How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint

Choosing the right front door colour for your home is not a matter of simply succumbing to the latest fashions. I want you to have a house frontage that makes your heart skip a beat every time you return from a long day at work, and that means putting aside other people's ideas of what's on-trend and focusing on what makes you happy.



This is easier said than done with the myriad of paint shades available but that shouldn't make you feel despondent. I'm here to help ensure that the colour you end up with is one you really love. With that in mind, here are some questions to set you on the way to your perfect front door.

Are you drawn to warm or cool colours?

Don't restrict yourself to colours that are typically linked to 'hot' or 'cold' climates. Every colour can have cooler or warmer undertones, (or, for that matter, be thoroughly neutral).

For example, here is a picture of a front door painted in Little Greene's Celestial Blue. Although blue is traditionally thought of as a cool colour, this particular shade is warm and lively.

Conversely, see how this front door below leans towards the cooler end of the red spectrum, with its blueish undertones. Try Farrow and Ball's Brinjal for a similar look.

Do you want your front door to stand out or to blend in? 

If you're stuck with a not-so-pretty look then pick out a colour which blends in with your exterior walls so that there is no stark contrast between the different surfaces.

This essentially means that the eye can move seamlessly over the front of your house, without noticing specific details, but taking it in as a whole. Try Paint and Paper Library's Estuary for the toning look below.

Or is your front door particularly lovely? If so, make the most of it by picking a brighter shade. For a smart, bright red, perfect against pale walls, choose Farrow and Ball's Blazer.

How often do you plan to repaint?

This is time to be frank with yourself. If the answer is infrequently then I would definitely advise choosing a classic colour that won't date, such as Dulux Gloss Black, which is hard-wearing and timeless. You'd certainly be in good company...

However, if you're happy to redecorate often then why not choose something a little more daring? I love it that these owners have created a look they adore by picked out Little Greene's Eau De Nil and Little Greene's Garden. 

My last paint-picking question for you is this:

When looking at other people's front doors, which are the houses that make you want to stop and stare?

Search out beautifully decorated houses that are built from similar materials to yours, and, if possible, face the same direction, as paint can look surprisingly different depending on the quality of light it receives.

Be brave! Knock and ask the owners which paint they have used....though it's always worth trying a sample size out before committing to a full tin.

Of course, I am well aware that these questions overly simplify the whole angst of picking the perfect paint for your front door but I hope they have given you a good starting point, as well as an idea. 

For a more personal discussion, feel free to contact me personally, for the front door colour of your dreams.

Take Care Until Next Time,

Sarahx

Images via Farrow and Ball, Little Greene, Farrow and Ball, London Door, Interior Domain Designs, Maison Classique, Welsh Heritage, Sanderson

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Get The Look: Barn Conversion Chic

Wasn't that Barn Conversion house tour utterly scrumptious? Now it's time to weave that Modern Country magic I promised you...let's break the interior right down, so that you can see how easy it is to Get The Barn Conversion Chic Look in any house.

Did you notice how certain themes ran all the way through from the exterior to the interior? 

The neutral paint choice on the front door and window frame resonates throughout the barn's beautiful interior. 

Clockwise from top: Even if you own a new-build, white walls and French grey cabinets is a scheme that suits any period of house...perfectly Modern Country; if you live in a more contemporary home, stick to simple, clean lines in your kitchenware; I love this palette of Little Greene Shirting, Benjamin Moore Doily, Little Greene French Grey, Earthborn Gregory's Den; Classic Country pieces in an unfussy, modern white bring this scheme to life.

Even the accent colours are inspired by outside. The lush green of the grass and trees, and the deep grey-blue of the ornamental path leading to the large front doors is repeated internally in muted sage greens, deep charcoal and muted blues. Yum!

Clockwise from top: The Barn Conversion Chic look suits country-style properties too. Paint a dresser in toning paint to that of your kitchen cabinets for a timeless, free-standing kitchen feel; try Farrow and Ball Railings, Farrow and French Gray, Zoffany Architect's White and Benjamin Moore Pewter for some contemporary chic paint colours to enhance the Modern Country glow.

The continuity of colour throughout the barn conversion means that your eye can travel smoothly from room to room - such an easy look to emulate; just continue your chosen scheme throughout your ground floor.

Clockwise from top: Often stone walls of the barns' exteriors are revealed in the living room but, if this isn't the case in your home, then you can purposefully echo the natural properties of your house in your choice of stone tiles and flag stones; This palette takes its inspiration from the outside: Farrow and Ball London Clay, Farrow and Ball Mouse's Back, Dulux Bleached Lichen, Zoffany Quarter Linen; if you live in a new- build, get the look by including lots of rustic materials...glass, metal, wood...; how can these gorgeous flagstones, laid in a contemporary herringbone pattern, fail to add character to any property?

You see? *sigh of relief* The Barn Conversion Chic look can be yours whether you have a derelict barn on waiting in the wings to be decorated or in the tiniest of cottages, or the grandest of modern homes.

Images via: Fine and Country, Modern Country Style moodboard 1 (Sims Hilditch, The New General Store, Le Creuset), Fine and Country, Modern Country Style moodboard 2 (Border Oak, Pinterest, Garden Trading), Fine and Country, Modern Country Style moodboard 3 (Country Homes and Interiors, unknown, Archiexpo)

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The Best Front Door Paint Colours: Dusky Purples

Let's talk house fronts again. Finding the perfect exterior paint colours is sometimes tricky but your home's exterior speaks volumes about you so it's worth taking the time getting your house and garden to say the right thing!

Who hasn't been seduced by images like this, full of promise and loveliness? Gorgeous, dusky shades, complemented by chalky grey paint and Modern Country planting: 

It can be easy to leave this kind of picture feeling down-hearted at the widening gulf between what you love and your reality, but if you'd like this look for yourself then, fear, not! With a little time and a little love, this look can be yours!

