“All you need to paint is a few tools,
a little instruction,
and a vision in your mind.”
-Bob Ross
***
I’ve got the tools, and the vision in my mind, so today, I thought it would be fun to ask for a little instruction! 😀
Remember that inspiration photo I put together in Photoshop a few weeks ago?
Well, my friend Lucy texted me this picture while she and Garlan were digging through stacks of old doors at Southern Accents recently…
It was exactly the right size for the doorway opening in our hallway, but it didn’t have any glass in it so I texted her back and asked if they could fill the opening with some of that “glass with the wire inside of it“. I wasn’t really even sure if you could get it anymore, so I was super pumped when Lucy wrote back and said, “Yes!“. 😀
A few weeks later, Kevin picked up the door, and here’s a photo of how it looked the day he brought it home:
My friend, Leen the Graphics Queen, is making us some vinyl wording to use in the center of the window, and we also added a mail slot (from Etsy) to personalize it a little more, too:
It was originally bright brass, but I wanted it to match the doorknob, so I sprayed it with some (Rust-o-leum) oil-rubbed bronze spray paint. I inherited my Mom’s “card & note-leaving gene”, and I am reeeeeeally looking forward to surprising Kevin and Sweet P with lots of love letters through that slot in the years to come. 🙂
As for the rest of the door, I’m painting it this week, and we’ve got three sample colors to choose from: Mount Saint Anne (BM), Dutch Tile Blue (SW), and Colorado Gray (BM):
So what do you think? Mount Saint Anne, Dutch Tile Blue, or Colorado Gray? Click the dot that corresponds to your choice and I’ll fire up my paintbrush with the winner tomorrow! 😀
[poll id=”3″]
PS- Since this is a hallway door, we only close it at night. After it’s all painted, we’re going to mount a couple of tension rods on back side of it so we can put some curtains up to create a little extra privacy. I thought about just frosting the back side of the glass, but Kevin’s a curtain man, and I do think it’ll be nice to have a layer of softness back there, too. 🙂
Mary | Lemon Grove Blog
What a score!! That is going to look amazing once it’s installed. I voted Dutch Tile Blue – but seriously – love them all! 🙂
Layla
Thank you, Mary! That last photo actually shows it already hanging in the hallway doorway. Can’t wait to get it coated in color! 😀
Hollee NAdeau
Dutch Tile Blue or Mt Saint Anne.
Christienne
Oh, I have Colorado gray in my house it is fabulous!!
inkWELL
Love that idea of a mail slot! Can’t wait to see how this turns out! I’m voting for the Dutch Tile Blue.
Jill P.
Hey Layla! I’ve been following your blog for a while now and have been praying as you wait on The Lord for your Sweet P:) I love your projects and have some reeeeally old doors in our reaaallly old log cabin we moved into recently and want to reprint them all (as the paint is chipping like crazy!) and am wondering of you have any references I can look up in updating those babies! You and Kevin are an inspiration! Thanks!
Tina
Love it! 🙂 Dutch Tile Blue, all the way. 🙂
Cheri
I am so envious!! I wish I had a door I could replace with something like this. It’s AWESOME! I can’t wait to see the finished door. What wonderfully unique ideas you have!
Laura
When I was in high school, I went on a church ski trip to Quebec, Canada. We stayed at the Chateau Mont St. Anne! It was very beautiful! I disliked skiing and was horrible at it, but the name of the place just sounds so fancy and romantic! I probably shouldn’t pick a paint color based solely on a name, huh? (P.S. You have to say the name in your best French accent, which is kind of funny when you live in Texas!)
Jonni @ Jasper's Cottage
That is a seriously cute door and a great idea! The mail slot is the perfect touch, your Sweet P will be well loved with all the love notes. I can’t wait to see it painted and all lettered up.
xo Jonni xo
Bethany
Oh my goodness… I can’t wait to see what you come up with for that door. I’ve been waiting anxiously, because… I actually have a front door like that on a little converted general store in Newport and I want to put something on the glass but don’t know what just yet. I’m planning to draw inspiration from YOU!!! You have such clever ideas – I can’t wait to see what happens!!!
http://www.pinterest.com/bjmccloy/the-general-store-in-newport-ri/
Mindy
The door is lovely and I can’t wait to see the color on it along with the lettering, but the mail slot…oh, that has captured my heart. I can only imagine the sweet notes passed back and forth in the years to come…
Megan Clark
We are SO on the same page. I just picked up an old school door similar to this one to use on a salvaged track for my walk-in closet. On my list for TODAY I had “research lettering for glass”. I’m thinking “Dressing Room”…but can’t wait to see what you do! xoxo
Elen Grey
I couldn’t get the vote or results buttons to work, so I’m voting here: Dutch Tile Blue. 🙂
Julia G.
