Mmm, pickles. That will make sense in a minute. But first, here’s what John’s sister Emily’s front entryway looked like during the three years she’s lived in her lovely home.
And here’s the after: a refreshed door color, a semi-transparent stain on the deck that leads to it, and a few seasonal pumpkins for good measure.
Here’s how we chose the door color and the deck stain. I brought a stack of paint swatches and we held them up to the smoky gray exterior to see what would harmonize best.
We quickly narrowed it down to a few favorites: Cornichon, Lagoon, Duck’s Egg, Egg Yolk, and Sultana — all from the Martha Stewart line.
After some discussion, Emily and her husband Todd both loved Cornichon most of all. It wasn’t an obvious choice you’d see on every house, so it felt a bit funky and unique — exactly the vibe they wanted. It also looked great against the house’s gray siding and would pair nicely with a darker wood tone on the deck leading to the door.
With the door color decided, we chose a deck stain that felt rich and brown but still allowed the wood grain to show through. We went with a semi-transparent option: Behr Premium Plus Deck Stain in the shade “Wood Chip.”
Next steps: power wash the deck, apply the stain, and paint the door with two coats of semi-gloss exterior latex in Cornichon.
The result gives the entry a confident, friendly presence that feels both modern and welcoming. Emily and Todd are thrilled with how it turned out.
We wanted to share this quick curb-appeal makeover for anyone considering a new front door or deck color. Small changes like these can dramatically improve a home’s first impression. Emily and Todd plan a few more finishing touches — extra planters, updated house numbers, and a large modern welcome mat — to complete the look. It’s amazing how excited a fresh doormat and a couple of planters can make you.
Are you planning to repaint your exterior or refresh your curb appeal? Tell us what you’re doing. And about the title: “cornichon,” the paint name we chose, is the French word for pickle — a fun little detail I knew thanks to my ninth-grade French teacher (merci, Madame Cruger-Langer!). Snookie would be proud.