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Painting interior doors of small professional office

11 years ago

Hello all! I would love some advice as I'm terrible at picking colors. DH is re-doing his orthodontic office and we have the wall colors chosen--KM Charro and one accent wall with KM The Blues (he had someone else choose those!). I uploaded an image of the colors here.

Yet we just realized last night that his 3 interior doors (1 to the bathroom and 2 that lead from the reception area to the patient area) also need to be painted as leaving them unpainted will look terrible next to the new painted walls. I assume a standard semi-gloss white should work and a quick search shows folks really like BM Dove White and Marscarpone.

Can anyone good at colors advise me on what color would look best on the trim and doors? We have to buy something today as the painter is coming in tonight after the office closes to paint all weekend!

Thank you so much!

This post was edited by smiles33 on Thu, Jan 31, 13 at 14:00

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Comments (6)

smiles33
Original Author
11 years ago
P.S. I also need advice on what color to get the new door hardware in. Gunmetal gray? Oil rubbed bronze? THANK YOU!
bronwynsmom
11 years ago
Mascarpone would look very nice for your trim and doors.

I'd choose the gunmetal gray in a simple, modern style for a professional office. ORB is more like houses and kitchens, in my view, and the cooler metal telegraphs a more professional look, I think.
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Well....>>.... Your DH might not wanna hear this, but: * Any new paintjob is only as good as the prep/paint underneath it! * Ideally, the door should've been taken off, cleaned, thoroughly scuff-sanded, dust removed, and primed. * THEN painted! Unfortunately, now you'll have to remove the "Ugly" paintjob and do the steps above. >>> Stick with the S/G though!!! You couldn't pay me enough to use Eggshell on a door...it needs more sheen than that to be serviceable there. Technique is important too! * Use a GOOD brush and/or mini-roller. * Don't overwork the paint, use long flowing strokes, and get away. Brushing past 1 minute is too long in the same area with modern paints....they set-up too fast. * If door is paneled, paint those first, then the short horiz. cross pieces, leaving the long verticals stiles for last. * Don't overlap into any vertical stile, center or edge. * These long vertical pieces (center & the 2 sides) need long strokes, since your eye tends to notice them more. * Search the web for a visual on this! Faron
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I have absolutely no issues with using the proclassic primer and didn't need to practice with it at all. I guess I just don't get that. I also have used many a brush, but like the nylon for this application. I don't have brush strokes...but I don't paint as much as a pro so perhaps it's use and use and use :) I think that people are reading the information in my clipping incorrectly. The COLOR code I put in there is for a color called Woodsey Brown which is an exterior color (you typically get more deep tones in exterior colors) but the PAINT is NOT and exterior paint. Just the color! The proclassic primer adhears to ANY surface, without sanding. I love the stuff because I've used it on some very glossy surfaces and it's held like magic! I do wash surfaces and make sure they're free of dust and dirt, but I rarely sand anymore. My professional painter was very skeptical but is now sold on the quality of these two products together. The primer is a gem, and the quality of the top coat is wonderful as well. I like a high quality finish and a strong finish as well...and together these two will give you that in any combination of colors ;)
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tnpd, thanks! The color is called 'Mint Tea,' but I'm afraid it is only available through the regional hardware store called BTU here in the Southwest. It is their house brand paint, but I'm sure there are many well-known, widely available brands that would have a very similar color. It's a minty, icy green-blue, as you can see, more green than blue. Our house is an old, early 1890's Victorian home that had some very dominant Arts & Crafts modifications added in the early 1920's. I decided that dark trim was most appropriate to the very prominent Arts & Crafts detailing, but we weren't going to strip the paint off all the trim in the whole house in order to stain it darker as is found in Arts & Crafts styled homes, and it appears to be pine trim anyway. The compromise was to paint the trim in shades of brown that would go with the wood floors and the Arts & Crafts details.
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The wall color is SW Collonade Gray. That might work. I know it won't look right if it is white. But I'm really concerned about the pantry door, even though it is in the kitchen area, it is still visible because of the open concept.
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smiles33
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks, bronwynsmom! You're right, gunmetal gray probably is more "commercial" and professional looking. That's DH's preference, but I was afraid the gray/silver would contrast too much with the Charro color. Still, the one "commercial-quality" interior doorknob/lever I found on the Ace Hardware website is a satin chrome--wow it's SO silver! Yet with possibly 100 people or more using the doors per day, I think we may need a commercial quality one.

I just talked with our painter and he said to wait until he's got the Charro and Blues on the wall so we can see how the lighting looks before choosing a white. So I have a couple days at least...

Any additional feedback would be greatly appreciated!
bronwynsmom
11 years ago
Your painter sounds like he knows what he's about. That's good advice.

I'm a fan of silvery hardware with a good chamois yellow like yours, and of course it will look good with the gray, too. Nice colors!

I think you will find that a clean, crisp white that isn't beigey, and doesn't have too much yellow, will look good with both colors. BMoore's Decorators White is a nice clean one.

Martin Senour's Bright White is clean with a little warmth.

(They also have one called "Dental White" which would be tempting, but it's a little bit pink, which I don't think is a good idea!)
Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I would go with BM bone trim...we used it in our house and it's lovely. I'd go with a satin nickel on the hardware.
smiles33
Original Author
11 years ago
Ha ha, dental white sounds funny! We'll see how it looks and in the meantime pick up some samples to consider. Thanks again!

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