Yesterday we posted a short piece about deciding when to DIY and when to hire a pro, using our old sliding door as the example. The old sliders were stuck, had a broken screen, wouldn’t lock properly, and the frame was rotting. We finally decided it was time to replace them with a set of French doors that match the style of the laundry room door so the house wouldn’t feel mismatched.
The installation itself was straightforward and looked much cleaner than the old slider. We took process photos during the swap to document the change. After the doors were hung, they arrived primed but unpainted, so our next step was to paint both sides and the surrounding trim to finish the job and tie them into the rest of the house.
You can read more about the decision-making process in our earlier post about when to DIY versus hiring it out. This post is focused on the pictures and the finishing touches, especially painting. Once the doors were installed we taped off trim and hardware and got to work:
We used Benjamin Moore Advance in Decorator’s White to paint. John rolled thin, even coats with a small foam roller while I used a short-handled brush to get into grooves, edges, and trim where the roller couldn’t reach. The doors needed three thin coats for a smooth, durable finish. In one afternoon we finished the inside face of the doors; the exterior side will get the same treatment soon.
Seeing the fresh white paint go on made a big difference — it brightened the hallway and made the doors feel custom and finished. The new doors immediately uplifted the space in a way the old slider never could.
The new doors are more attractive and practical. Ignore the curtain hardware above the opening in the photo — that was left over from when we tried to hide the worst of the old slider’s damage. We experimented briefly with curtains but preferred the cleaner look without them. One of the great surprises is how the doors behave when both are open: they don’t block hallway traffic. We expected to use just the right-hand door most of the time, but it’s fantastic to know we can open both without creating a bottleneck in the hallway. The flexibility makes the new doors feel like a real improvement in flow and usability.
We also upgraded the hardware to an oil-rubbed bronze finish, which adds a touch of contrast and modern warmth against the white paint. The small details like quality hardware help the doors read as an intentional design choice rather than a simple replacement.
Most days we’ll use just the right door for quick comings and goings, but both doors open for a wide, open feeling that the slider couldn’t provide. Because the old slider’s screen was broken, we haven’t relied on a screen in almost two years, so we don’t feel an urgent need for one now. If we decide later that we want a screen, this model has an add-on screen option available from Home Depot.
Goodbye, old slider — you served your purpose, but these French doors are a clear upgrade. The view from the front and the back are both improved; the new doors look cleaner, more intentional, and give the whole space a fresher, more finished appearance.
The new unit has earned the affectionate nickname “Frenchie” around here. Replacing a dated slider with French doors was a relatively small project compared to some of our longer renovations, but the impact is immediate: the doors elevate the surrounding finishes and make even older floors and fixtures look better by contrast.
We’re still planning a few more updates in the area: staining and sealing the deck, camouflaging an unsightly electric meter, and adding large bulb string lights overhead. Those improvements, combined with the French doors, will transform the alley outside into a much more polished and welcoming space.
Have you made a single upgrade that unexpectedly lifted the look of an entire room or area? Sometimes fixing or upgrading one element makes the rest of the space feel dated by comparison — but in our case the new doors actually make everything around them look better. Even our scratched parquet floors seem more charming next to Frenchie. Share the changes that made your home feel a bit more polished or swanky — small projects can have big visual impact.
Psst — Clara and the goats approve. More on that story is available in the earlier post.