With our major home renovation on the horizon—removing the kitchen bar and the wall between the living and dining rooms—we're making transformative choices. As shared in our kitchen upgrade post, we're refreshing spaces thoughtfully. The doors needed attention too. I began refurbishing the old ones, but after careful consideration, we chose a fresh approach.
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A few months back, I couldn't stand the dated brown doors anymore. Craving a modern vibe, I started painting them black—even knowing renovation might bring changes. It was impulsive, but seeing that old brown vanish felt rewarding.
I've painted four doors in the kitchen, hall, and utility room. Sanding, filling, and painting took effort, but the results are striking. They look sharper already, though sleek black door handles would elevate the industrial edge.
Want to refresh your old doors? Degrease thoroughly with a product like Monastery Pride. Sand smooth, repair damage with two-component wood filler, sand again, apply primer, then two coats of paint. They'll look renewed and durable.
Last week, we pivoted to steel doors for their bold black industrial style. Steel-look alternatives are attractive and pair well with premium fittings, but they didn't suit our setup.
Our existing frames are steel with hardwood inserts (now black-painted). Steel-look doors won't fit, requiring new frames. With walls coming down anyway, we're adding one steel pivot door (with frame) and one sliding door (frameless). Budget keeps it to essentials—not everywhere yet.
Painting those doors black now feels premature for the replaced ones. Keeps me busy, but selling them painted might be tough—unlike in natural wood.
Thankfully, others like the toilet door can stay. It just needs a black fitting over the shiny lock. Modern sleek handle or rustic like De Oude Deurklink? What suits a toilet door with that beveled edge best?
It's ironic—many add wood panels for a 1930s look, yet I'm modernizing. I enjoyed the black doors for months and still do amid renovation delays. At least the brown is gone—for now.
