New French Door in the Living Room!
You guys!!!!!!! I can’t even tell you how excited I am for today’s post. Really, this is probably the most excited I’ve been about a post in a long time, which is really saying a lot because I always love what I share with you guys. But today is extra exciting because we just put a new french door in our living room and I absolutely LOOOOOOVE it. I’ve been wanting to make this change for a while now, so it feels amazing to finally see it happen. My parents were in town this past weekend and my sweet dad was kind enough to help us install this door, so I took a few photos along the way and I can’t wait to share it all with you guys today! Let’s start with a before photo just to remind you what this space looked like when we started:
Every time I photographed that corner with the reading nook I just felt like it was so blah. That big white door, which leads down to our basement, just wasn’t adding much pizazz to this area. It was too much white, too boxy, and there was not nearly enough texture in this corner for my liking. I’ve dreamt of putting a french door in that spot for months and it was finally time to make it happen. I bought this slab french door and we got to work!
Once we had the old door removed, the first step was trimming the new door down just slightly so it would fit in our opening. This is a 32″ door and our opening was slightly less than that, so my dad cut the width down by 1/4th inch. He also had to trim a tiny bit off the top because we discovered the door opening wasn’t perfectly square, plus the floor slopes slightly on the right side, which made it difficult for the door to fit in like it should. Sounds about right for our fixer upper, huh?! Long story short my dad worked his magic to make it fit. Next up was measuring where the hinges needed to go.
We put the door in place and used a pen to mark where all three hinges should go. Then we traced the hinge to mark exactly where we needed to mortise the hinge.
In order to do the hinge mortises on the door my dad used a sharp chisel and hammer (you can also do it with a router, but we don’t have one so we did it by hand!). He lightly tapped the chisel with the hammer around the perimeter of the mortise to remove the wood. He then used a utility knife to make a clean cut on the edges. Next he screwed the hinge to the door, making sure it was completely flush with the edge of the door.
He repeated that process for all three hinges. Then it was time to hang the door up!
My sweet papa and my husband working away 🙂
The final step was screwing the hole for the door knob. This was pretty straightforward and simple because we used this handy installation kit that showed us exactly where the door knob should be.
We put the handle back in place and that was it. Badda boom badda bing. The door is done! Here’s how it looks now:
Can you even believe what a difference that door makes in this corner?!! I think it’s 1000% better and I haven’t even painted it yet. (The door also still has a clear film on all of the glass, but I won’t take that off until after I paint it.) This space has so much more character and charm now, which is exactly what I wanted!
I’m not 100% decided on how I want to paint this door. My gut instinct is telling me to go with black, but I’m kinda kicking around the idea of staining it or even doing a clear poly and keeping it this natural, rustic look. And of course I could paint it white, but that’s probably my least favorable option at this point. What do you think??
I love being able to share our projects with you guys. It really feels like I’m just chatting with friends about what we’re working on in our little fixer upper and I’m SO grateful for that. This was such a fun project and I’m just happy we were able to make it happen (thanks dad!). This has been on my wish list for a while now, so it feels amazing to see it completed. Of course I still need to paint, and remove that plastic from the glass, but I’ll get to that soon. For now I’ll just be over here doing a little new-door happy dance in my living room!
Thank you SOOO much for dropping in today. Let me know if you have any questions! xo
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The Comments
Tracey Fish
I love the natural finish! Looks great!
Micheala
I LOVE this new door! Adds a bit more character to the room. I would definitely paint it black.
Ashlee Newlin
We did the to our basement door too over a year ago and I love it. It opens it up so much and makes the door look so much better!
Cara
Light gray would be pretty.
Becky
Good morning Sarah! Happy dance!!!!! I thinking I kind of like it natural????? But then the stain would be nice. Beautiful door. You’re blessed with great helpers!💕 xo
Shawna
It looks so great! I see why you’re torn about how to finish it. Whatever you choose will look amazing, I’m sure!!!!!
Teresa
I definitely vote for black, it would bring out the gather in the nook more, and just make the door pop. I just love it and know by how excited you are, you will too.
