[Home Repair Advice?} Need to spruce up this entranceway

[Thrift Store Scott]

macphanatic wrote:
Can we get a picture that shows more than just the entrance?

The awning should go. From what I can tell, it makes the door look tall, narrow and dated.

The door looks "tall, narrow, and dated" because, well, it is. Removing the awning will only make it look more tall, narrow, and dated.

Guys, the awning is there for two reasons:
1. It keeps the snow and rain off the tenants as they fumble for their keys;
2. It keeps the summer sun from heating the entrance hall via the huge window in the door and the transom above it.
The awning may not be pretty, but it is functional, and unless Black wants to go to the considerable time and expense of adding a small porch to rental property, it stays.

macphanatic wrote:
I would strip the door. There may be really nice wood underneath that could be polyurethaned. If not, just repaint the door. I'm not sure that I would sand the paint as it may be lead based.

Agreed about stripping because of the lead based paint.

As for the door color, I'd go with either dark green, maroon, or maybe even dark brown paint with white trim. I'd also add a kickplate at the bottom of the door. The trim looks to be in pretty bad shape, so I'd probably replace it and go back with white paint on the trim.