Project Monday

Well...really 2 Mondays

and every single day in between.

A little back story....

I spent many (30) years as a military wife and making the best of each place we lived.  A few times we owned, many times we leased and a couple of times, base housing.  In every situation (except on the base) I painted after getting the owner's approval.  I made my nest my own as best I could and there were many things that I knew were just 'temporary' so it was ok to deal with.  I realized the other day that I was still in military mentality.  We have lived in our home in GA for 3 years  now - the longest most of our tours were - and I realized I am not moving and what has been ok is not anymore, such as wall colors, upholstery (while I have done some - there's more to be done), cabinet hardware, etc. I don't have a custom built home so there are 'builder's grade' finishings on the home than need to be upgraded.

So here we are:

Door Painting for Dummies

These are just a few of the 23 that I did, 

well of course I miscounted and at first thought there were 'only' 18, and then I forgot a set of double doors, and a few other closet doors.  Oy.

I opted not to take the doors off since there was no way in jelly beans that I was going to get them back on...Mr. MD is gone (the best time to get these types of projects done...hehe). I just taped around the knobs and hardware.

a few things I learned....

1)  I got the Behr 'Black Forever' paint and the feller at the sales counter talked me into the one with the primer, don't waste your money, it goes on like Elmer's glue.

Ok so tell me which one has the primer and which doesn't?

EXACTLY.

You can't tell either? 

 Because they both look the same with one coat.  

2) My house has warm tones and I really wanted a black with a hint of brown so I got the SW 'Black Magic'.  By the picture above you can see the chocolate, once two coats are on honestly you can't tell the difference.  

Oh...and this is VERY important.

this stuff is worth it's weight in gold...

I got more than one spot on the carpet...imagine that?  It also take it off skin...and door frames....and tile!

2) don't use the canvas drop cloth because when you DO drip it goes right through right onto the carpet.  Lovely.

3) make sure to put your feet UNDER the drop cloth because then you don't step in a drip and then walk on your carpet.  Wonder how I knew that?  :) 

The bottom two pictures (above) are the master bedroom bath and I used 'Forever Black' (Behr) here, the rest of the doors are the SW 'Black Magic' (6991 all surface enamel).

4)  paint a single coat on each side, move on to another door or two, go back to the first door for a second coat. 

Let dry overnight and then go back for touch ups.

5) I used satin finish, watch your brush strokes, keep them long and follow the grain of the wood.  

I am really happy with how they turned out, lots of work (it took me over an hour for each door) but worth every stroke.

I also did the powder room vanity 

AND

a double vanity in the MB.

Tell me what you think.  

ADDENDUM August 2012

I have since painted all of my walls 

Sherwin Williams 7647 Crushed Ice.  

AND finished 7 more doors in the basement.  Whew!

What home projects are you up to?

♥

Do you want to make your house a lovely home?

Contact MD for online or in person design.

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