When looking at homes, many people don’t generally envision what their “dream front door” looks like, I often did, and was beyond anxious and eager to research and find the perfect front door for our new home.

The previous front door had to be replaced mostly due to the sill (aka the piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway) being completely rotted, and in addition, did not fit the overall style of our home. Generally, a front door is not something new home-owners tend to replace immediately; however it was uncovered during inspection so my word of advice would be to check this when looking at homes. There was bounce to the sill and to the floor when we first entered the house, like it was soggy.

Below you’ll see a before picture of the door (and house), as well as pictures showing the replacement of a few joists and plywood boards before the new door was installed (due to the discovery of carpenter ants living rent-free - oh the joys of owning a home!). Last but not least, you’ll see a picture showcasing our new door, sidelights & hardware…what do you think?

LINKS

Door - Jeld-wen Smooth-Pro Fiberglass All Panel Exterior Door - 2 Panel Square Top

Sidelight - Jeld-wen Smooth-Pro Fiberglass - Sidelight Full View - Clear (no decorative glass)

I custom-ordered the door and sidelight combo from Friend Lumber in Hudson, NH.

Exterior Handleset - Schlage F58CEN622 Century Single Cylinder Exterior Entrance Handleset from the F-Series in Matte Black

You will need to configure this with an interior handle

Interior Handle - Schlage F59-LAT Latitude Single Cylinder Interior Pack in Matte Black

New plywood flooring and flashing tape to protect area by door opening

New plywood boards - exterior view under the siding

AFTER - new door and sidelights installed!

You are invited to join me on my exciting journey as I completely renovate my new home in charming Pelham, NH. I decided to start this blog to share my experiences (the good, the bad, and yes - even the ugly!) so homeowners who might also be embarking on this non-stop adventure themselves can learn tips & tricks, be inspired, and see first-hand experience into my personal world and vision of interior design.

My husband and I bought our first home in February, moving from city loft-living to a suburban cape-style home in the matter of only two weeks as our condo sold in only four days (due to my professional staging), and with the closing in six short weeks, we were off to the races in finding our new humble abode.

The vision my husband and I had was a classic home with character that we could utilize our expertise in design and renovation and combine our own finishes and style preferences. Due to the housing market not allowing for multiple options that met our needs, we quickly moved on a house with “good bones” in a quaint neighborhood that we would be able to make our home.

It’s an exciting time for me as I have always dreamt about designing a home based on the personal style of my husband and I, as I am fortunate to do everyday for clients, I am now able to fully explore my personal design style and allow creativity to get the best of me.

I will be posting pictures with detailed updates as the transition from “old” to “new” takes place across the interior, exterior, and yes…even landscaping changes! Please post any questions and/or comments you have along the way as I am eager to hear what you think!