Q and A~The Details On My Black Painted Doors


Happy Monday! Some of the most frequently asked questions I receive have to do with my black interior doors.  It's been a couple years since I took on the task of painting them, but I thought a post addressing the most common questions could still be helpful.  





Q: Did you paint every door in your home?
A: When we moved into our home, it was a brand new builder spec.  The interior doors were primed and painted white.  To add drama and interest, I painted every door on the first level black (including closets and the pantry).  

Q: Did you remove the doors prior to painting them?
A: I did not remove the doors prior to painting.  This was a task I took on myself while my husband was out of town.  Removing and replacing doors can be tricky and definitely requires two people.  I removed the door knobs but left all other hardware in tact while painting.

Q: What paint finish did you use?
A: I used black latex interior paint in a satin finish.  Using a roller and a high quality paint brush, I applied three coats of black paint to all sides of each door.  I started using the color "Ace of Spades".  It looked great, however, during this process, I stumbled upon the black paint of my dreams, "Silhouette" by Martha Stewart so, I started over.  Silhouette is a deep, true black. 

Q: Did you prime the doors prior to painting?
A: It's always a good idea to spot test before tackling this project.  Most of the time, I would prime prior to painting.  In this case, I knew the doors were originally primed and painted with chalky, flat latex products, therefore I had no worries about the new paint adhering.  I did not use primer.  If your doors have ever been painted with glossy paint or oil-based enamel, they will require special treatment.  Spot checking with a paint sample in an inconspicuous area will help you determine this.

Q: In an active house full of kids, how has the finish lasted?
A:  The finish has held up great.  The pantry door (the door that gets the most action in our house) has been nicked a couple times.  I keep a sample of paint handy for touch ups.   Other than that, I have had no issues with chipping.  If anything, the black finish helps hide the dirty little handprints that used to appear everywhere.   


I hope that helps you decide if this project is right for you. 
If you have addtional questions please feel free to leave them in the comments.  I'll be back this afternoon to answer them! 


*For information on my affordable online design service, please click here. 

© Copyright 2013 The Yellow Cape Cod

32 comments:

  1. We just painted our doors charcoal grey -- love yours too!!

    Jenny
    Www.simcoestreet.blogspot.com

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  2. This couldn't have come at a better time! I want to paint the inside of our front door black this week :) Im not ready to take on the BIG task of all our doors yet! Thanks for sharing.

    I have a question not about doors. I was thinking of purchasing the black verona trestle table from World Market, however I'm concerned about the groves on top. Any thought on if it would be a big crumb catcher or not? I havent seen it in person :( I've seen it on your design board on thought maybe you would know :) Any help would be appreciated greatly. My other option is the Stornas table from Ikea.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Angela, I don't have personal experience living day-to-day with the Verona Table, I just know it's beautiful:) Have fun with your project this weekend! Sarah

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    2. Thanks Sarah! I can't wait to get our door painted :)

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  3. What timing! My husband and I were just talking about painting our interior doors black last night. We already painted the interior of our front door and love it. Our house is an open concept, so you can see the upstairs doors from downstairs. Don't you think I almost have to paint those too since you can see them? If I paint the bedroom doors, then I wonder if I have to paint the bedroom closet doors. Where to stop!?

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    Replies
    1. Open concept homes do make stopping/starting a little tricky. In my case, the second level doors are not visable from the main level. :) Sarah

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  4. I absolutely love this look!
    Do you find it darkens the rooms?
    I do not have a lot of windows and worry it may make rooms too dark.
    Do you mind sharing the clour of white trim you used, and also the complimentary wall colour?
    Thamks so much!

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    Replies
    1. I have a lot of natural light and white woodwork to contrast with the dark doors, therefore they did not make the space feel darker. Here is a trick, cover your doors with black plastic garbage bags, it will give you an idea of how the black paint will look in your home. The trim paint color is "Tailors Chalk" by Martha Stewart and the wall color is "Coir" which has been discountinued ("Heath" is very similar). Best, Sarah

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  5. I absolutey love this!
    Do you find it makes the rooms look darker?
    I don't have a lot of windows and worry it may look too dark.
    Do you mind sharing the colour of the white you used for the trim and also your complimenrary wall colour?
    Thanks so much!

