A Grand Entrance
Fabulous Design, Finishes & Surfaces, Shades of Garay August 14th, 2008A few years ago, we helped a designer avoid a crisis with these doors. Ever since then, I have begun taking a second glance at this oft-overlooked surface…and sometimes the sheer artistry and creative detailing brought to them might take you by surprise.
I’ve gathered up a few pics I’ve had in my “Idea Book”. Take a look…
I almost had a heart attack when I saw this pic. Let’s see…beautiful dominant color? Check. Intriguing curved moldings? Check. Some decorative work inside the door’s panels? Check. Making what would have been just a pair of pretty doors into something extraordinary? No more calls, we have a winner! So, I wandered around my house to see which door would be so graced. To my utter chagrin, no doorways were going to work well. Oh, how I shook my fist at the faux gods! Still waiting for that perfect client to come along…
Here are two different examples of decorative painting surfaces on doors– one is the wood itself and other on the tiles surrounding the door. The painted wood door on the left is from the 18th-century and comes from Morocco.
These are along the same idea as the first pic but dialed down a bit and executed with the color white. Isn’t the bird detail so sweet? I love them both!
Sometimes, entrance doors can come in just the one color. It works nicely with some exterior design schemes but you can always throw in a bit of interest. Here, I like how a bit of gold was used to highlite the frames and center design. Really makes you appreciate the scrollwork even more.
Thought I’d throw in this door just because it was so interesting. The pic on the right is a close-up of the detail of the door. Unusual, no?
…and this one I thought I’d throw this one in because it’s welcoming…but it’s got a slight Tim Burton vibe to it. Looks like a lovely garden, too.
Amazing what a difference a beautiful doorway can make. Even just approaching one with an artist’s mind can open the door to a world of wonder. (smile) Yes, I had to go there, LOL!










August 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I just love that photo with the yellow walls. Any vibrant, fun finish is always a favorite. Can you imagine tinting a venetian plaster that color?
(By the way, I’m Gwen - I work for Faux Like a Pro and I read your blog daily. It’s been a very enjoyable read. Thanks for posting!)
August 15th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Totally agree on the yellow. Delicious — and it would be a really uplifting area to walk into!
Wow — you made my day, Gwen! Thank you so much for the compliment. I’ve just spent a bunch of time at your site, http://www.fauxlikeapro.com — I’m going to have to really sit down and absorb it all. Your fizzy pigments look great! (…and btw, it’s hard to find black Venetian Plaster already tinted. Good to know.)
August 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am