Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

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French Doors: Would you paint them?

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The first thing I did this morning before leaving for the third Victoria Magazine photo shoot was to hit up the salvage yard to look for French doors to use as sliders between the kitchen and bedroom. My lucky stars counted I found two pairs, four doors, perfect size! 30 Euros each! Wooden original glass 1900s doors.

 

 

 

I am thinking to have the paint stripped and leaving them natural wood, to match the kitchen beams. What do you think?

Or should I paint them inky blue black like Arnelle suggested? They will close off the kitchen from the bedroom, first floor, no window, hence that is why these have window panes.

 

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At the salvage yard a stack of century old ceiling support boards. Natural stripped wood seems to be singing to me, "I wanna go home." Where or how would I use them?

 

 

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A few hours later I went to Lagnes to my friend Lisa's house where we will be photographing tomorrow.

I am excited to be working with Georgianna Lane.

 

 

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Lucky to spend the night.

 

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One of the views! 

 

Comments

40 responses to “French Doors: Would you paint them?”

  1. Kipper

    I would sand them down and do a light grey wash. If you paint them a color you will be struck with it, repainting multiplane doors is a real pain the patootie. Been there /done that.

    Reply
  2. Jacklynn Lantry

    I would keep them light, making them dark will stop the eye and visually cut up the space. It’s a tiny space, keep the visual flow. Maybe I should come over????:)!

    Reply
  3. Eileen

    Having acquired french doors at a salvage yard for our remodel, the question is are they all made from the same type of wood with similar grain patterns? If not, I recommend a paint or a wash that reduces or covers the differences in grain patterns so a small space isn’t overwhelmed with too many different textures and patterns.

    Reply
  4. Diogenes

    I agree with Jacklynn above. If the walls are white, I would go white for the doors to make them “disappear.”

    Reply
  5. nancy w

    Wow! You get to work with G. Lane. Lucky You. I am sure you both appreciate each other.

    Reply
  6. g

    I always hesitate with an opinion on such matters as it seems everyone has rhe answer – so 1st time offering up my thoughts-I would keep them natural or white or as Yann says a barely there shade- you’ll choose correctly-the spirit will move you and it will be peacefully beautiful! – and I love the name Georgianna Lane -is she English- I sometimes wish instead of Georgeanne my mom had called me Georgianna-so pretty!!

    Reply
  7. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    And by “I went to Lagnes” (which appears to be near Isle-sur-la-Sorgue?) does that me Yann drove you? Or somebody else drove you? Cause that’s too far for you to safely drive yourself, I’m thinking.
    xox
    PS. No opinion on the door finish, just happy for your score and confident in your vision for this place.

    Reply
  8. Lilly

    My vote is for natural wood with maybe a satiny finish.

    Reply
  9. Addie

    What Kipper, Jacklynn and Eileen said…

    Reply
  10. Lana Kloch

    love to be a fly on your wall.. omg.. 30 euros each for 4 doors… your imagination is boundless.. so happy victoria is still photographing there..
    thanks for sharing the progress..
    love,
    lana
    may try to send the package again, since it doesn’t look like you’ll be home soon.. she says sighing

    Reply
  11. Ali

    I love all the comments….wish we could all meet.
    Ali

    Reply
  12. Jennifer Phillipps

    Given all the feedback before me, it seems there is enough to go by, but my 5c worth, is that if the doors are all the same sort of wood and age, then stripping and rubbing with a natural wax/polyurethane would be lovely. Paint them if they turn out to not look so good natural, but I for one think the wood adds a nice warmth to a space, especially if the walls are painted in a neutral colour, the wood adds warmth. Look forward to seeing them in-situ as well.

    Reply
  13. Our French Oasis

    I would definitely strip them down and then give them a pale greyish wash, I would definitely keep them light, the subtle muted colours of the south.

    Reply
  14. Julia Thelen

    Artistically speaking, a dark color amidst light colors (and vice-versa) will automatically draw the eye to it, and continue to do so.
    Have you ever had a dark smudge on one of lenses of your glasses? Know you know what I mean.
    My advice is to stay with natural wood, or cérusé. I just finished doing a sideboard, and I’m pleased with the result.

