We Need a New Gate
We need to replace the gate from the driveway into our kitchen courtyard.
I like the rustic look, made of untreated mesquite wood, but it's falling askew, and pieces keep popping out of the frame. It squeaks and wobbles as we come and go. There is only a sliding bolt latch on one side, so opening it from the other side takes some maneuvering.
Our homeowner's association is very strict about what you can do to the outside of your home. That's a good thing; keeping the Santa Fe pueblo style look consistent makes this neighborhood cohesive and pleasing.
But gates -- that's where creativity is allowed. Every back or side courtyard here is surrounded by either an adobe wall or a coyote fence of rough wood poles, and the entry gates are all different. Some have artistic flourishes and look expensive, others are simple and functional. Some are painted. Some are actual doors, especially the ones in the higher adobe walls. The designs are all interesting and varied.
The simplest thing would be to rebuild what is there in the exact dimensions but in a stronger wood (cedar probably) and leave it unstained as the current gate is. New hardware, so we can open it easily from both sides.
But we could do something a little different too. So I started a Pinterest board and have been collecting pictures for ideas.
I'm partial to a red gate. We stayed at an Air BnB last winter on Don Juan Street, and she had a red painted wood gate that just popped, especially with the coyote fence.
Her fence was taller, ours is a lower height. So something a little smaller would work better, like this.
But red next to our garage side door, which is painted turquoise, might be too much color. Here are some that are painted a softer blue, but I could paint mine to match our turquoise door.
These could also be painted red if I go that route. Or stained or left natural. What I like about these blue gates is the open grill area at the top. Here are some more ideas I gathered for gates with an open grill at the top.
But they would be more expensive probably. A simple gate of solid boards would be fine too.
I'm having trouble deciding. Painted red? Top grill opening? Curved top? Painted turquoise to match the garage side door? Straight lines? Stained, or left natural to age? It's only a gate, but I have too many choices.
I like the rustic look, made of untreated mesquite wood, but it's falling askew, and pieces keep popping out of the frame. It squeaks and wobbles as we come and go. There is only a sliding bolt latch on one side, so opening it from the other side takes some maneuvering.
Our homeowner's association is very strict about what you can do to the outside of your home. That's a good thing; keeping the Santa Fe pueblo style look consistent makes this neighborhood cohesive and pleasing.
But gates -- that's where creativity is allowed. Every back or side courtyard here is surrounded by either an adobe wall or a coyote fence of rough wood poles, and the entry gates are all different. Some have artistic flourishes and look expensive, others are simple and functional. Some are painted. Some are actual doors, especially the ones in the higher adobe walls. The designs are all interesting and varied.
The simplest thing would be to rebuild what is there in the exact dimensions but in a stronger wood (cedar probably) and leave it unstained as the current gate is. New hardware, so we can open it easily from both sides.
But we could do something a little different too. So I started a Pinterest board and have been collecting pictures for ideas.
I'm partial to a red gate. We stayed at an Air BnB last winter on Don Juan Street, and she had a red painted wood gate that just popped, especially with the coyote fence.
Her fence was taller, ours is a lower height. So something a little smaller would work better, like this.
But red next to our garage side door, which is painted turquoise, might be too much color. Here are some that are painted a softer blue, but I could paint mine to match our turquoise door.
These could also be painted red if I go that route. Or stained or left natural. What I like about these blue gates is the open grill area at the top. Here are some more ideas I gathered for gates with an open grill at the top.
But they would be more expensive probably. A simple gate of solid boards would be fine too.
I'm having trouble deciding. Painted red? Top grill opening? Curved top? Painted turquoise to match the garage side door? Straight lines? Stained, or left natural to age? It's only a gate, but I have too many choices.
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