Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Door scores

So now that I have told you all about my crazy chandelier/plant frenzy of yesterday afternoon I am happy to report that I actually got the front porch all spiffy today and won't leave you hanging indefinitely.

Well, kinda. Here is what our door looked like this morning. Please don't laugh, and no, I haven't the faintest idea what is etched into our door. It could be some type of native american curse, but I am leaning towards just plain weird.

In fact I am very excited because tonight we spent a whole hour drawing up custom door designs to switch out the door and 70's side windows to a set of black french doors. Won't that look great?? The outside has been on our back burner but I really want to add a little curb appeal this year before the frost sets in again...


Now back to our make-over (part 1, part 2 being the new door...).

I saw this chandelier on clearance at HomeSense yesterday for $60 and thought it was mighty cool. But what do I need another chandelier (without electricity mind you) for around the house?
Then I saw another in a different aisle and it hit me that I should hang them over my urns!



Just before that we had picked up some boxwood for the urns. I didn't want to go too girly and fussy with flowers, specially because it is a covered porch and doesn't get a lot of direct light. And I like to think these feel a little old-world France or Italy.

So now I just need to:
1. get new french doors.
2. have stucco painted grey.
3. get a new light fixture.
4. actually put candles on the chandeliers...

hopefully not in that order, and hopefully sooner than later.






Keep in mind that our front porch is WELL protected with huge trees as well as a portico so the chandeliers are really protected from wind and the elements. Definitely don't attempt this in front an antique stained glass window on a windy hill or anything, k?
Now tell me the honest truth, is it pure genius or just crazy?

47 comments:

Monique said...

Am I crazy for loving your door? Its really unique!

This is a great idea and looks super good! Great eye Holly.

Brittney G said...

I LOVE your front door. If you replace it I want it!

~Brittney from South Carolina

Pretty Little Things for Home & Life said...

Is it crazy that I think the door is actually pretty neat? lol. I mean, not necessarily in the color, but the carvings add a little something special haha!

I'm excited to see the new door reveal!

Jennelle said...

I love it! It's going to look amazing once it's all done--I can't wait to see it!

slip4 said...

Genius!!

Kerry said...

I'm leaning towards the genius category!

ErinQ said...

Holly, I love the concept but I wonder if the chandeliers might be a little lost when the stucco goes gray. I'm not sure I have a suggestion for you, since I think that if they went black to match the urns and new door, they would lose a lot of their their "lightness." I guess, knowing your general palette, I would paint them a bright white to stand out from the door and walls. Think you might have some white paint lying around? : )

Shannon @ What's Up Whimsy said...

Pure genius! I love it!! And great finds at HomeSense. I love that store! I can't wait to see the front when everything is done!

Elizabeth {the Path Less Traveled} said...

I like it! It will be even better, though, once you get those new doors. :)

Jan said...

Love it. I've actually been looking for a chandelier to hang under my deck. I'll have to look at Homegoods. Great job!

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

I've had one hanging from my porch roof for about a year with taper candles in it and it's worked out just fine. We never light it unless we are sitting out there but through the windy winter, it's been fine and I didn't even have to remove the candles from it. They stayed put.

I think they look nice!
~Michelle

Unknown said...

Looks great Holly! What if you just paint the front door white? It's so unique. But i do love the idea of french doors too! Hmm...can't wait to see the end result.

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

Not crazy! Brilliant! I just love the chandies over the urns. And I can't WAIT to see the new doors.

Lila said...

Wow, that makes such a difference. I love the chandeliers and those urns! Great work!
Lila Ferraro
Queen Bedroom Sets

liz @ bon temps beignet said...

I can't wait to see it with the new french doors!!

Maybe it's all my years of working in a dental office talking, but the carvings in your door look like molars.

PS: I made those chocolate meringues last night. Oh. My. Gawd. I'm not really into meringues, but these are so good. I took 2 with me to work and had them with coffee and they tasted even better. The coffee really brings out the chocolate flavor. Thanks for the recipe!

kaylan said...

Aside from the hideous door (seriously, can you paint it in the meantime?!), I love the porch! It's decorated, but not too fussy. I do agree that the grey of the chandelier might get lost against grey stucco, but that is quickly remedied with a can of paint if it really is a problem.

Can't wait to see the finished product!

Angie said...

PURE GENIUS!!

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

It is pure creative genius!!! I love the way it looks. Darn that it is so windy here in Vegas so I can't copy you! lol

SallyB said...

