wait for plantings and the finishing touches–you’ll be the envy of everyone in the neighborhood and beyond!
It looks really great, Kristi!! Very well done!! All of your “stone” work looks fantastic! As far as the wonky area goes … Painting it the same color made it basically disappear. I doubt even you will notice it much after a few weeks, and I’m certain guests won’t unless you point out out. Nicely done! 😁
In my humble opinion, you are the only one who knows about any imperfections because you got up close and personal with it during your work. No one is going to notice walking by or from across the street. They will only think how beautiful it all looks. They are looking at the entire view not the wonky area above the door you described. It is just fine, looks fabulous and doesn’t require any more work. Enjoy!! I think you are amazing at all you do!
That truly came out awesome…so much better than it was. I love the way you did all this to make it look like the original stones. Genius! I think by the time you add steps and flowers, etc., no one would even notice the top – it’s already much better looking…but it is very much up to you. I did like some of your ideas, but wondered if it was overboard for a door not really an entrance to the home. I’m so happy for you that you did some work out front before going back inside…I think it will make you happy everytime you drive in.
Hi, great job – and with every thing else you do – I am am truly amazed at your DIY skills and can-do attitude! Nothing gets the better of you…
So my advise is – finish EVERYTHING off (clean up, paint, stairs etc) and if the section at the top is still looking off – put a very simple pergola (or whatever you perfer to call it) to mask it – nothing Over the Top – as it looks fab as is. Good job Kirsti!
Kristi, l’m OCD, in as perfect as possible and l can’t see the wonky unless I blow up the photo large. Then it’s only because I know where to look. It’s amazing what the fake stones did for the door. Awesome job!
It is like day and night. The door looks great especially once you paint the trim around the door white and cover up where the grey is on the white. I would not do another more to the top of the door. Just leave it alone. No trellis or fancy topping on that little space. Just leave it alone. Go to the street and take a picture and you won’t notice it at all. You did a fabulous job on the “stones” around the door. What a good idea you had to do this. Good thing you did the front porch siding that way so you would think of fixing this door this way. By the time it is sun bleached and good ole Texas dirt blows on it, it will all look the same.
I think you are a wizard to have figured out how to make your doorway “blend” beautifully. It is truly amazing. Your ability to plan things out, experiment, modify, and adapt are so much fun to watch. Thank you!