I’ve shared my love of doors and shutters here before, but it’s been a while. I think it’s an idea that used to be a little odd, but it has been catching on and snowballing over the past few years. The unfortunate thing about that is that demand and price for them has increased, but the good thing is that more doors and shutters are being saved from tear-downs. I happen to live in an area where I can still find them at a good price. I have often found salvaged pieces at yard sales for practically nothing. We once brought home a truck-load of doors for $5.00!
Even when they do get a bit more expensive, I still think they are a good bargain. Here’s why… they cover a large area of blank wall and make a big impact.
They also add architectural interest to a room that may be lacking in that department…
…and can be a textural backdrop to make another piece stand out.
A few things I look for when shopping for shutters and doors…
- pieces that are solid wood and sturdy
- those with interesting hardware
- original paint in a pretty color or that has worn or chipped in an interesting way
Some things to be mindful of when using old shutters and doors in your home…
- Some of them have paint that is badly flaking and it might be lead paint. If that’s the case, make sure to follow the EPA recommendations for sealing or removing the paint. I usually seal it with a thick coat of water based poly.
- Some can be heavy, so I wouldn’t lean them up against the wall in a house with small children. Most of my doors and shutters were sent to the basement until my boys were old enough to not pull on them. Even now, I make sure they are behind a piece of furniture or hung on the wall with a french cleat.
- Since shutters are heavy, make sure they are secured in a stud, so they don’t fall.
- Try different things in a space… Hang a piece of artwork or a wreath on the shutter/door, trying hanging the door sideways, flank a window or door frame with a match pair.
While I was out on Friday, I found a great pair of shutters for a really nice price. They were buried in a booth, but that was not a deterrent and it was worth all of the fuss of digging them out.
I’m not sure where they’ll end up, yet, but you’ll definitely see them around…
Before I sign off, I thought I would share a few more finds from Friday.
I found another beautiful quilt. This one was a steal.
I also bought a rolling stool for the studio. It’s the perfect height for painting furniture and the wheels still work. I was testing it out around the studio today. I told Kriste we need to get a second one, so we can play some sort of juvenile game with them. She’s in.
I picked up another bread board and a tall wire crate.
I bought a few more things, but we already priced them and put them on the sale pile.
We’re starting work on the French Twins tomorrow, so get one last look at that tapestry…
26 Responses
So….if you ever, EVER, get tired of that door…thing, that’s currently behind the chippy milk painted horse – i want it.
Bad.
-b.
🙂
Breidawithab …….you made me smile. I imagine it is because I can relate to your lusting after one of MMS’s possessions on her post. Great post Marian!
It’s all good! Love that stool the most today.
It’s all good! Love that stool the most…today.
So lovely! I love shutter doors. The last pair you found is my absolute favourite in the bunch! I have actually NEVER come across a pair (or even one) in any flea or antique markets here before. Thrift shopping in Canada is totally not the same. And I’m sure if I found a pair it wouldn’t be cheap either.
So want those doors!!
Antonella | Love Your Home Blog
Hi Antonella, I live in Canada and I have had luck finding doors and shutters and old windows at building salvage places and most cities have a ‘Restore’ which not only carries this stuff but the money they make goes to Habitat for Humanity. Win-win!
I passed up a huge number of beautiful old shutters for $40 about 5 years ago. I didn’t get them because I didn’t have a place to store them until I could use them. I still think about it and what a great deal it was, and of course, I haven’t seen anything like them since.
DONE. I renting a U-Haul and coming your way to shop.
These items are beautiful. 🙂
I lived in Morocco for 3 years, and fell in love with doors over there. While there, my husband and I knew we’d be returning to the states to build our retirement home. So… I started collecting the beautiful, hand carved, antique wooden doors. 6 to be exact. We built our home based on incorporating these doors into the house as functional doors. They are incredible, unique features of our home that make the place unlike any other home in my area. We love them! And I’m so glad I had the sense to buy them when I did!
Janice, I wish you would send pictures of those doors you gathered up in Morocco. I’ve been there and also while there admired all the architectural door and also windows. Unlike a lot of places, at the time I was there, things were still being made there and not somewhere else.
Please share, I bet we’d all just love to see your finds.
Alice
The tall wire crate is an egg crate. For holding like flats of eggs. I love how tall they are. One time I bought five doors for $25 and hauled them all the way from Colorado to Oregon when we moved. My husband was not impressed. Oh well.
love love love all of these shutters! I still kick myself for passing on some wonderful chipped shutters that had this amazing iron hardware…oh yea and there’s always a couple of salvaged windows I think too long on and poof! they’re gone. you’ve inspired me though, next time I won’t hesitate 🙂
I have a pair of cabinet doors from my husband’s grandparents that were on a cabinet I would guess from the size. They are flaking and we plan to just clear coat over them. How can I display them? I would like them over the fireplace mantel. How would I hook them to the wall? Help!
Hi Marian, OK, now that I see again, I really want the circular bread board.
Would it be possible to buy it from you ahead of time and I can pick it up at Luckett’s?
doors and shutters are a renters dream. My daughter has two that she uses as back drops in her living room and bedroom as she is limited as to what she can hang on the walls or even paint. Your shutters are really amazing, a great find.
You find the BEST stuff. I’m so jealous and totally want to shop with you. This post is very timely because I’ve been considering shutters above my sofa. I have a 2 story living room and need some visual height to fill the space.
It’s interesting that your posting today is about old doors. I found a nice chippy door in a junk yard, had the door cut into 4 panels and now I made signs out of each panel. The front chippy panel has “Welcome to my Home” painted on it. On the backside I sanded the flakes and I painted a blackboard with “Welcome” done in a fancy script with chalk. I’m selling these thru my Etsy shop.
What’s the name of your shop?
Marian – I have beautiful old door I found outside on the ground at a flea market and little bugs had made their home in parts of the edges. Any suggestions on how to treat the door to eradicate the bugs so i can FINALLY bring it indoors? It’s been sitting in my garage for months and I think it’s bug free but I want to be EXTRA sure!
I have honestly never had a problem with bugs in pieces, so I’m not sure how to direct you with that! Sorry!
Just love shutters and doors!! You have some beautiful ones!!
Being a collector, I am always curious to know what you spend on your acquisitions, such as the doors, quilt, breadboards, etc. Care to divulge?
Girl, what are you driving on these shopping excursions, a LAARGE pick-up or a moving van?!! What a haul! And what fun looking at them all! I can’t wait til we can go again! I love old doors, too. When I was about eight we loved in an apartment over a hardware store in the small town where I grew up. At at the bottom of the stairs up to the apartment was a WONDERFUL door with an oval window and detailing in the wood surrounding the glass. I have always coveted that door. Actually, I think it is still there and I have several photos of it. Of course, it is huge; I don’t know what I would do with it. The hardware store is long gone and has been turned into a museum by the local Historical Society. Maybe I’ll just inquire sometime if they have any plans for that door….
Your finds are fantastic. I love the doors/shutters and it seems that no matter what style they will make really nice back drops for any room. I have been on the look out for a pair and they seem to be hard to come by in my area. Hopefully the spring will bring them out of hiding.
Where do you find your vintage shutters? I’ve looked all over and can’t find any here in Denver.
Shutters, whether those installed in windows or just those old ones you use for styling, are indeed great additions to the home. They just bring an eccentric and vintage vibe to the indoors. We would say they are worthy bargains too!