Donna Bergthold
Good morning Sarah, Love the door! What a difference it makes. My first thought was for Black ! But maybe staining it would look great too!
Karen
I’m really liking the natural look. It blends so nicely with your room as it is. If you wanted to put a nice light or natural stain on it that would be nice. Love all your posts. Good Luck.
Tammy
It looks fabulous. I vote for black for sure. The other doors in your home you painted black look so good and this would be no different. It would really pop and match the lights and gather in the nook area so nicely. Good luck, whatever you decide will look fabulous.
Robin Langlinais
I love the door – but I am also interested in the striped covered pillows that you have with the gusset(?) ends. Did you buy them that way or did you make them?? I am looking for pillows for my sofa and these may be perfect.
Stephanie
I LOVE this change so much! And I’m loving the natural finish right now, it just looks so perfect in that corner.
Rebecca
Love it!!!!!! I vote black! It would tie in well to your lights and Gather sign! Can’t go wrong with whatever you pick tho!
Ann
> RebeccaI also think the black would be beautiful !! The gather sign would pop out for sure!!😊
Patty
Maybe paint the stairway side black and you get that color when the door is open and for now, enjoy the natural look of it with all your wonderful wicker!!!
Susan
Lovely! I’d stain it first…you can always paint later if you’re not happy. Much harder to go back to stain from paint!
Patti
I think natural is the way to go here! Rustic and warm with the floors just a lighter stain makes it softer and keeps the clean looks! Or white wash it🤗
Vicki
I am loving a dual layering of chalk paint with white wax. A gray/blue or Olive/sage would look AMAZING on that door. You have several black accents already, and I think a softer touch if color would be awesome!! You can tiny the wax to an off white too. I’m doing it to my doors in my hallway 😀Love your posts ❤️
Candy Brodie
What a great idea! Thanks for,sharing this. I would love to do this where my laundry door is…I always love everything yours do..awesome job! Now to,get my hubby to think the same way…lol
Have a great day, Candy
Nina
I love it!🤩 so pretty….
Julia
Black would be awesome going with the bit of black in your sitting nook. I think both areas would really POP!!
Dena
Love the door but I would definitely leave it natural with a coat of poly. It will blend better with your decor and the rest of your house. I agree with the other comments about black making the door “pop” but is the door the first thing you want people to notice?? You decorate beautifully and that is what should be eye catching when walking into a room. I wouldn’t want people noticing my door first but that’s just me. Keep it natural.
Vicki
I adore French doors, this looks awesome! I vote for black or a stain that is similar to or maybe slightly lighter than your floors. The black would tie in with other black decor accents you have; stain would tie in with your floors and warm decor pieces like your baskets, etc. I don’t think you could go wrong with either. You have inspired me, I am really wanting to put a French door somewhere in my house now!
Darlene
My vote is to clear poly and leave it natural. Love the way it looks with your wicker accents and the floors. I think it enhances the room. Can always paint it at a later date if you tire of it, but too hard to go back, if you want it natural.
Debbie
I love the new door. What a difference it make to this already beautiful room. I would probably paint it black. It would make the new door pop! What ever you decide I’m sure it will look amazing❤️😍👍
Susan
I like the black on the downstairs (open) side and natural on the closed side idea. Then you can sit with it a while…black is great but hard to change up.
Susan
Hi Sarah,
I’m with Vicki on the color for the door, maybe a cool blue to match the pin stripe pillows? I think black would
be a little too stark. But hey, you can always re-paint it, right?!?
Love you little blog:)
Susan
Cathy
I think a really deep navy would look amazing in that room.
Nancy M
I know you won’t like this, but I’d go with white. The dark panels of glass in the door will need to be offset with white. Black would just scream “Look at this door!”, and a stain or natural would simply not blend in well with the rest of the surroundings. The beauty of the door is the glass panels. Show them off with WHITE! Thanks for sharing. I LOVE your posts!
Linda
Wow – super cute!
Barb
I have one of those doors in my family room and it was stained and painted. I painted it black several months ago and I love it black!! But you will know, you always make great decisions!!