    Reply
  15. Kiki

    strip & see
    if in doubt after a while (light light light!!!), give them a lime wash or two before deciding on more. I did that with our old & frankly poorly executed but sturdy and indestructible stairs – it took me ages to find the equivalent paint en français…. If you need to know, I’ll be happy to rumage in my basement to find them!
    (sorry, haven’t read any comments, so apologies if I say the same as all the others)

    Reply
  16. Dd

    I painted mine to match t trim on my woodwork. I had a pair made into a kitchen cabinet and painted that to match t other cabinets. It made a nice floor to ceiling China cupboard.
    When will your house be in Victoria?

    Reply
  17. Lorna

    I would go with wood but if you do paint them I think a white or light color would be the best. I love – love French doors. Thanks for sharing your beautiful adventure. I know whatever you decide it will be beautiful.

    Reply
  18. g

    I think that sometimes too ! such a nice comment.

    Reply
  19. Terri N Texas

    I agree – strip & see. If the wood looks good, clear sealer. If it doesn’t, very light wash of the color of your choice & then a clear sealer. Great find by the way!

    Reply
  20. carol

    Strip or wash/paint but I personally wouldn’t go dark . By the way, they are gorgeous !!!

    Reply
  21. Amylia

    I love them! I would paint them perhaps a crisp white color, but you will know what to do, and if you don’t like the color, it’s only paint!

    Reply
  22. Arnelle

    Hey….it’s opinon.com here..if you decide to do the end wall the accent inky blue.. then the door in the wall should be the same color..it will then read as this wonderful creative and unusual “window/door/wall”.
    I was taught that dark recedes giving the sense of more space. This will also add a sense of mystery on that side of the room. (think computer screen borders..TV’s…iphones etc.)
    If the other walls are white I would also agree with others to do a subtle grey wash. If the wood does not take the wash well then paint them white…..I will be there in May!

    Reply
  23. Janet Eiffel

    If you all come to my house
    I’ll serve tea under the
    rose arbor.

    Reply
  24. g

    Ms Eiffel-where and when I am in then we could come to my house on the New Jersey shore-it is little but what is space among like minded people-I do not have much confidence in my cooking so TAKE OUT IT IS! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could!

    Reply
  25. Tara

    Hi, Corey!
    I’d leave those doors natural. I think for the space you’re working with and just the feel of Cassis, natural will suit best.
    Enjoy!

    Reply
  26. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh gee that is a good point. I assume they are the same wood and grain, as they came out of the same home from the dining room. I will soon find out. Thank you for making me aware of that fact to think about in the future.

    Reply
  27. Tongue in Cheek

    “If” is the big question.

    Reply
  28. Tongue in Cheek

    I am vvvvvv fortunate.

    Reply
  29. Tongue in Cheek

    Georgianne I call you G, don’t go changing on me 😉

    Reply
  30. Tongue in Cheek

    Observation is yours!!! Yann drove me, and will pick me up. The saint of a man!

    Reply
  31. Tongue in Cheek

    Oh I love this a conversation between all you! Yes let’s have tea and wine too!!

    Reply
  32. Tongue in Cheek

    Thank you. I love each and every comment, how they toss and turn and bob me up and down, as if I were on a little boat on the sea. Where will I go, what direction will I take?

    Reply
  33. Tongue in Cheek

    Smudge on your glass, I liked that!
    Natural wood, or cérusé, I just learned that word yesterday, and you wrote it today. Funny how that works.

    Reply
  34. Tongue in Cheek

    🙂 Arnelle, my friend Lisa, who’s home we photographed today, says inky black too. We had a long conversation about what you said, she is in the same boat as you. May come fast.

    Reply
  35. Sharon Nicholes

    Ok you had me at French doors, wine and tea! You know if you don’t like the end result, you can send them to me? Lol. I vote natural.

    Reply
  36. Diogenes

    Even if you go with a color on the walls, the white will make a nice, light contrast on the doors. 😉

    Reply
  37. Marilyn

    The doors are wonderful. I would leave them natural. So glad you are having fun.

    Reply
  38. g

    never– g it is and my name comes from grandpop George grandmom Anne-all ten letters Georgeanne-family history if you will-

    Reply
  39. Judi Ryba

    Hi Corey: well we are all of the same opinion, liked minds. I would white wash the natural wood with a little Annie Sloan or use a lime wax. If you need help I am free all summer. LOL

    Reply
  40. Franca Bollo

    Listen to Gene (that’s what I call Diogenes cuz we’re that close). He knows whereof he writes.

    Reply

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