Open The Door To A New Home Décor

(HIT) - From newlyweds and urban singles to second-home owners and empty nesters, home décor and remodeling isn’t just for the pros any more. Do-it-yourself (DIY) is today’s hottest home design trend.

As consumers of all ages take DIY home matters into their own hands—literally—one of the quickest, easiest and most affordable ways to add personality and freshen up the look of any home is to install new raised-panel doors throughout the house.

Doors with a Purpose

Doors serve as the entry to a room and convey its initial impression. As such, they play an integral role in home décor and should be considered along with any home improvement or remodeling project. Spend a few minutes looking at your home’s interior doors—from the main floor to the bedrooms and even your closet's bi-folds. Chances are the doors don’t offer much in the way of style. Or, what style there is may not match your current decorating tastes.

You can change all that this weekend. Just visit your local lumberyard, home center or visit with a professional remodeler and look for new doors with raised-panel designs that complement your interior décor. Installing new raised-panel doors throughout your home is inexpensive compared to many renovations or decorating projects.

For example, the average home has about 20 interior passage doors. Replacing every one with a new hollow core door, such as the line of doors available from CraftMaster® Interior Doors, costs less than a new chair and ottoman. Replacing each door with a new, solid core door costs less than a new sofa or sectional.

"With so much emphasis today on quick home makeovers, fast and easy room redesigns, and the latest products to simplify our lives, raised-panel doors have become increasingly popular among homeowners who want the decorative appeal of sculpted doors without the cost and maintenance of solid wood," says Bob Merrill, president and CEO for interior door manufacturer CMI in Chicago.

CraftMaster Doors are manufactured by CMI from molded, high-density fiberboard to resist shrinking, cracking and joint separation. Designs range from two, three, four and six panels, and many are available in either a textured wood grain or smooth finish. For do-it-yourselfers, the most important feature is that they are easy to install and offer immediate design results.

Great Look, Low Maintenance

Do your existing doors match or complement your current decorating style, color scheme and wall coverings? Are they worn out, split or damaged? Replacing them with new, raised-panel molded doors can energize an otherwise bland, lifeless space. And, upgrading to doors with solid cores is a great way to duplicate the feel of a solid wood door, block out noise from nearby rooms and further improve durability. Molded panel, solid core doors are ideal for families, in particular, because they are extremely durable and require low maintenance.

When replacing doors, many homeowners often keep the existing frame and simply buy new doors, called slabs. For ease of installation, measure each door’s hinge and doorknob location and order the doors pre-drilled. For a fresh new look, you can purchase a pre-hung door and replace the frame.

There are many styles, finishes and sizes available to showcase your home's true character. For example, the CraftMaster Corvado™ is a two-panel, square-top, plank interior door. The smooth-surfaced design is versatile enough to complement a broad range of home décors from Southwestern and rustic too contemporary.

Other designs include curved-, arched- and eyebrow-top panels, and a variety of configurations to complement today’s trim and cabinet packages or to add sophistication to any room. Standard door height is 6-feet, 8-inches; however, if you have high ceilings, 7- and 8-foot-tall doors are available in smooth and wood grain textured finishes and in a variety of raised-panel designs.

Beyond the added beauty, raised-panel doors are engineered to resist swelling, shrinking and splitting. In the case of painted doors, this prevents cracks in the paint film and avoids adding one more project to your to-do list.

To learn more about transforming your home décor with new door designs call CraftMaster at 1-800-405-2233 or visit www.craftmasterdoors.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center