Pamela Martin
Aren’t Dad’s wonderful. My dad, who is 95, still does projects for me. What a blessing.
As far as the door, A M A Z I N G. I would think on it before you decide. Let the door
tell you what it wants to have done. Kind of silly, but I think you will know after you
live with it a bit.
*Smiles*
Kim Cates
I love it! Hmmm I think painting it black would like nice!
Leigh
I also love the change and actually went back to the new corbel post to see what it looked like before. Love the transformation and my first thought was black as well since your other doors in the basement are black. But then I started thinking it would be a great time for a pop of color as well. I love the light gray idea but also something like Watery from SW would be nice and soft but add a bit of color. Gorgeous door though and I can’t wait to see what you decide!
Velda
Def black!
Lana
Gorgeous, definitely black!
Alyssa Hampton
Sarah, I think a light grey would look great!
Laura Harrie
Sarah,
Go with natural for awhile, then if you think the room needs color go with a soft grey. But the doors so add detail to your already lovely room!
Nichole
I think Black would be great! Goes with your other doors as well!
Faith
There’s a cool Mineax stain I like called Weathered Oak…rustic and old looking especially on pine wood. It looks great! I love little changes with big impact..nice!!!
Jodie
I love it, Sarah!
As far as color, I would live with it awhile. One day it will just tell you what it wants.
Any of the suggestions above would look great, it is a very versatile room, but I would wait until you just KNOW for sure.
Kelsey
Love it so much! I would go with black myself 😁
Rachel
I’ve been toying with the idea of adding a french door too! I think that much black would be too much…..I vote something natural/wood.
Brenda Johnson
I personally would stain it similar to the floors, and black would be my second choice. Whatever you decide I am sure will look great! I have wanted to do this with my basement door for so long too, and am more convinced than ever that it would look just as great as yours does. Maybe next year, I hope.
Kim
I absolutely love how this came out! I think you should keep the natural wood and just seal it. And then live with it and see what you think. And if you decide maybe to go with black then you can still do it. I love both ideas though! Cna’t wait to see what you choose.
Gayle
Paint it black like your front doors!!
Dina
Hey Sarah!! I’m with Vicki to on a light grayish blue. That would totally set it off as it’s own. Black would be just too much. A glass doorknob with an antique door plate would really be pretty!!! Have a blessed day!!
Haley
Looks great! BTW I haven’t received my free printable yet….how long does it usually take??
Sarah
> HaleyIt should come right away. There might have been a glitch in the email system. What’s a good email for you? I can send it.
Shelia
I love the new door! Funny how something so simple makes us so happy and makes such a big difference. I wouldn’t leave it plain, it’s too pale for the space. I think painting it black would go well with your decor. Just do what makes you happy when you look at it. Good luck! 😁
Amy
Have you ever tried a white wash pickling stain? I think that might be really cool on your door!
Linda
LOVE the French door! I would definitely paint it black! The natural color is pretty, but the black will give you that pop and warm it up a bit.
Lori
I love the natural look. Thanks so much for sharing this “behind the scenes” stuff. 💕😂
Jeannie
So many wonderful choices! The door looks great. I’d start with the lightest option…sealed natural or a rustic color, & then you can paint as your room “tells” you what it needs. Love your home!
Barbara
I agree with those who say if you paint it black that’s the first thing you’ll notice. I vote for gray or whitewash!
Sarah Berner
Hi Sarah…..I think you go with the white so it soesn’t cut the room in that corner. great thinking on the french door…opens that space so nice. go with the white so it just flows. dining room table look great. thanks for all your sharing.
Susan
Hi Sarah,
I love the door you chose! God bless Dads with skills to help out with these things- hanging a door isn’t a one man (or woman) job. How cool your men went old school with a chisel for the tenons- it makes it more the work of their hands. Don’t coat the door with poly unless you want to preserve it’s pristine new pine look. I let my 6 panel pine doors age unfinished for a year or so before we coated with matte poly. But we didn’t have little in the house. Whatever you do will be great I’m sure! Enjoy it!
Jenny Jenkins
> SusanI love the door you chose!