Vintage Door Decor – opinions needed!
Yesterday I shared the not so pretty side of our playroom. A post sure to take pinterest by storm…ok so not really, BUT today I actually have a project to share with you, and I need your help! You guys were so great the last time I needed opinions so I’m polling you all again.
If you follow me on instagram (c’mon it’s fun, let’s be friends!) than you know this past summer this beautiful old door in the most glorious red color just happened to show up on my doorstep.
No, I don’t have an architectual salvage fairy godmother, but I have the next best thing – our friend Josh over at Berghuis Construction. He is the general contractor that built our house and knows how much I love old stuff. So, when he comes across something good from a remodeling job he drops it by my house. I have a whole pile of fabulous old windows from him too (stay tuned cuz I’ve been working on something with them this week).
I was so in love with this door when she first arrived (she just looks like a she right?) but I wasn’t totally sure what to do with her. I actually left her out in the rain and sun for a few months this summer while I tried to decide. Then it struck me, the playroom needed some color!
I enlisted the Mr. and bought some heavy duty bolts that we anchored into the studs. I make that sound so simple when it was in fact a bit of a nightmare, let’s just say a huge solid wood heavy door, 2 people and no power tools in sight made this an interesting project. We actually kidnapped my poor friend’s husband who happened to be walking their dog past our house and asked him to come hold the door up. It’s always fun explaining these things “hey could you help us bolt a door to the wall?”
Anyhoo, it’s totally stuck there, it looks fab, BUT this is where you come in! It has been there for a few months now and I keep going back and forth on whether I should
A. leave it as is..
OR
B. add some fun clips on it and use it as an art display for the kids
OR
C. string fun family photos across it.
I just can’t decide, so help! What would you do?
Oh and PS don’t look thru the window too close, I repainted the walls in here a slightly more grey beige color (see all my paint colors here) and just painted around the door. Not thinking that hello? there’s a window you can totally see the old paint thru oops!
I can’t fully describe the look the Mr. gave me when I innocently suggested we take the door down, so I could paint that square and then put it back up…
let’s just say I think that door will be there for the next 30 years if he has anything to do with it.
Hiya
I would leave some of the panels blank to show what the door looks like and use a couple for family photos using the office clips. Now here’s the thing different from the other suggestions! How about printing off some cool boating signal flags, with the cool bold geometrical design, since you have a nautical feel to your home. Whichever way you go, I know it will be fab since you have done such a great job with the rest of the house :).
Great idea with the boating signal flags, in fact I just made on yesterday that will be on the blog next week! You are reading my mind Pamela :)
I was thinking I was in the minority at first but noticed someone else was thinking the same thing. I too, love your decor style and use your ideas for lots myself but this door on the wall is just not doing it for me. Perhaps it’s because I can’t see the door in full context of the room but it seems to look out of place and a bit odd being hung horizontally rather than how it would be used in reality. Good be just me though!
I was trying to dodge my kids the day I shot this so sorry I don’t have a whole room shot for you! Our playroom is really long and bowling alley-ish so trying to come up with something to fill this wall has always drove me crazy. The door helps fill it up somewhat :)
I seem to be in the minority, but I like the idea of photos.
I like the idea about stringing the art work!
me too!
I would say both I use to hang pictures of my sons work to show pride of what he did in school and family pictures to reflect memories of times shared as family unit which are 2 very important part of a child growing years and they well love it too.
You are so right, kids love to see their artwork displayed! Great ideas everyone!!
I love the pop of color! If you put pictures on it keep it to a minimal. The lines of the door will be covered and then you will
mess with the architectural balance of the door. If you are good at free-handing, you could do something cool with the
window. Whatever, just remember — it is your choice and it is in YOUR home.
Thanks Debbie, I know I don’t want to cover the whole door up so that’s why I’m struggling! Thanks for the vote of confidence to just be me :)
Hmmm…I’d say do kids artwork. Use twine and tiny clothespins to hang them across the door? I think I would tack 3 rows of twine straight across the whole thing.
Oh, and Skippyjon Jones? Funniest book ever.
my name is Skippito Bandito…always get that song in my head :)
I thinking maybe the kids art work because from the picture you already have photos on the other wall. So in the squares on the door some photos,art work and some chalkboard paint here and there with some quotes about life and family. Mmmm, what color for the door border, I like the red.
I’m leaning towards art work too, because right now I had no where to go with it!
I see clothespins painted off white or bright colors, glued on to hang pictures and/or artwork.
LOVE that idea Marcia!
Great pop of color. I’m not sure what I think…I kind of like the family photos idea. Also like it just as it is!
Thanks girl, everyone has so many ideas I may be more lost than before!
I’m loving this door on the wall! I like the idea of putting clips on it and hanging the kids’ artwork. It would look so colorful and cute! You could maybe add some hooks or something and hang cute décor items? Just a suggestion! :) Love the door!
I am a sucker for old doors. last summer while visiting my parents mom and I were eating at a little cafe and they were remolding upstairs. As I was eating I watched them through several old doors in a dumpster. My mom said you want those doors don’t you? Of course I did. I have two of them in my house. One as a headboard and the other leaning against the wall with pictures hung on it. I
Your old door is fabulous. I love the color and the handle. I wouldn’t glue anything to it. If you could find some old office clips and attach them to the frames to display a mixture of family pictures,your children’s art work and other art that would look great. Have fun decorating your door. Can’t wait to see what you come up with.
pooh great rescue!!
haha that should he oooh great rescue, oh auto correct :)
Just looked at door again. Top row: When God closes one door, middle row: He opens a window. Bottom row: clip a picture in each rectangle.
What about using vinyl decals one word per rectangle”when God closes one door, he opens another” in the top eight squares. Or opens a “window” because the little window in the door. Then maybe use little clips to add four pictures across the bottom rectangles. All of the kids or one of each child, one of you & your husband and one of your dog. With the clips you can change out the pictures whenever you like.
oh that could be fun!
I agree with Lisa. Maybe use the bottom row of frames as chalkboards for little messages to the kids. Like, No SchoolToday! The Day of the week, a drawing of what the weather is like today. Then, I would cover a few of the frames with scrapbook paper or other media in between pics of the kids. I’ll start thinking of what to do with the windows! Good Luck!
you all are awesome, I may consult you on everything from now on :)
I’m nuts about everything you do, but this door on the wall is just not doing it for me. The color is great though.
I would use it to display your children’s art work. I love the splash of color it gives the room and think giving it a purpose makes sense. :)
I like the idea of it serving a purpose too!
Have you asked Buddy? Sometimes Hubby’s can’t appreciate the sheer genius we girls have. I think the suggestions the girls have already posted are excellent. I’ll stay tuned to what you do next — also with the windows :-)
ha ha ha that made me laugh out loud, Buddy would probably say put it on the ground so he can gnaw on it :)
Maybe paint a few of the frames with either chalkboard/whiteboard/magnetic paint paint so they can be “interactive” (I did chalkboard-magnetic on mine and left little sketches/messages/ “letter of the day” and nature find surprises for the kids to see) while the other frames employ clips to hold a mix of your precious family pics and art from the kiddos? Just a thought! :-) The door is wonderful and your thoughtful friend is a GEM!!
The door panels are shaped like frames..maybe adding favorite photos/artwork on the panels. They would have to be the same size (interior panel)
That was my first thought also!