Over the past week, I set aside a couple of days to continue chipping away on painting the exterior of the house. You can see the first two posts about painting the exterior of the house HERE and HERE. My goal is to get the front, driveway side, and back of the house primed and painted before the cold weather sets in. The fourth side of the house is covered in a thick hedge, so we need to get that trimmed and cleaned up before we work on painting that side. With two gables, two walls of siding, and the porch, the front was going to be the biggest challenge and that is almost done!
Late last week, I took the day to prep, prime, and paint the front door and the shutters along the front of the house. I’ve been stalling on painting the front door for months because I didn’t want to take all of the hardware off and sand it down. It’s not that it’s a hard project, but I was a little intimidated about taking apart the handle and lockset without my dad’s help. Recently, though, I’ve replaced a few door handles in the house and that gave me the confidence to go for it. I also decided this would be a good time to replace the front handle and lock.
So, I removed everything and took a bit of time to fiddle with the new lockset so I felt comfortable that I would be able to get it on and lock the door at the end of the day. With that confirmed, I set about sanding and painting. I tested out two swatches for the shutters and doors and decided to go with the lower swatch, Card Room Green, which is less saturated and I felt like the color harmonized with and complimented the brick better.
Prior to sanding, I filled any holes in the door with wood filler. Since I was working on the door by myself, I didn’t take it off the hinges. I closed the door to sand it so I didn’t get dust everywhere (although I still feel like I’m cleaning up dust from our renovations over the summer.) I used an orbital sander and 220-grit sandpaper just enough to smooth out the filler and rough spots on the door. This is a 50+ year old door and I’m okay with some imperfections and signs of previous wear and coats of paint. To me, that is part of the history and charm of the house.
The funny thing is that I installed the latch and it kept latching when I closed the door. Without a handle, this meant I either needed to use a pair of pliers and the handle rod to open it or I had to walk around the house and let myself in through another door.
To fit the new hardware, I also had to fill a hole that secured the bottom of the handle and drill a new one. I was a little nervous about drilling a hole through our front door, but I used the template that came with the hardware and it worked out perfectly. I told Jeff I drilled a hole through the front door after it was successful.
One of the ways I make efficient use of my time is by trying to batch things together. While I have the sander out, let me hit other things that need to be sanded. While I have a brush loaded with a tinted primer, let me prime other things I’m going to paint in that color. It does mean I can turn smaller projects into bigger ones, but it is more efficient. So, while I had the Card Room Green tinted primer out, I primed the shutters along the front of the house as well. Fortunately, I’m tidy enough that I can paint the shutters while they are hanging on the house, so I don’t have to mess with taking them down.
I also primed the new vinyl shutters I ordered for the garage window. I was so excited to find these and I plan to order shutters for the back of the house before next summer. I think this house originally had wood shutters and they rotted and were removed. The front and garage-side shutters, with the exception of the garage window, were replaced with vinyl shutters at some point. The other shutters were never replaced, but you can see the ghostly outline of where they used to be. I think it will add a lot of detail to the back so we’ll reinstall new vinyl ones. Anyway, THESE were the ones I ordered. At just under $100 for the size I needed, that’s a relatively small investment for a big architectural boost.
Here’s how the shutters look painted in the new color…
I didn’t realize until a couple of people pointed it out, but the right shutter on the window closest to the porch is upside-down. They are so similar, but the bottom is just the slightest bit bigger.
And Jeff helped me install the new shutters on the garage window and they make such a difference…
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to look out of my studio window and see a freshly painted porch, siding, and new shutters.
Unfortunately, we hung the right shutter upside down! I couldn’t believe that I didn’t notice that even after people had pointed out that we already had one upside-down shutter on another window. We’ll have to turn those right-side-up, but you really have to look hard to notice it. Most people driving or walking by the house would never know.
