idea notebook
Front Door Face-lifts in a Flash! Give your house curb appeal with these fast fixes.
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When Meg and Michael Hall moved to their Connecticut neighborhood, they were disappointed to find that not a single home on the street stood out—including their own. “The houses were sweet, simple, and plain,” says Meg. Pricey interior renovations had depleted the couple’s already slim budget, so these new kids on the block searched for affordable accessories to create an eye-catching English country style. In a single Sunday afternoon, the Halls removed a storm door, painted the drab portal behind it a bold red, and added refined fixtures to complete the welcoming scene. “Now when I pull up to my house,” says Meg, “I’m proud to say I live there.”
Light fixtures Though pricey, these jaunty lamps are made of durable commercialgrade aluminum. ($217 each; barn lightelectric.com)
Stainless An imprinted leather label brings the warmth of saddlery to polished steel. ($74; mailbox works.com)
Street number Why waste time etching glass when you can rub on and peel off a vinyl adhesive? ($40; fastsigns .com for stores)
Knocker Let this sly brass fox, in an aged verdigris finish, end your hunt for a playful way to greet guests. ($24; anthropologie.com)
Mat Imports Unlimited’s coir number resembles Burberry’s iconic plaid for a fraction of the cost. ($23.95; at Orchard Nursery of Lafayette, 925-284-4474)
Planters Bright-orange holders add an extra punch of color to the once-stale stoop. ($78 each; chiasso.com)
Paint This Heritage Red hue manages to suggest both farm tractors and elegant riding coats. ($56.99 per gallon; benjamin moore.com for stores)
Turn the page! Check out more front-door makeover themes.
70 . countryliving.c om . November 2009
Written by Jourdan Crouch
Photogr aphs by (Before and after) wendell t. webber; (knocker, mat, stainless) addie Juell/Studio D
B e for e
idea notebook
Plus: Three other standout styles—find the one that knocker
Garden motif Backed with rubber and printed using fade-resistant ink, this sturdy rug holds up to foot traffic and still looks pretty. ($38; chiasso.com)
Skeleton key Unlock the old-world appeal of this cast-iron shape, covered in a rust-resistant finish that’ll withstand any storm. ($69; rensup.com)
Striped Keep muddy soles in line with Imports Unlimited’s symmetrical model, made of handwoven coir. ($38; at Mod Cottage, 302-227-7277)
Ring This style once adorned medieval church doors; hang up your own, in solid brass finished with iron patina. ($40; restoration hardware.com)
Silhouette Unica Home’s hopping hare invites guests to admire its form— cut extra long for double doors—before heading inside. ($176; unicahome.com)
Deer head Talk about getting bang for your buck! A brass stag all but guarantees a strong design statement. ($48; iron accents.com)
house numbers
Handcrafted Artist Lisa Young sketches and finishes these sheetmetal numerals at her Seattle studio. ($16 each; floppingfish.com)
Vinyl Even the most fickle decorators will want to commit to these fireengine red numbers that easily peel off. ($23 for set; wonderfulgraffiti.com)
Faux bois These pewter numerals— cast to resemble vines and sticks of wood—impart fairy-tale romance. ($12.60 each; atlashomewares.com)
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Photogr aphs by (garden motif, silhouette, skeleton key, vinyl, locked) addie juell/studio d; (handcr afted, the steal) k arl juengel/studio D; (scalloped) l ar a robby/studio d; (paint) ben goldstein/studio d
Up dat e d R u st i c
c l a ss i c w i t h a t w i st
f e m i n i n e f o lk
d o o r m at
best suits your home. m a i l b ox
Pa i n t co l o r
Scalloped This aluminum fixture— with its gooseneck arm and girlish frilled shade—gets the green light. ($178; barnlightelectric.com)
The steal We energized this once-black Victorian-era reproduction with forestcolored spray paint. ($17.79; houseofantique hardware.com)
Carolina plum Pale lavender delivers the sweetness of pink—minus the saccharine undertones. ($56.99 per gallon; benjaminmoore.com for stores)
Caged A cross between a homey lantern and a utility bulb, Dabmar’s aluminum model beckons visitors with its warm glow. ($76; arcadianlighting.com)
Locked The main compartment keeps letters safe, while an open-sided bottom shelf corrals bulky newspapers. ($58; chiasso.com)
Chicago blues Turn up the volume on a primary palette with a fresh hit of cornflower. ($56.99 per gallon; benjaminmoore.com for stores)
Industrial Not only is this nickel-plated number charming (it reminds us of catching fireflies in a jar), it’s also darn cheap. ($22; craftmade.com for stores)
The splurge Like a woodcut—only more weatherproof—this steel pinecone pattern puts a new spin on an old craft. ($175; blink manufacturing .com)
Pumpkin spice A bright foil for this theme’s natural shades, golden orange winks at hunters’ safety vests. ($56.99 per gallon; benjaminmoore.com for stores)
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