Mount Saint Anne! Love the door and the mail slot. You are very creative!
Sarah Kyle
I love that you quoted Bob Ross! When my sisters and I were little we’d get up on Saturdays and gather our paints (the little 12 pack, oval-shaped watercolors we all had as a kid!) and plop down in front of the tv and paint with Bob Ross! We used to love when he ‘beat the devil’ out of the brush. Looking back, I think this makes us really strange kids, but we loved it and still laugh about it now!
Bren
You mentioned this is a hall door, but you were installing curtains for privacy. Does it face the front door or something? Just wondering…
Layla
Hi Bren!
This doorway also opens into our stairwell, so anyone coming up the stairs can see down the hall into our master bedroom through it. 🙂
pickmepam
Colorado Gray looks green, Dutch Tile Blue has grey, and Mount Saint Anne has purple tones. I’d go with MSA.
Becky Haller
I too am anxiously awaiting your completed project in the kitchen. I am in a hold pattern in my own house until you make the next step. I am now on the hunt for an old door just like yours!
Teresa
Love the door and the color choices. I lean a little more towards blue than gray. Also, a thought for your curtain. You could hang a curtain above your actual doorframe on your bedroom side. Hang the rod high enough and out enough that it clears the door, Then, when not in use the curtains can be swept to the side out of the way and out of sight. This way you don’t lose the look of your door window when the door is open. We did this on our kitchen door and I love it. You could use a beautiful fabric and make it a floor length curtain. Ok, not that you need any advice from me 🙂 I love everything you do – it is always an inspiration.
Rachelle
Hi Layla, love the door & very cute idea with the letter opening. I like the bottom 2 options they appear a little softer.
You will probably keep the door shut at night before your little one arrives, but once he does that door will probably never get closed (maybe for those rare sleep ins or when he gets older) as you will want to have easy access to each other.
caroline [the diy nurse]
Oh my goodness. DO you know how hard it is to find a door the exact size?!?! It was meant to be! I cant believe they added the glass for you either. I can picture a little one constantly sending letter after letter [maybe even trash] through that slot. Looks like a load of entertainment to me. Oh so charming!
Rhonda
Seeing this from a while back inspired me for doors in our home. Currently we are working on the door from our kitchen to the basement, which is where we have another family/music room. It has my husbands guitars, drum set keyboards etc. so we designed a logo, with a cherub angel and musical notes that says “SFB MUSIC STUDIO”. (Initials of my husband and our boys) Just sent the artwork to the glass shop yesterday. I’d love to share when finished!! Thanks for the inspiration!!
Susan M.
I’d love to vote but there’s no dots (promise I have my glasses on!).
Layla
Oh! The poll closed this morning, Susan! 😀 I’m actually painting the door today and I’ll post some new pics tomorrow! XO
Abby
so cute! p.s. when will we get to see pictures of your kitchen updates??
Layla
Hi, Abby! I’m looking forward to blogging about that next week, but if you’d like to pics between posts- I like to share those on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! 😀
Ranell Morris
Layla,
Love the door! I think the Mt. Sainte-Anne looks like your inspiration pix. I love all your ideas. You two are so talented! Praying for your hearts desires, thanks for being such a blessing!
Deborah Wilkins
I just painted my guest bathroom Dutch Tile Blue and it is exquisite! So rich and fresh! Love, love, love the color.
Elizabeth Stewart
Dutch tile is my fav.
Ter'e Crow Lindsay
I picture Sweet P having a little mini post office in his room. What fun he would have with envelopes, stamps, stickers and such.
The entire idea of the door is simply precious. Layla, you are so lucky to have the time to make Sweet P’s life so memorable. Bless his heart…..I cannot wait to give that child a big cyber hug!!!!! You make me smile everytime you do something special for him.
Mary
Hi Layla:
I love the door, too and especially the color. I noticed your stair spindles went from oak to bright white. I love it. I have the wood look and was wondering what color paint you used for the white stair?
Keep Inspiring!
Mary
Caitlin E.
Odd – It’s my understanding that those wires in the glass are so that if the glass is intentionally broken, there is still a barrier against entry (for burglars or prison inmates). I would wonder where the door came from!