If you ask me, a door isn’t just a door.

Especially if you’ve had one after another closed in your face. These days, a door, THIS door, looks like a fresh start.

I found this particular door for $10 at Restore and though right now it doesn’t look like much, I am going to love-it-back-to-life with some fresh paint and pretty hardware. My mom loves decorating her front door for holidays so it was important to me that the apartment we’re building her had a pretty front door.

And lots of light because these last few months have been far too dreary. We picked a pretty gray for her living room walls. Even in a room with no windows, it is bright and cheerful in here. We need bright and cheerful.

I can’t help but squeal every time I open the bedroom door and see this light. We bought it at Bargains and Buyouts for just $25!

And I’m already trying to figure out how to save up enough to replace the horrible peach tile in our kitchen with this plank tile we’ve installed through the hall, kitchen and bathroom of Mom’s place. It’s dreamy.

Oh, so dreamy. Can you believe this is an in-stock option at Home Depot? It’s the Dalite Parkwood Beige Ceramic Tile in case you have to rush out and get it today. Pair it with Mocha grout and…swoon.

Let me just give you a peek at the kitchen…

We created a mini-kitchen with Ikea cabinets in Bodbyn Gray. I am in love with the counter top, which has the look of granite but is actually an in-stock laminate counter we picked up at Lowe’s. I like it so much, I’d be tempted to rip out my high-maintenance butcher block counters and replace them with this pretty laminate option.

The shower may be my favorite feature. We just got it grouted but I’m sure you can imagine how pretty it will be once it’s cleaned up.

It’s hard to imagine this space used to look like this…

Yes, I’m a firm believer that a door isn’t just a door. I believe that paint does more than cover walls; it can be just what your soul needs. I believe in all sorts of magic like talking walls and furniture that beckons you to sit a spell. And most of all, I believe that preparing a place for your loved ones is a sacred thing, not just a hobby.

Don’t you?