If there were ever a brick house that cried out “Paint Me,” it is this one. In reply, we stained the brick, but left the choices about how to update the entry until most of the major design decisions had been made.

Usually there is a hitch in a project. On our previous project the Faxon House, I must have put together 27 kitchen designs before we landed on the final design. On Sweet Spot, the design of the front entry has been problematic.

The original front door had been replaced with at some point with one that did not fit the style of the home. So that the property would make a great first impression, we really needed to dress the entry up in a period and style appropriate way.

First, we took off the vinyl siding on the front gable end to see if anything interesting had been covered up and could perhaps be restored. No such luck.

Next, we combed Pinterest for entry design ideas. And drove the neighborhood looking at entryways and doors. And we asked for input from friends, neighbors and subcontractors. After taking in all this information, we would settle on a design, and then realize we had missed an important consideration. I think we had four final, now-not-final designs — making us all a bit crazy and a wee bit cranky.

Because we knew the front door would need to be replaced, we began the hunt at our local architectural salvage companies for a replacement door. At Front Street Antique Mall, we found a vintage 1942 beauty that we are refinishing for use. This door choice, along with existing trim and details, locked in some elusive design element decisions. But because it is a wooden door, it needs a bit of protection from the elements. This prompted us to build out the fascia and a bit of the roof. Step by step, piece by piece, we have figured out the entry design. The gallery shows the progress.