The front door looked great with the new hardware and fresh coat of paint, but the trim around it, which was still just primed, was a bummer. I had removed the storm door and filled the holes with some wood putty a few days ago, but I needed to sand, prime, and paint the surround. I took time yesterday to finish painting the porch ceiling trim as well as the trim around the door. Oh man, two coats of crisp white paint around the door and sidelights were just what was needed. It looks so sharp! And I LOVE it with the storm door removed. Now you can see the beautiful color of the front door as well as the new hardware.
I am not anti-storm door, but the one on this door wasn’t the highest quality and it had seen better days. If we’re going to have a storm door on the front door, I want it to enhance the beauty of the front door, not detract from it. But, this door is well protected by the shape of the house as well as the porch overhang, so a storm door isn’t really necessary.
rabbit door knocker | handle set | brass doorbell | carriage light
I love this wall in the evening when dappled light hits it through the maple trees. I can’t wait to see it with landscaping.
My mom took me out shopping on Friday and she bought some mums for the front porch. I’ve even remembered to water them!
Here are a few before & afters so you can see how far we’ve come…
We need to replace the trim under the two front windows and then we’re done with painting the front. We’ve already painted some of the garage side of the house and I’m hoping to get more done on it next week…
32 Responses
Such a breath of fresh air! Looks so inviting and I love, love, love the rabbit doorknocker.
It looks like a whole new house! It’s even sharper than I imagined and I think you should be very proud. Plus, a job well done on the front door!
What a lovely warm welcome to your home. Your drive and accomplishments are incredible to see. Thank you so much for sharing. The house is looking spectacular!
I’ve been looking for a more attractive storm door as well. I like to open the wooden door on pleasant days to let more sunshine in. I don’t like the white trim of the storm door because I think it makes the wooden door look smaller. I’ll be watching to see your solution.
Nice job on everything! You make such good progress.
You made everything better! I am happy with you. Beautiful.
The Card Room Green looks really good with your brick. And the front door is SO much better. But once you pointed out those upside-down shutters, I can’t unsee them!
You’ve made it so freshly charming in every way. I love it without the storm door! Are the bunny knocker, adorable by the way, and door handle unlaquered brass? Everything softly blends well together. I was so encouraged to see the white with a creamy white. We are getting our house painted soon and it will be a creamy white with white trim and a med. Grey roof. I’m hoping it is as lovely as yours!
It’s gorgeous and you’re correct. It looks great without a storm door.
Beautiful
I love all of the updates that you have done! You have such a good eye for color. One question – I have not removed my storm door because I like the screen to keep out the bugs when I have it open. Is there a way to accomplish that without the storm door? Thank you!
Yes, by using Phantom Screens, if she’s interested in having screens without a storm door (or a regular screen door, both have the “ick” factor). I believe they can be pulled down from the top or slide over from the side.
Loving how the house is turning out. Looks fresh and classic. The rabbit doorknocker has stolen my heart!
I don’t know if you have already thought of this, but you could dry brush or even roll on and wipe off some thinned paint to the area that lost its color during power washing. It will blend in nicely and I think you will be happy until you decide on the landscaping . You are doing a beautiful job renewing this house and a good example to all of us of what a change fresh paint and determination can do to make a house a home!
Yes, I have thought about doing that and I feel like I could match it pretty well. We still have more power washing to do, so I’m waiting to see how it all turns out and then I’ll decide if I should do a bit of blending.
I am so impressed with your work. Everything looks beautiful. Great job. You inspired me to paint my patio recently. I chose the hottest day in August to paint it, but I was determined, and it looks so much better and cleaner. Thanks for sharing your projects.
Removing the storm door really brings out the details of the molding around the door. I also love the creamy color much better than the green on the siding. The green on the shutters and door really pops with the contrast.
Looks really nice. I wanted to share that the house that HGTV gives away each year has blue paint on the ceiling of the porch like yours.