Its gonna look great! However, I think you should move or replace the mailbox. It just seems out of place.

Volume23 said...

I totally think this is pure genius! :) i LOVE LOVE LOVE chandeliers and i have heard about putting them outside on a patio or something like that.. but the front porch! :) I LOVE IT! :)

Anonymous said...

i love it! so creative!

priscilla said...

I love that door. I hope you sell or recycle it. That pattern would make a nice headboard...

Unknown said...

I think it really charms up the front of your house!! I love chandys outside, very cool and rustic...I can picture your vision!

yours truly, melissa said...

I like it! I think it's pretty, and seems easy enough to change if you ever want to do something different...

Olivia Lynch said...

Maybe it looks different in person, but I really like your front door. It's one of those things that I'd flaunt rather than "fix". Would I be crazy to suggest painting the one wacky panel on it black?

Jenny B. said...

I think your front door is actually pretty awesome. Couldn't you just paint it and the trim around the sidelights a charcoal color when you paint the house grey, or even just replace the door with a glass door (simple, with wide trim around the glass). Seems a lot cheaper and more unique, and then the front door will still be lined up in the middle of your stoop (I like the symmetry you have going on and think the french doors might mess that up). I love everything you've done with the styling!

No name said...

I really can see your vision! I'd just run a coat of paint over the door and 70's window frames while waiting for your French doors. At the very least I would run some paint over the side windows... for me it makes things tolerable a while longer if I change it just enough to be different and easy on the eyes.

Those chandeliers are gorgeous! Can I step up in line with everyone else who would like to have them also? lol

Have a beautiful day sweet lady:)

becca said...

i think it looks absolutely fabulous!

Rayia said...

That door must go:)...other than that, I LOVE it!!! I agree, that if you paint the stucco grey you may need to paint the chandeliers black.

Anonymous said...

I like your door! I think the french doors would be prettier though. For the chandeliers, I like them but I wonder if you could pop off the candle holders? They seem out of place without candles. Is your husband handy? I would also spray paint them to make them pop!

Meghan said...

I agree with you. I think the front door is weird and some classic french doors will look fab. LOVE the chandeliers! Looking better already!

darnie said...

The door is uber cool. If you replace anything get rid of the stucco...

Merran said...

i LOVE the chandeliers. yes, you are a genius! such a good idea and they look great. i'm with you on the door...weird. BUT the french doors will look totally awesome. i can't wait for the end result!

MrsKBJ said...

Looks awesome Holly!! I like it even without the candles!! Can't wait to see it all done!!
Kelly

christine, just bella said...

I think the chandeliers look amazing!! And that door definitely has some character, I'd love to hear the story behind it from the previous owners. Interesting...

Love that doormat with the 'B' too!!

Jameil said...

Right now with everything going on, it looks busy. The urns, chandeliers, light, mailbox & they're all competing with that door (which I like but it's definitely not in keeping w/your aesthetic). So in theory, it works, but for right now, they should probably come down until you get more of your other elements in place.

Gina said...

Oh, you so need to make that door into a table. White paint, carvings...would make a great table of some sort! I do love the chandeliers and wish I could do that here. Looks lovely!

Little Lovables said...

I love the idea of the black french doors, but I think your door is actually kind of awesome. It would look great painted black or white, especially with the stucco painted white.

Maybe you could turn it into a table or something when you remove it?

Lovely Little Nest said...

ummm that door is AMAZING!! Is it original to the house?

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

Pure genius for sure! loving it and can't wait to see it together with the new door. it sounds fabulous!

winkie said...

What a lovely way to greet all the visitors to your home! I love it!

Holly Austin said...

The timing for this post is perfect... i just came inside from planting hydrangeas on either side of my front door, and I've been on the hunt for something to go in between my windows and door - this is an AWESOME idea!! And french doors? Gorgeous.

puggiemomma said...

Hi Holly! Love your site.I've been following you even before your blog. We have very similar style tastes. You have great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing. :)
I don't know if you're interested but I just saw Restoration Hardware has these fabulous no flame pillar candles that are programmable. I think those would be a great solution for your chandeliers.
Can't wait to see the finished result!

Deserae said...

Ohhh how clever! Can't wait to see the new door :o)
~Des

JoLynn said...

Looks better already! I was just going to do this with urns and boxwoods by our front door. Too windy here for chandeliers though. But yours look great!

Kimberly said...

Genius! I love this look:) But you definitely have to do something about that door!

Jen of MadeByGirl said...

WOW....your front door is pretty unique....love it!

 
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