My first painting project of the year was one that had been on my list ever since we painted our kitchen white last summer. There needed to be some contrast somewhere, so I chose the pantry doors. Here’s what they looked like before:
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And, after three coats (why do doors absorb so much paint?), here they are now:
Of course, I used my favorite charcoal gray (the same I used on the back of the open shelving here).
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if the rest of our doors were the same color. (Well, I’d still leave the green one for fun.)
Speaking of kitchens, be prepared for several posts to come on quick updates for this area. I’ve decided that if I’m going to be spending half of my life here, I might as well be happy about what I’m looking at.

See more great before & after project pictures here:










The paint color you selected really compliments your countertop. A perfect color selection and it adds so much to your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteLoving the painted doors! Getting ready to paint my interior front door black, but I am loving the dark charcoal too! I even like the brass hardware with it now! Would love to hear of your source for your kitchen rugs. I am in the market for some new ones that won't show a lot of "stuff", are durable, yet cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
www.lifelovelarson.blogspot.com
I ordered ours from Ballard Designs. It's an outdoor rug and so far, has soaked up pretty much everything.
DeleteI love the charcoal gray and it goes so well with the gold doorknobs. I can't wait to see your kitchen update!
ReplyDeleteLOVE! What a great update. The light is perfection too. It's amazing what a little paint can do!
ReplyDeleteSarah
They look great!!! Just like brand new doors :) Also love the chevron rug in your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteXo-L
brunchwithlaura.blogspot.com
(Formerly Simply Lowcountry)
Emily - love the doors. All of our interior doors in the house are painted Urbane Bronze - it has been over a year & I never tire of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of getting on the "paint one door a month" plan. I would love it, too, I'm sure.
DeleteOooh I like it!!! We have similar cabinets and let me tell you I am so happy to see someone who has not painted them white :D The bronze color is just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteLove the door, especially with the brass hardware.
ReplyDeleteOh, I love it! I've been thinking about painting my pantry door but I couldn't decide on a color. This may be it. I love Shoji White, too. It's in my powder room.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I just painted both sets of our french doors for the hubby's office (our former front living room) black and love the look. It makes me think about painting the powder room and pantry door black too, less dirt showing up and kind of a nice dramatic look. Although both of the insides of my exterior doors are already black for the same reason, they look clean all the time. Looking forward to seeing what you do in here!
ReplyDeleteLove it! I think the island would look great painted that same color.
ReplyDeleteAll of the interior doors on my first floor are painted BM Bittersweet Chocolate. I changed the doorknob last week and of course it left some white marks. I will now be on a mission to repaint all the doors (its been several years). What kind of paint (finish) did you use, and how hard was it? (honestly)
ReplyDeleteNot hard at all, just took several coats. The paint I had here was a satin finish so that's what I used :)
DeleteGreat simple update!
ReplyDeleteI love the contrast of the Urbane Bronze (great color!), and you're white walls. Very polished. I can't wait for the kitchen updates you'll be posting. Updates in my kitchen seem to be low on "the list", but you're inspiring me to bump them up ASAP! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteTiina
The doors look great! I've pondered the same in my house but with black. I have a lot of gray walls so I think charcoal might be too much gray (is there such a thing?).
ReplyDeleteCarrie
carrie@neatsmart.com
What a difference! Looks great!
ReplyDeleteThe pantry doors look great! Your appliances are black as well so it coordinates soo nicely! You kitchen is pretty. I love the chevron mat.
ReplyDeleteAnna
We did some remodeling to our farm house a couple years ago, but the doors are unpainted because I couldn't decide what color I wanted .... I think the Urbane Bronze may be just the ticket! Thanks, Emily!
ReplyDeleteNicole
www.nicoleodettedesigns.wordpress.com
What a dramatic difference some colour makes on the door. I have been contemplating painting all our main floor doors in a charcoal. You may have convinced me. It just looks so much more "designed" than a white door.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a great eye, Emily! I love everything you do and I LOVE going to your blog everyday for awesome inspiration...thank you! Happy New Year ;)
ReplyDeleteAmazing! It's funny I looked at that photo many times with the light (love it) and never noticed the doors. They look fantastic painted that color!
ReplyDeleteLooks great Emily! I really like the look of light walls and darker painted doors. We did this in our cabin with SW Relaxed Khaki and the doors in SW Superior Bronze...love it!(I need to post some pics!) Shoji White and Urbane Bronze are two of my other favorites.