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    Replies
    1. I have a lot of natural light and white woodwork to contrast with the dark doors, therefore they did not make the space feel darker. Here is a trick, cover your doors with black plastic garbage bags, it will give you an idea of how the black paint will look in your home. The trim paint color is "Tailors Chalk" by Martha Stewart and the wall color is "Coir" which has been discountinued ("Heath" is very similar). Best, Sarah

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  6. I think the black doors look great. But, I have a question for you. When we moved into our typical building spec home 19 years ago. We spent a ton of money to have all of the baseboards and trim on the main floor replaced with custom oak trim. The baseboards are about 6-8 inches high. They are stained a medium to dark oak color. I love them and do not want to paint them white like the current trend. So, how do you think black doors would look with medium to dark oak trim?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Joy, There are many variables to consider before making a specific design recommendation. Generally speaking, I think black looks nice with natural wood tones. Oak will not provide the same contrast as white trim, but that doesn't mean it won't look great! Try placing a black plastic garbage bag over your doors for a make-shift visual on how black would look in your space. :) Best, Sarah

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  7. I've pinned your black doors several times--they are just beautiful! We're dealing with 80's builder grade faux oak :( My paint job will be HUGE but worth it. Thanks for this post!

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome, Karli. Have fun with your projects!! Sarah

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  8. I will be painting my doors very soon!!!! Just wondering about your wall color...I was thinking of painting mine grey.
    I also want to paint my cherry color staircase (the only thing brown in my house) would you go with black to match doors or white to match trim???

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    Replies
    1. Hi Shannan, My wall color is "Coir" by Martha Stewart, it has been discountinued but "Heath" is very similar. I can't make a specific design recommendation without seeing your space (there are many variables to consider) however, generally speaking I lean towards matching the trim (white). Best, Sarah

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  9. Thanks for sharing the garbage bag trick! I have been debating between black and white doors for forever and a day. Much appreciated! ;)

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  10. I love the contrast your doors provide. I have a quick question - have you ever had a problem with the paint peeling off your doors? Do you know how to stop that from happening? Thanks for your help.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Courtney, here are my thoughts on that issue: It's always a good idea to spot test before tackling this project. Most of the time, I would prime prior to painting. In this case, I knew the doors were originally primed and painted with chalky, flat latex products, therefore I had no worries about the new paint adhering. I did not use primer. If your doors have ever been painted with glossy paint or oil-based enamel, they will require special treatment. Spot checking with a paint sample in an inconspicuous area will help you determine this.
      Hope that helps! Sarah

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  11. The doors are awesome!!! What a pretty contrast!

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  12. Love your black doors! We have a few, but I think I want to repaint with a different shade...my black seems really cold and flat (even though it's a gloss finish). I'm thinking maybe a deep charcoal...something to give them a big more dimension maybe.

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    Replies
    1. Oooo, deep charcoal sounds pretty. Everything you do is great! Thanks for stoppying by, Cassie.
      ~Sarah

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  13. Love your doors! Did you replace your hardware?

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  14. Do you paint both sides of the doors black? I have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom facing one another in one gray hallway. I can imagine the hallway would look great with the black doors. But how about the view from the inside of the bedroom? Will the "bedroom/bathroom" side also be black against the wall color of the actual room?

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  15. Do you paint both sides of the doors black? I have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom facing one another in one gray hallway. I can imagine the hallway would look great with the black doors. But how about the view from the inside of the bedroom? Will the "bedroom/bathroom" side also be black against the wall color of the actual room?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Do you paint both sides of the doors black? I have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom facing one another in one gray hallway. I can imagine the hallway would look great with the black doors. But how about the view from the inside of the bedroom? Will the "bedroom/bathroom" side also be black against the wall color of the actual room?

    ReplyDelete
  17. Do you paint both sides of the doors black? I have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom facing one another in one gray hallway. I can imagine the hallway would look great with the black doors. But how about the view from the inside of the bedroom? Will the "bedroom/bathroom" side also be black against the wall color of the actual room?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Do you paint both sides of the doors black? I have 2 bedrooms and a bathroom facing one another in one gray hallway. I can imagine the hallway would look great with the black doors. But how about the view from the inside of the bedroom? Will the "bedroom/bathroom" side also be black against the wall color of the actual room?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Your doors are beautiful! Can you tell me what color your door knobs are? It's hard to tell from the picture on my computer. Thank you!

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