From gently-greyed lavender through to rich damson and darkest, moodiest plum, there's a perfect purple paint for everyone.

Before we start, one of the most important things to consider is the material your home is made from. Is it brick? Stone? Weather-boarding? Painted render? This should be your first port of call as it will affect how you carry this look out.

Secondly, ask yourself honestly about the visual impact that your home has. You see, carrying out this look on a modern new-build requires a very different procedure than on a converted warehouse, for example.

Keeping in mind these two pertinent pieces of information, let's get on to the exciting bit....how to Make It Yours!

Clockwise from top: this aged brick house is set off beautifully by dusky grey paint on the doors and frames, allowing the drainpipe and rendered base to fade into the overall scheme...white hydrangeas and lavender, contrasted against smart clipped box, keep this home looking firmly Modern Country; pick out architectural details on your house front with matching materials, such as this zinc planter; if you don't like the part of your house's exterior, simply hide it with climbing plants that keep their leaves for most, if not all of the year; try a toning palette of Farrow and Ball Cabbage White, Farrow and Ball Calluna, Farrow and Ball Brassica, Little Greene Lead Colour; small touches in nickel, such as these beautiful French handles, keep this scheme from veering into drab in dingy winter months. 

See how adding details with silver metals, like chrome or nickel, lifts this door to another level?

Clockwise from top: If you live in a building like this incredible converted Country Church, then, frankly, you're in business! Although some paints might look more pleasing than others, the building itself carries such visual weight that the front door paint colour matters less; Feast your eyes on this Modern Country garden: soft lavender surrounds an old stone fountain, and is set off by peonies in soft pink and magenta; on a somewhat smaller scale, topiary box balls will bring a little bit of Modern to your Country House exterior; consider a country-inspired feminine palette of Farrow and Ball Pelt, Dulux Linnet, Farrow and Ball Purbeck Stone, Farrow and Ball Cinder Rose.

Painted render can carry pretty much any front door paint colour but these home owners have chosen a divinely muted grey-mauve. 

Clockwise from top: add character to a new build with Modern Country planting - soft layers of white and purple flowers, juxtaposed with evergreen topiary; a muted palette of Little Greene French Gray; Farrow and Ball Brassica; Ralph Lauren Nairobi Dusk; Sanderson Grey Squirrel; warm grey rattan baskets next to a boxwood topiary ball; this house could just as easily be a cleverly thought-out new-build as an old French stately home - don't be intimidated by the seeming inflexibility of a new-build...choose pretty, chalky mauves and greys, and add extra decorative touches such as lanterns and seating in high end finishes...you'll be surprised what you can achieve.

A gorgeous Modern Country front garden. Behind smart cast iron railings, four bay trees stand either side of a black and white encaustic tiled path, leading to a red brick double-fronted Victorian house. Behind them are small squares of lavender, bordered by buxus hedging.

Clockwise from top: you can add colour into predominantly brick houses but the hue of the bricks should determine the strength of colour you choose for your front door paint. Here, with creamy-brown bricks, the owners have gone with lilac paint for the door surround, with palest grey front door paint; consider introducing colour via planting, lavender is heavenly to brush against on a warm summer's day; for this look, try Little Greene Juniper Ash, Zoffany Sung Mauve, Fired Earth Sea Lavender, Fired Earth Gentian Violet; a beautiful Modern Country planting scheme with four clipped box hedges enclosing swathes of lavender, and boxwood balls nestled within each quadrant; red brick can often be too strong a colour to start competing with loud front door paints so consider a warm grey, and pick up the purple theme with rows of lavender leading to two half standard privets standing sentinel-like either side of your front door.

If the material that your house is built from feels unbearably over-bearing, then consider painting it white and choosing the front door colour of your dreams, here a washed-out dusky grey.

The best front door paint colours are more intense than you might expect, in order to take the strong daylight that they'll receive. These are my perfect exterior paint colours for front doors.

Choose one of these four perfect front door paint colours and, combined with the front garden schemes I've picked out that combine topiary and lavender, you'll be well on your way to your dream Modern Country Home!  

Images via: flickr, Vaucelleshof, Farrow and Ball, MCS Moodboard 1 (Via Revedeco, Pinterest, sbdigs, My Design Chic), Farrow and Ball, MCS Moodboard 2 (A Breath OF Fresh Air, Nicola Stocken, unknown), residential search, MCS Moodboard 3 (unknown, johner, unknown), Belderbos, MCS Moodboard 4((5thandstate, Greensandberries, Houzz, Fleaing France)), Tierlantijn, MCS Moodboard 5

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The New Grey Paint Collection By Little Greene

Little Greene have just released a whole new collection devoted entirely to greys in all their delicately delectable glory. Yeah, baybeeee! Head on over to the Relics Of Witney blog to have a snizzle at which of their delicious grey palettes will work best for you.

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Modern Country paint colours...

On my most recent visit to our local interiors shop, I found a new paint colour card from The Little Greene Paint Company......a chart with a difference! They call them colour scales.

The Little Greene Paint Company have taken their twelve best-selling shades from their 'Colours of England' range and added lighter and darker hues, so that for each original colour their are now four to choose from.

Nothing especially new with that (although surprisingly few of the 'posh' paint companies have lighter and darker versions of their colours. Grrrrr.). What is original is the way the chart can be concertinaed to align the colours away from the background of the card, allowing the user to compare the colours like for like (or, rather, shade for shade!), instead of being skewed against the glaring white which usually surrounds colour chips.

I love the colours they have chosen. Soft, chalky shades of grey, taupe and cream. Classic Modern Country choices.

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