ReplyDeleteOh I love the paint color on the door, and the green one too! It adds so much warmth to that area of the kitchen and goes well with what you already have going there. I've been contemplating painting all our doors dark, too, but it's taking me forevah to make that commitment for what ever reason! :)
ReplyDeleteNice! I'm looking at the doors in my house wondering why they are white? My pantry is very wide, double doors, probably 6 ft. I'm not sure how much I want to feature them. Something else to add to my "think about list".
ReplyDeleteThis is random, but it's on the above list. I'm thinking about painting the ceilings, someone told me to request quarter tint. Do you think it makes rooms seem bigger/taller to paint the ceilings. The moulding seems to be the same as you have.
I think it depends on the color. I think a darker color probably would make the room seem smaller but cozier, while a lighter color would open things up. Anybody else have experience/advice?
DeleteLove the color Emily!
ReplyDeleteI'm loving black doors. I saw them posted on another blog as well (Pawleys Island Posh). They look so polished. I would love to paint them black in the kitchen, but everything is currently white in my kitchen - floor, cabinets, countertops... I'm worried they will look out of place. I guess a cute rug and some accessories could pull it together... maybe?
ReplyDeleteLooks great, Emily! We've been wanting to paint all of our interior doors...UGH! It's on the list. I think I might take it one door at a time so I don't go nuts! xo Kristin
ReplyDeleteVery nice, Emily! The contrast is perfect. I just used a bit of Urbane Bronze myself, I really like the color!
ReplyDeleteso glad you posted this. planning on doing this too. did you use a primer or just slap on the paint? brush or roller?
ReplyDeleteOf course, I just started painting :) No prep time around here.
DeletePS--I used a brush. Took 3 coats and could've probably used a fourth.
Deletegreat update and tie in to the dark appliances too!
ReplyDeleteLove the color of your pantry doors! Also, I was wondering if you could tell me where you found the pendant light over your island. I recently saw one like that, with an Edison lightbulb, in a magazine; but they didn't list the vendor in the Resource section. I see a lot of them that are similar; but they don't have the slight taper as the one you have. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIt's the one from Ballard Designs.
Deletenice! gotta love a black door. I love that you have different colro doors throughout your interior.
ReplyDeleteLove it! I painted three doors in our house a nice glossy black- really changes up the look of a room.
ReplyDeletethat is my front door color..love urbane bronze..it looks great!
ReplyDeleteDo you plan to change the hardware?
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ReplyDeleteEmily, is that the Ballard indoor/outdoor rug in your kitchen? I've been thinking about getting the gray one for my entry. How do you like it? Does it clean well?
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous color! I jotted it down to show the husband for our upstairs landing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiration :)
They look so great! I love the gold hardware against the grey. Looking forward to seeing more fun updates!
ReplyDeleteThe doors look great! I think doors take so much paint because people forget to paint them! I have the same thing with just making my off-white doors white in my house!
ReplyDeletewww.wivesunscripted.com
Thanks Emily for giving me the resourse for your pendant light.
ReplyDeleteOkay -- that's it -- I'm using your color on some doors this year! One of my House Goals (posted yesterday I think) was to repaint my interior front doors...the black is just too cold. Urbane Bronze will be perfect. And you always choose the best colors. Now, to decide if I take other doors down with it!!?? (like my LR back door, on the wall of windows...also pictured in my post) #hint #freedesignadvice #itsnotlikeyourebusy
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ReplyDeleteEmily...just specked a kitchen with your same cabinets. I actually advised them not to paint white! Doing walls white, painting the island white and doing gray cesarstone countertops. Using modern chrome pulls!!! AND......painting railing and front door Urbane Bronze! Thanks for giving me inspiration :)
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ReplyDeleteLove the Urbane Bronze doors. I painted my interior, builder grade doors year before last - throughout the house - and love them. I started downstairs and painted them a flat black that is a little bit charcoal- y and then upstairs I got inspired (I think) and painted them with chalkboard paint! I numbered the doors and write messages to my daughter and her friends when they come home from college!! They love it and it is a fun little twist for upstairs. I can see younger children really loving the chalkboard room doors!! I am keeping the Urbane Bronze in mind for another project!! Marcie
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ReplyDeleteEmily , what is the color on your green door and who is the company that makes it please....thank you
ReplyDeleteHere you go: http://emilyaclark.blogspot.com/2012/09/our-yellow-door-goes-green.html
DeleteThank you so much
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