Mandeville Canyon Interior Design logo
January 12, 2016

When one door closes, another one opens.

Most people don't give the doors in their home too much thought. I mean, they are a necessity, but how much do they really matter when it comes to your interior (or exterior) design. Surprisingly, they can make a BIG difference!

This became very clear to me as I was recently working with one of my clients on a new home. Everything had been meticulously selected. The flooring, counters, lighting, paint choices, beautiful solid wood doors, every detail had be carefully and thoughtfully selected...and then came time to select the trim color. That's when it became abundantly clear, that doors have more of an impact that you realize.

If you are planning on painting your doors something other than white, I recommend consulting your designer or a color specialist. While I'd love to say it's simple, just match your trim to your door color, it's not always that easy. More often than not, trim is painted white, but even white doesn't work in every scenario. You really need to take into account your surroundings.  Sometimes you want your trim and moldings to be white so that your door can get the attention it really deserves. If you have a great wood door, or one that has beautiful molding, or even if you are painting your door a surprising shade, white trim just might be the perfect color to frame it with.

However, there are other instances when it's best to match your trim to your door color for some added impact. The architecture around this door that makes it unique would have been lost if the designer left it white. The yellow highlights the details that would have otherwise been missed.

There are so many opportunities behind every door, you'd be surprised at all that you can do! Paint color is not the only way to draw attention to your doors. Don't just stick to the "same old, same old". Try something different to add that special touch to your home. I love this easy DIY that takes a boring bifold closet door to a chic upscale, custom look.

You can also add molding to a flat door to give it a one-of-a-kind look.

I can see how this door treated with chalkboard paint could come in very handy in my kitchen, or even in my office! Imagine leaving messages for the kids, grocery lists, the schedule for the day or a list of to do's (I might actually need several doors for that, but you get the point!). It makes my heart skip a beat!

Taking a side step away from the traditional sliding barn door, this door is literally a work of art! I really love this treatment of a sliding door. It's functional and pretty and great for a home that may be a bit on the modern side of style.

Doors come in an endless amount of styles, shapes and materials. One of my all time favorite door style is the Dutch door. Not only is it so friendly and inviting, but it's functional too! And it can work in just about any room of the house. Want the option for privacy, but don't always want to be closed off from the remainder of the family? Or do you just want to contain your new puppy to a certain area of the home, try a Dutch door!

You can even add one to your staircase to keep kids and animals safe and contained!

Create a bit of visual interest for your built-in cabinetry by adding some sliding doors. Easy to open for movie night, and easy to close when you want to hide the tv!

Perfect for the teen in your house, or even for the dorm room, here are some quick and simple door designs that will have you at "hello".

In my next life I promise to be WAY better at DIY projects, but for now, I will just dream and share. And, because I think we should always be good to mother nature, I love to find ways to repurpose old items. Take for example these repurposed door DIY projects.

I love this door table, found on designsponge.com

Try using a pair of old doors, adorned with pretty sconces on either side of your bed for a unique look.

This salvaged door coffee table is so easy and adorable, I might have to channel my inner DIYer and give this project a whirl!

If your are looking for ways for your doors to stand out among the rest, or if you are looking for some easy, creative DIY projects, click here to see our Pinterest board all about doors!

Transformations Worth Sharing

Clients who have experienced the transformative power of healthy interior design

Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design. Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it. We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!

Jim P.

Renee is an absolutely wonderful designer. Very talented and easy to work with! She will transform your room or outdoor space into exactly what you want, only better!

Karen S.

Talented, creative, dedicated, great communicator. Renee is such a special person.

Marla W.

We have worked with Renee Carman at this company for almost 2 years. Renee is professional, personable, and a pleasure to know. She is very helpful and will go the extra mile to please her clients. Renee has excellent expertise and knowledge of interior design. We have a beautiful home and highly recommend her.

Lisa W.

Renee possesses a rare combination of artistic creativity and intuitive design.  Her warmth and compassion extended beyond working with us to understanding the style and feel of our home and how we live in it.  We felt fortunate to work with and get to know Renee and absolutely love the updates she made to our home- from windows and walls to artwork and furniture!

Kate S.

Renee was a pleasure to work with and has great vision. We were doing a total rehab of a recently purchased property and she was able to look at a gutted out '50s cottage and turn it into a beautiful mid-century modern home. She understood our budget and timeline and was good about narrowing all our options down to just a few choices. This expedited the process, made it less difficult and more enjoyable. Once the rehab is done, we look forward to working with her again and finish the rest of the rooms.

Bill H.

Renee at Mandeville Canyon Interior Design was simply wonderful to work with. She was able to understand what we were looking for in terms of color, function and design from the moment we first spoke. She's easy to work with, goes above and beyond and delivers an outstanding design.

I highly recommend Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design. I don't think I will attempt to decorate another room in my house without the help of Renee!

Pam O.

Love working with Renee and Mandeville Canyon Interior Design ! I had the opportunity to collaborate on a large scale design project recently and the results were fantastic! Creative, resourceful and one of kind design ideas made this design opportunity with Renee "one of a kind" Have a large or small project? You won't be disappointed!!

Mary S.

Renee not only has an amazingly creative eye, she also directed a massive renovation for us this past year that included the challenges of operating during the pandemic. She put together a team that had an incredible work ethic and brought the project in on-time and on-budget. She's a great listener. When we threw ideas at her, she was never dismissive; quite the contrary, she made them better. Her patience, attention to detail combined with her whacky sense of humor meant we were all able to smile while producing a home that we love. A great talent and a great lady.

Ann R.

Rene is amazing!  Great customer care and wonderful attention to detail.

Holly M.