Door Trim Question
#1
11-23-11, 07:57 AM
Door Trim Question
I have just replaced all of the old, mid 70's trim in my living room. All of the trim is painted white and is a big improvement over the older, stained trim. However, I have one thing that is puzzling me.
There is a doorway between the living room & hallway that has the new, white trim on the living room side and new, stained wood trim on the other. The actual door & door jamb are still stained wood and the door opens away from the living room into the hallway.
What is the "rule-of-thumb" as far as how the door jamb is to be finished? Can I paint the jamb up to the door stop white on the living room side or just the trim around it? The actual door itself will remain stained.
Thanks in advance.
There is a doorway between the living room & hallway that has the new, white trim on the living room side and new, stained wood trim on the other. The actual door & door jamb are still stained wood and the door opens away from the living room into the hallway.
What is the "rule-of-thumb" as far as how the door jamb is to be finished? Can I paint the jamb up to the door stop white on the living room side or just the trim around it? The actual door itself will remain stained.
Thanks in advance.
#2
11-23-11, 08:23 AM
Group Moderator
Rule of thumb is to have all surfaces visible on each side of the door the same finish when the door is closed. In other words, if one side is white, everything you see on that side (again with the door closed) should be white and, if the other side is stained, everything you see on that side should be stained.
#3
11-23-11, 08:28 AM
Thanks for the quick response, Mitch.
I pretty much assumed that however, the door in question is always opened into the hallway. Would it be a "breach of etiquette" to keep the door it's original finish?
I pretty much assumed that however, the door in question is always opened into the hallway. Would it be a "breach of etiquette" to keep the door it's original finish?
#4
11-23-11, 08:34 AM
Group Moderator
It's your house and you have to live with it, I would be less concerned about 'etiquette' in something like this.
#5
11-23-11, 09:04 AM
I have an early 70s house , too with some stained and some white trim
I agree the general guide is the "door closed" test. But it is also your youse, so if you want it all white or all stained, it's your choice.
I know that the old 70s styleof paneling is considered not in style. Before we sold our old house in '99, one real estate agent kept telling us, "paint it, paint it", well wehappen to like panelling so we left the house with the panelling, and our current house has panelling in the LR, too. I like it and it is staying. The stain had to be matched by trial and error, but it works for us.
I know that the old 70s styleof paneling is considered not in style. Before we sold our old house in '99, one real estate agent kept telling us, "paint it, paint it", well wehappen to like panelling so we left the house with the panelling, and our current house has panelling in the LR, too. I like it and it is staying. The stain had to be matched by trial and error, but it works for us.
#6
11-23-11, 09:09 AM
.....I've probably painted a 100 houses where the wood trim got painted but the doors were stained. While painting one side of a door and staining the other might be 'rule' it's not set in stone..... as long as it works for you and yours 
#8
12-23-11, 08:51 AM
that is the way I am doing it on my addition (and then redoing old 1900 house). love the stained solid 6 panel doors on old house and wanted them in addition. upgrading the poor trim work on old house to plinth blocks, fluted casing and rosettes. all of this and jamb will be white while doors are stained.
