It’s not something we tend to think much about but a beautiful door can be just the finishing touch a room needs say Scandi interior decorator and renovators Nat Wheeler and Kristy Sadlier, of Norsu Interiors. “You should be able to tell a lot about a space by its doors. They’re the first thing you see when you enter a room and, if closed, the last thing you see when you leave. If your room has a design story, then the doors are its cover and in this case, you should definitely be able to judge a book by its cover,” says Nat who carried out a beautiful renovation her 1920’s Melbourne bungalow recently.
Create a grand entrance
“One of the best things I did when renovating my home was to open up the hallway. The Scandi aesthetic is open and full of light, so a small corridor just wasn’t going to work. This new space created the opportunity to make a big statement with my doors,” says Nat of her double entrance front doors, painted in Dulux Vivid White.
“Simple elegance is key to the trend, so making a statement with your choice of doors relies on the detail. The deep carved vertical panel motifs add texture and shadow without being too dramatic,” says Nat who finished the pair of doors with Buster and Punch handles. “I set them on a background of Dulux Tranquil Retreat painted walls that helps them really stand out,” says Nat.
Keep the look consistent
“Beautiful interiors rely on having a strong design story that is executed consistently throughout your home. This ensures that the eyes can wander calmly from space to space without any unexpected surprises,” says Nat who says that interior doors should complement exterior ones. “A good trick for doing this well in a Scandi home is to slightly pare back the motifs of the front door with a simpler profile inside,” says Nat who selected brass interior door hardware too. “That material choice was picked out in fittings and furnishings including our tap ware and lighting,” says Nat further emphasising the importance of consistency in design.
Door to door design
“If we think of the door as the cover of your design story, then it follows that you should ensure it is represented in your space. Door frames, picture rails and skirting boards all provide opportunities to add more texture to the home through the use of carved and embossed profiles,” says Nat who used mouldings throughout the house alongside soft grey and pink paint colours on the walls for subtle contrast.
“While getting the Scandi style goes beyond door choice, they are a great place to start thinking about how you are going to construct your vision and some of the core elements that are going to define it. Whether you’re going for the original 1950’s aesthetic, a more modern interpretation, or an entirely bespoke twist on the design, make sure your home opens the door to your personal Scandi style.”
