I can tell you what we have in our house. All the windows have stained trim (in a honey color--maybe the one you don't like in yours? But I love it!) Anyway, the windows were all replaced by the PO, who installed and stained the new ones. The rest of the house trim and baseboards, however, are still original to the house (1939) and are all painted white. The doors, also mostly original, are painted white as well. The only new (french) door we added as part of an addition, we stained to match the window woodwork--that is the only door with stained trim. In our house, I think the combination works well. We have a lot of wood furnishings, as well as the floors, that are a similar tone to the window trim, and the white works well with our cottage/country-ish decorating style. We have talked about painting the windows, but my DH is against it because once you start repainting windows (which eventually needs to happen), it starts affecting how well they function (as we have experienced in other older homes we have lived in) How well it would work for you might depend on what color your doors are, what color floors/carpet are and how those blend/contrast with the stain or paint color.

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 ;)

Thanks for your reply. We live in Southern California and heat loss is not a big concern (normally). In fact, the opposite would be the case. I'd still be interested in re-woodworking the openings and even replacing the aluminum frame windows. I'm pretty handy but I'm not a contractor and am hesitant to replace a window frame solo. At one point I had measured one of our window openings and had a vinyl dual paned frame written up, but got cold feet when it came time to special order it. Anyway, please tell me what you think and thanks for your help.

I'm looking down the hall right now at my painted slab doors. I can see four of them from where I sit. They are all painted in a gloss finish, the same color as the trim and the walls. Surprisingly, since everything is painted the same, the walls, trim and doors don't look the same, due to the way the light hits the different surfaces.