special request -your advice


my heart skips a beat for old, stripped and scrubbed interior doors like these...

via my scandinavian retreat

they add so much character to these spaces...





along with my master bath re-do (still going on, folks...) we're changing it up in our bedroom. I had taken down our bi-fold closet doors to replace them with new solid paneled doors. Then we lucked up on these at a salvage yard... 


old heart pine doors with a little paint still on,
mostly white with a little gray


Just when I thought we'd never find what we wanted - there they were. And the pair was less than the cost of one new door. I'm crazy about the outline of the old handle hardware - one oval and one rectangle.

Now, my dilemma. I kinda like a little paint still on. What's a girl to do...keep the paint or take it off entirely?

(My wall color is benjamin moore horizon.)

What do you think?

62 comments:

Ann said...

I'm no expert...

but IMHO I would take the paint off completely.

Ann said...

I'm no expert...

but IMHO I would take the paint off completely.

vintageandart said...

Perfect in their imperfection,l'd say....keep the paint on.

Tricia Rose Rough Linen said...

You fell in love with them as they are, so I would say keep the paint. Think how much effort you'd have to go to to add character if they had been scraped!

Acquired Objects said...

I'm with you Donna love old scrubbed doors. Personally I would take the rest of the paint off right now it seems like a job half done with the paint still on. To me it's either on or off and I say take it off! (You do know you aren't going to get everyone to agree here right?)

Anonymous said...

Keep the paint on. After awhile if you change your mind you can take the paint off. But it doesn't work the other way.

anita said...

I love these doors, Donna!

I say leave the paint for now -- if you ever tire of it, you can remove it; but you can never get it back on!

Emma Kate at Paint and Style said...

Keep the splotches of paint and do a wash with diluted annie sloan paint over the whole thing to make the original splotches less of a contrast. And play with clear and dark waxes over the top. Delicious doors....

Leith said...

If you like the paint, leave it on. You can live with it for a while and change your mind later. You might consider sanding lightly first if the paint is flaky.

Lisa said...

paint off....no qustion about it..

Lisa said...

take the paint off fur sure...they will fantastic....no question about it

J said...

On...live with them for a while 'in situ'; you can always remove the paint later if your good sense tells you to. j

helen tilston said...

I think I agree with Leith, give the paint a slight sanding to soften the edges and reduce the large bold shapes.

Helen xx

Karena said...

Donna I love these doors! I say take the paint off, even bleaching them out a bit, gorgeous!!

xoxo
Karena

Art by Karena

the gardener's cottage said...

my bf has doors like this throughout her home and they look fantastic. she thought she'd leave the paint on for awhile and then when she got tired of it she'd remove it but that was 7 yrs ago and she still loves them.

Lori @ Katies Rose Cottage Designs said...

I love them just the way they are! I say leave the paint on ~

for the love of a house said...

hi Donna! The doors are wonderful- yay you! I think they would look great either way, so I guess I would ask: How do they (with the paint) look in the room with everything else? Since you seem to like the paint I say, install them with it on and you can always take it off later! That's how we rocknroll here, because you can't unring that bell;)

let us know what you decide!
xojoan

A Gift Wrapped Life said...

Lucky you for finding these doors! Hang them and it will answer itself? XO

stina sæm said...

They are gorgeos... just the way they are. I agree with most of above, leave it and you can always take it of later.

Rico said...

I'm with the "leave it on" crowd. You can always take it off later but you can't put it back on again. Live with them for a while and if it bothers you, you've got another project! Win, win.

I also like Emma Kate's suggestion, or some version of that idea.

lc said...

dont even think of touching that paint!...just remember - once you touch it you cant go back?
I say hang them, live with and enjoy them and let them soak into the space...

lc said...

dont even think of touching the paint!
once you touch them you cant go back...I say hang them and live with them for awhile and enjoy them as they are! you may decide to change them completely or you may decide they are perfect just as they are (as just as they hit you the minute you saw them!)

Daniel Shigo said...

Paint off and wax them lightly. The grain of the wood will be highlighted and you will see the 'lines' of the doors. The contrast of the hardware is very nice. Nice going.

Beach Coast Style said...

I like the paint on and then later if you choose to paint them you have the option.

mb said...

I say paint off. Too distracting. None of the examples you showed had paint on them... so my guess is that you really like the stripped down look.
Can't wait to see what you do.

mb from Dallas

amanda said...

I love the natural wood doors - very restoration hardware-esque.

Oh I like the paint on the doors, and you could always remove it later if you left it on.. but I would have such a hard time deciding too.

Unknown said...

Mmmm... well, The door itself is already a member of the rustic family. Taking the paint off would make it rustic + refined, so I guess you choose guage just how polished your want your room to be. Leaving the paint on isn't horrible, but it would be making a sure statement! Cant't wait to read/see what your decide!

Anonymous said...

Leave it on if you are going for a more rustic look, but if you are going for a more contemporary look you should get it off.

Hi, I'm Priscilla said...

Gorgeous doors, I say keep the paint on. You might regret it later, if you aren't sure about it now. They give a lot of character to a space just the way they are. Definitely invest on some beautiful hardware to make them even more gorgeous.

terrybrowder@saylesranch.com said...

I say a whole lot depends on the room, the other furniture and finishes in that room, etc. There is no right or wrong here, but all the suggestions above are good. But....sometimes I try to ask myself, what isn't obvious that I am missing. What is another option, yet that I haven't thought of. What else in the room might give a clue to that?

Anonymous said...

I would take the paint off for the bare wood look or get
some Annie Sloan paint and add some gray or white
paint to what you already have....sanding to let the wood show through.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely leave it on.....you can always take it off if you don't like it after the walls are painted and the room is finished out.

