RED DOOR LIVING
When driving through the quaint Long Beach, CA neighborhoods of California Heights, Los Altos, Belmont Heights, Naples, Bluff Park and Bluff Heights, you can't help but notice the homes that have an eye-catching red door. Is the color symbolic to the homeowner or did they simply watch too much HGTV? How I would love to know the stories behind each red door
Look at this Long Beach red door home. You just know that ony a few months ago, their holidays were warm and toasty and gifts were exchanged sincerely from the heart! I suspect the aroma of fresh baked cookies were in the air as well! Or maybe I'm just having a sweet tooth moment. I LOVE the look of both elegance and warm simplicity of this well-appointed Long Beach home!
...and this one. Does this red door open up into an expansive foyer? Are there photos hung diagonally on the wall as you climb the stairs taking you down memory lane of when little Timmy had a missing tooth and when Rebecca had her recital? Is there a very special box in the attic containing Nana's handmade wedding dress?
At first glance, this red door home screams traditional because of the white picket fence, the filigree posts and cut of shrubbery. But its in those very same clues that you reconsider your first hasty conclusion. The varying degrees of texture and dimension will not allow you to easily categorize them. Confirmation comes with the contemporary and modern red door. The homeowners love and appreciate the best of both worlds in this Long Beach treasure!
Now of course I'm only guessing what kind of homeowner lies behind each door. It's simply an exercise to remind me that no home or homeowner is the same no matter how many homes I've seen or how many clients I've helped to buy or sell. Besides, it's a lot of fun to see how close I am to my actual guess if or whenever I meet the homeowners!
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Ha ! Very interesting take on the Red Door Lifestyle Andi !!
We have them here, and with the white picket fence and typical colonial style they always look very attractive, but from a symbolism standpoint I found the following :o)
In early America a red door was a sign of "welcome." When people had to travel by horse and buggy they had to stop often. If they came upon a house with a red door that usually meant they would be able to spend the night. There is even rumor that a red front door was used in the under ground railroad as a sign for the slaves traveling north that that house was a safe house.
Lastly, I read that in Scotland when you paid off your mortgage you painted your door red !!!! lol
Cheers Andi !
Thanks Sheldon for the info! I've read about many symbolic meanings based on culture so I'm glad to see you post those I hadn't read before!
I'm partial to the underground one *weeps* but I L-O-V-E, LOVE, love the Scottish one as well!
I've always been attracted to red doors. Nice post and visual analogy, Andi. looking forward to the series.
I've represented some Asian clients who would like the red doors because for the Feng Shui influences -- good, welcoming energy. They were also the same who would not want the house (even with red door) if the door opened to the stairway.
Andi - This is a great post highlighting the things that make a house a home...memories. The red door is only a small part of it. Timmy's missing tooth and Rebeccas recital is the "home" factor. Good job!
Thanks Carol! I love red doors as well. Even from my childhood, to this day I still remember quite vividly the house on my street with the red door.
Carla - yes the Feng Shui has been the biggest influence on choice from what I've seen. I've also heard of the Judeo-Christian symbolism for the Passover (blood painted on the doors). I am definitely leaning towards Sheldon pay off one though :)
Nevin - thanks!! The "Red Door Series" evolved into what happens behind the red door!
Hi Andi ~ What a fun way to look at things - and very charming houses. My grandmother, and now my mother too, likes to make up stories about who lives in certain houses - fun to fantasize!
Liz
Hi Liz! Feel free to pass this on to them! It is a lot of fun! You mentioned mom and grandma, are you breaking tradition or are you doing this as well?
Nice, I like the effect of the red doors. I just read Carls's blog and had to come over here for a look. I lived in a small town where there was an investor who bought a lot of houses and rented them out. He painted every single door red. So when you drove around town, you could always spot his rentals. I never knew why he did this (bragging? ... easy to locate?) but too many years have passed to find out.