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DIY RENO ADDICT

Coloured front doors: Boost your street appeal!

I’ve long been a fan of a colourful front door. It’s always baffled me as to why most are painted in basic neutrals because, given the relatively small surface area, it’s a low-risk gambit. Plus, aside from being a cheap and easy home refresh, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the latest colour trends.

Taubmans Exterior Stormy Shadow Pink Dust
This front door is painted in Taubmans Pink Dust, a lovely pastel tone.

It’s a view shared by ex-Blockheads Julia and Sasha who opted for a very punchy lilac colour on the front door of their latest renovation. “There’s something extra special about arriving at a property and to be greeted by an unexpected pop of colour. It gives an aura of Notting Hill by adding instant character to any home,” says Julia Treule.

Taubmans Lavendula
Julia and Sasha’s fabulous front door is painted in Taubmans Lavendula

“We knew we wanted a variation of lilac from the get-go to reflect our love of pastels. Once we had swatched Lavendula, we fell in love straight away as it set the most wonderful tone for our home and we often find ourselves standing in the garden just to stare at it,” says Julia.

Taubmans Suddenly Sapphire
Taubmans Suddenly Sapphire is the feature paint on the door and porch of this heritage home

From orange to sapphire, emerald, aqua and pink, there there is a veritable kaleidoscope of colour to choose from. Plus, a signature front door colour is also a great way to introduce your home’s feature colour upon arrival. For instance, in my own home (below) I chose a bright yet muted/pastel blue (the husband vetoed pink!) which is a shade that runs throughout our house. It works well with the other colours on the outside of the home too – a crisp white and black.

Amy's front door
My front door. It’s painted in Taubmans Kingston Aqua.

The white paint/bright door combination is another technique that Julia and Sasha employed to really harness the front door as a focal point, when it came to their lavender door. “Choosing the right white for your home is one of the most difficult decisions as there are so many around. We decided to go with Taubmans Crisp White to add a contemporary edge to our heritage abode. It’s striking in its simplicity and has passers-by desperate to see inside,” says Julia.

Taubmans Irish Stone
I LOVE this door painted in Taubmans Irish Stone – it really makes the brass knocker pop.

For more | The barn door trend

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Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Shopping

Blonde as a blank canvas: Corinthian Doors’ new collection

While the old idiom ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’ is good in principal, let’s face it we all do it! So when renovating it’s important your exterior looks flawless and that starts with the front door.

Corinthian Doors has just launched its Blonde Oak collection, which perfectly fits in with the on trend look of blonde timber and soft colour palettes. Crafted from sustainable timber with an American White Oak veneer, the collection is available in a range of designs and sizes, including wide stile pivot doors.

A seamless blend of modern design sensibilities and traditional joinery, the detailing is quite simple, so it doesn’t overpower the architectural features of a home. The key is the material itself, which is a very light American White Oak that can be stained, painted, or even left in its natural state with a light oil. The durability and consistency ensures a wonderful canvas for many finishes and colours, making it the perfect material for a variety of different homes.

Ideal for a grand entrance or other external applications such as backdoors or side entrance doors, the collection also includes vertical and horizontal panel designs, as well as clear and opaque glass options – depending on the chosen design.

For more information.

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Outdoor & Exteriors RENO ADDICT Styling

3 easy ways to make your front door pop

Does your home have ‘front door appeal’? You’ve heard of ‘kerb appeal‘, now welcome to the plate the even more niche-specific concept that looks at how your front door impacts on the overall first impression given by your home. Fans of the 90’s film ‘Notting Hill’ will remember the iconic ‘blue front door’ for the same reason that front door aficionados wax lyrical about its importance; it helps create visual impact and allows a property to stand out from the rest of the pack.

Overall kerb appeal is one of the most important factors to consider when renovating, especially if  you’re renovating to increase your return on investment. First impressions count and placing focus and funds on something that can be easily updated is a savvy move for renovators. Updating your front facade is also a cost-effective way to modernise and freshen the exterior of your home.

Here are 3 key points to remember when choosing or updating your front door.

3 easy ways to make your front door pop

1. Choose colour where you can – A brightly coloured front door can add a splash of colour and vibrancy to an otherwise understated colour scheme.

3 easy ways to make your front door popImage source: DIY Network

2. Intricate details make all the difference – Interesting or ornate knobs and handles can make all the difference between a bog standard front door and something much more eye catching.

3 easy ways to make your front door popImage source: Katrina Lee Chambers

3. Frame things properly – Think about what surrounds your front door and how it can be made to suit or match your front door.

3 easy ways to make your front door popImage source: Architecture Art Designs

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RENO ADDICT

Low-cost and risk-free, why not try a bold front door?

When you consider a home’s street appeal, its front door is key. Often thought of in purely utilitarian terms, it pays to consider it from a design perspective and, this season, that means bright and bold.

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Door painted in Dulux Mondrian Blue

“Don’t be afraid to be playful with the look of your entrance to create a welcoming pathway into the home,” says Dulux colour expert, Andrea Lucena-Orr who emphasises the power a fresh front door colour can wield.

“Add a new door mat or a colourful or patterned planter to complement it and you can completely transform the appearance of your home,” she adds.

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Door painted in Dulux Sequesta

It’s a fun DIY project that is low-risk and cost effective and we like the idea of a seasonal upgrade to reflect the latest trends – blue is currently on point.

“From lighter blues and greyish blues to deep, dark blues and even charcoal blues, the power of a blue door is particularly enhanced when combined with natural stone and brick or neutral render colours,” says Andrea.

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Door painted in Dulux Mondrian Blue

“You could highlight a traditional stained glass door surround by choosing a complementary paint colour,” says Dulux stylist Heather Nette King.

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Door painted in Dulux Spice Girl

This fun approach can be continued inside the home too. Rather than painting a feature wall, transforming an interior door is small on cost but big on impact.

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Door painted in Dulux Black

See here for more.

Photography by Mike Baker | Styling by Bree Leech and Heather Nette King