Splendid Market said...

Leave the paint on, they are gorgeous. I would have them waxed as well. But, if you are uncertain, don't wax them, so you know you can easily remove the paint if you change your mind later.

Marlenda said...

If you like them with the paint on, I say leave it on. If you change your mind, you can always remove it. Go with what your heart is telling you - it's your "nest" and you should enjoy it!

bluehydrangea said...

Love them!! Leave the paint on!!

designchic said...

I'd take it off, especially when you see how gorgeous the images you posted are. What a find!

Victoria said...

Hi, Donna, I think unless the room is very rustic, I would take the paint off. It would have the look of antiquity while still looking refined -- more like the other examples you were attracted to in the first place.
Best...Victoria

Mona Thompson Providence Ltd. said...

I think they are wonderful the way they are but it completely depends on the style of your house and where you are taking that. The paint makes them look more country or cottage. Paint off looks more sophisticated and European. Not that those lines don't cross...but most of the images you showed were bare wood doors. Without knowing your current surroundings, I'm saying paint off.

Brandi@ Flights of Whimsy said...

KEEP IT! The faded worn in look is probably what you're liking and you'd have to hire an artist to recreate that look of years of wear. And if you put them up and change your mind, THEN repaint. If you start off by stripping them you will never get this look back. Congrats on the find, they are incredible!

lisaroy said...

I love the paint on so I agree with some of the others and say to try them out as is and decide later :)

farandnear said...

Normally I would say leave them but for some reason in this case, I'm inclined to say strip them - it may be because of the examples you've shown but I think stripped with your wall color will be divine! What an awesome find, Donna. Don't you just love when that happens? Oh, and I'm happy to report I did nothing but play on my trip. No work whatsoever. :) Have a wonderful weekend! xo

Yaya, Cindy and Tara said...

I'm with the paint off crowd. I've been following your blog for quite a while and the images you choose to share are sophisticted.... so I'm thinking that is more your style.... character with sophistication.

My Notting Hill said...

I would leave the paint on for the first month - after that you'll know in your gut if you want to completely remove the paint. I don't think it's that hard to take them off their hinges so it's doable. Maybe you'll end up stripping it down but this way you'll never wonder...

Other note - adore the images you chose.

Tobe | BIA said...

if i could just have a little bit of that luck... love these! i'm all for the trial run with it on. i know that might require some work later, but at least you won't regret the immediate decision to strip the paint.

ox

Unknown said...

Oh, I would love it the way you found them aged to perfection!

Anonymous said...

I'm with "My Notting Hill". Even if you do eventually decide to strip them, you'll have had your cake AND eaten it too! Debra

Naomi said...

Gorgeous doors! I love the door handle hardware. They look beautiful as is, but I would strip them in part because crumbling lead based paint isn't so sexy, especially if you have children or if children visit you.

Hey Laurel NM said...

Ok, so you totally inspired me. I must scrub and strip some doors in my house. There are 8, hmmm, now which one to start with.

Anyway, paint on or off, you can't go wrong, those doors are amazing.

Since they replace bifold doors, have you thought of using barn hardware and hanging them so they slide over the top?

Enjoy.
debi@personalityispreferred

24 Corners said...

I think I'd take the paint off. If there was more of it (like the one's Brock showed), then I'd be tempted...very tempted, to leave it. Once up though, maybe the larger swaths of chipped paint could look very artistic in themselves...yes, quite a delima.
What has your very tasteful 'gut' been telling you??
xo J~

Sami Pat said...

Paint off! The remnants that are there have no redemption..especially the second door. I'm not against weathered paint, but what is left here is more unfortunate than appealing. Of course, a consideration is that the color under those big blotches may need some touching up.
This is the view from...

Sami @ Pontifical.s Porch

Susan said...

I would take the paint off because most of the doors you loved had no paint. I think you will be happier that way.

JWC said...

I agree, I would leave the paint on for now, and then remove it later if you decide it doesn't work.
However, I do think they look a little half way done as is... like you started to remove the paint and then gave up. I would take Emma Kate's advice and maybe attempt to add to it and decrease the contrast between the paint and wood.

red ticking said...

trust your heart... you will know what works... xoxo

Pamela said...

Paint off. Way too trendy and takes the sophistication down a notch or two. Paint off is timeless.

Roberta said...

Great find! I would lightly sand them to remove flaking paint and apply wax. Beautiful!

Anonymous said...

I say leave it on, and hang them just as they are!
I love them!!! Better than any new door, ever!

So nice to meet you!

Ciao Bella!


CREATIVE CARMELINA

Charlotta Ward said...

Hi darling,

The doors are stunning and I too love the shadow marks from previous owners. So much history and soul..!

I agree with the majority of comments above. Keep the paint on for now and allow a little time before you make your final decision.

Can't wait to see them in situ.

xx Charlotta

rachel @ Just a Touch of Gray said...

First of all, those doors are AMAZING! I say leave the paint on then wait until the rest of the room transforms. I bet at the end the decision will be clear.

Ahhh, I'm getting excited to see what you have up your sleeve!

Sarah Greenman said...

I love the paint and I'd keep it on. But you know me, I love everything old and distressed. Plus, I'm lazy.

SHERRY HART said...

Whoa...how did I miss this???? Leave...like everyone said...you can always sand it off later...God, I want those!

Anonymous said...

There is a line between old and clasically aged. You want classically aged and that means you gotta clean them up. I would not strip them but I would sand away the dirt and grim and sand lightly over the paint until some of it is still there. One thing I would strongly consider is "aged" framing around the door. The old doors look sort of like an after thought when the framing doesn't match, but that is just my opinion. I like old doors too. Ann

Christine said...

Just found you and must say I would have left the paint on. What did you end up doing?