Don't Forget the Front Door

Let's face it; first impressions count.  And, you KNOW you judge books by their covers!  (I personally judge them because that way, even if I don't end up liking them, they still look pretty on my shelves.  Books are accessories too!)  The outside of your house is no different.  Those of us in the know call it "curb appeal."  :)  Attacking the whole outside facade at one time is daunting and unnecessary.  It's okay to work at it piece by piece.  One thing you can focus on is the front door.  That's where people spend the most time looking around when they are waiting for you to answer the door.  

Here is what mine originally looked like:

Look at that huge brass knocker!

It's not exactly awful, but it is certainly lacking in pizzazz.  Not to mention, it has a broken door bell covering.  People find that shocking.  (Pun so totally intended!)  Brass is not my thing, and it's especially not my thing in the form of a door knocker the size of my head.  You also may not be able to tell that there is a storm door.  Don't get me wrong, I understand the practicality of this, considering I live in Nashville, where it storms frequently, but I always thought it was strange to open the inside door to welcome someone in and then shove another door in their face before they can actually enter.  Like your storm door or screen door so you can let the breeze in?  Keep it.  It's all about personal tastes here.  At the very least, this one would have needed new hardware.  

Moving on, I didn't even change out the door first.  First thing was to replace the broken light fixture.  The light still worked, but the glass was broken and it was too small for the front of the house.  I choose a larger black fixture to match the railing.  Plus, my new light has auto features like motion detection and sunrise/sundown recognition.  We also added a plant to spruce things up.  A little greenery can go a long way.   

I apologize for the graininess.  You can still tell there's a difference though, right?

Finally, I was able to change the door.  If you are happy with the style of door that you have, simply painting it is fine.  They have a great new product for this very process.  You can also add new hardware for around $100.  I, however, wanted to let some light in, which meant a new door. 

Here is what it looks like today: 

Yes, I know the plant is different, and that's it's dying.  I never claimed to be a green thumb, and it's the middle of a Southern summer.  See, I told you people judge the front of your house!  Plant aside, so much better!  We bought a wood door (if you buy a new door, know that you'll probably have to buy and install a peephole, if wanted) and stained it to match our hardwood floors, and added new brushed nickel hardware, including a kick plate.  It helps to protect the new door in the absence of that pesky storm door.  We also had our fabulous handyman replace the molding, as it was rotting and disgusting.  You really can't tell from the pictures how bad it was, but people who are standing at your door have an perfect view of any imperfections.  Did you notice the new door bell?  It's also black to match, and it doesn't deter people from ringing it.  Last, but not least, the rug.  It's the final piece to any front entrance redo.

P.S.  A new rug can help freshen up the front entry at anytime no matter what the rest looks like.

To say that my husband, Byron, LOVES baseball would be an understatement.  My parents bought him this for him birthday and it's perfect.  Your home is a reflection of you and that includes the outside.  Hang a flag, be a wreath person, do whatever.  Just make your cover beautiful!