The green makes the brick look less dated/orange, but the green and white on the garage are perfect. If I didn’t just paint my house a couple years ago I would definitely go that route. I agree that the bunny door knocker is adorable
That color you picked for the door and shutters is just STUNNING! Beautiful job Marian, it really looks lovely💚
It’s amazing what a different shade of green can do! WoW
I collect rabbits and love your door knocker.
I am ever impressed how your vision comes together.
🙂
WOW!!! I mean WOW!!!!!! What a difference… Your vision is truly amazing. I KNOW landscaping will take this look over the top!
One little suggestion. Renting or borrowing a power washer to use
on the porch / and the sidewalk will take your work up at least 3 notches!!!! You are a force to be reconned with! Not kidding even a little bit!!!!!
Yes, we have already power-washed the gutters, trim (prior to painting), and some of the brick, but we haven’t gotten to the sidewalk yet. We’re going to edge and power wash it soon to make it look nicer.
LOVE IT ALL. Taking down the storm door is a game changer. Looks so good!
I always enjoyed your posts about the front porch of your Minnesota house. But this…what you have captured and created on this front porch can ONLY come from a classic home with good bones. Your changes have made the front porch and the rest of the front of the house into a warm and welcoming presentation.
The words ‘refreshed’ and ‘clean’ come to mind. You’re polishing up your gem. One thing to consider, if you have issues keeping plants alive, why not add artificial flowers? I added some to my existing planters when I was trying to entice hummingbirds to come back to the feeder after several weeks of vacation. I left them out all summer. They held up well.
WOW! Absolutely beautiful. That’s all … just WOW
Wow, the fresh white around the door really makes it look great! Was that a wasp nest above the door in one of the before photos? It looks like just the place where they would build. The removal of the screen door is a big improvement, even though I like screen doors. It’s too bad about those shutters going on upside down, hopefully you can use the same drilled holes!
I love watching the progress on your house! It’s inspiring to watch a regular person, albeit a talented regular person, tackle some daunting tasks. I know you said you were thinking of getting a landscape designer to put together a plan for the front yard. We did this and implemented the plan over a number of years and it was the best decision. These professionals are able to envision the space in a way that will utimately save you money.
Wow! So much better. It looks like a completely different house. Everything you’ve done is amazing!
Everything looks 100% better! So fresh and clean! I think your color choices were perfect!
The only crrticism I have (and this was not your doing) is that decision long ago to add that chunk of “trim” below the “shorter” windows. I know you said that seemed to have been an architectural “design” decision back in the 70’s, but some “design decisions” deserve to be relegated to the trash heap of history. Since you’ve said that because of your house’s orientation on the site, your house gets less light in the front, I would remove that “trim” under all the front windows (including the garage) and put in larger windows. Since you’ve said you still need to order windows for the back of the house, you could use those shorter new windows you’ve already installed (after taking them out) for the back windows. I think the back gets more sun, right? Also, the front windows would then be the same length as the nice, large front window in your studio, which would better balance out the front, in my opinion. (With those shorter windows, it also looks oddly unnecessary that the shutters are longer than the length of the windows.)
To me, those added “chunks of trim” below the windows scream “we didn’t want to spend the money on larger windows, so we added this trim.” I know this is not the case, but visually it still reminds me of seeing run-down older houses in slummy neighborhoods where people have replaced windows with much smaller windows installed inside a plywood frame because that’s all they could afford, (or all the slumlord was willing to pay).
Anyway, just something to consider.
I agree it would be an improvement to make the windows larger, but that is just outside of what we are willing to spend. We already invested in new windows (the ones along the front of the house have been replaced) and cutting into the brick & framing them would be quite expensive. Anyway, I think that would file under the projects we would do if money were no object! 😉
All is turning out so very beautiful on the exterior of your house and garage! I love how the Card Green paint enhances your home.
It’s so inspiring to see you taking on so much of the work, and esp the painting, yourself. It’s hard work, but it is turning out beautifully. The entire house is looking wonderful in the relatively short time you’ve owned it!!