Monday, October 19, 2009

True Value DIY Blog Squad - Project One


We're so excited to blog about our first True Value DIY Blog Squad project!

A while back we blogged about wanting to use an old door on our guest bathroom. Well, fortunately for us, we just happened to have an old solid wood one out back that fit perfectly! It was original to the house (it used to be on the reading room), but it was covered in three layers of paint and didn't have the frosted glass window in it that we had envisioned...



So we set out to our favorite True Value hardware store and picked up a jug of Citristrip Stripping Gel: (try saying that 3 times fast)



We also got a scraper to remove the paint residue as it loosened:



And we even got some paint stripper "after wash", to clean up the mess:



Of course we also got some hardcore rubber gloves:



Safety first!

Once we arrived back at the house, we set the door on top of a table out back, and applied the Citristrip with a paintbrush:



Within a few minutes, it started to eat through the old paint:



We even put some Citristrip on the original doorknob, hoping to restore it too:



After a few hours (an Auburn football game to be exact), the top layer of paint had really bubbled up:



We started to remove the loosened paint with our scraper:



After we had removed the entire top coat of paint, we repeated the process two more times to take off the two layers underneath. After lots and lots of scraping, it was amazing to see the gorgeous raw wood that had previously been covered up:



Here's our pretty, old door all clean up thanks to our bottle of Citristrip Paint Stripper After Wash:





Once it was dry, we sanded it down a little, to really make sure the surface was good and clean:



Next, we drew guide lines on the top panel of the door so that we could cut out the opening where we wanted to add frosted glass:



The reason we left an inch all the way around, is so that our plexi glass would have a place to rest against and adhere to. (This will eventually be covered by decorative moulding)

Using a spade drill bit, we made a hole so that we could give our jig saw a place to start:





Ta da! Here it is all cut out:



Next, we laid down our pre-cut piece of high-quality plexi glass to check the fit:



We got the plexi glass from a friend, but our True Value does sell and custom cut it, as well as lots of other things too:



We used 5 minute epoxy to hold the plexi in place:





Here's a close up shot of how it looks. The epoxy dries clear:



For additional privacy, we're going to add a second piece of plexi glass to the other side of the door as well. Once their both frosted, you won't be able to see through them at all, but the light will shine through and illuminate the hallway. Pretty, pretty!

Our next post will cover adding the decorative moulding and preparing the wood for stain, as well as staining the door a pretty "Special Walnut" color.

We're really having fun with this project, and can't wait to see how it looks in the hallway! We want to thank True Value for allowing us this opportunity, and if you haven't entered their DIY Drama Contest, head on over right now for a chance to win $5,000 to spend at your local True Value!

Good luck!
Kevin and Layla

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We were one of five bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. We have been compensated for our time commitment to the program and our DIY projects as well as our posts about our experiences. We have also been compensated for the materials needed for our DIY projects. However, our opinions are entirely our own and we have not been paid to publish positive comments.

50 comments:

Wendy said...

Looks great so far! Can't wait to see the finished project!

Traci@ Beneath My Heart said...

The door looks great! I always hate removing paint, but you made it look easy. I like how you used the old door, but added the plexiglass. I know it will look great when you are completely finished.
Traci

Kate said...

Love the doorknob - it adds tons of character. Do you have the key that goes with that? I've always loved those old locks and keys.

Anonymous said...

Kevin and Layla,
It may be a little late to be telling you this. But I had a friend who just striped an old door and she used a heat gun and one of the scrapers you used.. It went rather quick and easy. Might be worth looking into for your next project.
Wendy

PS
Congrats on all your good fortune.
I think you should try out again for HGTV!

Farmgirl Paints said...

Now that is a LOT of work!!!! But I can't wait to see the end result. Everytime you walk by that door it will speak to you.

LindaSonia said...

Love this idea. Questions: (1) how are you going to frost the plexiglass and (2) was the door a hollow core door?

Can't wait to see the finished product. LindaSonia

Unknown said...

That's a great project! Love the step by step -- thank you for that!

Christine ~ JAZ Creations said...

Wow! That is great! I cannot wait to see the next step!

Red Lipstick said...

this is a great project - this door is so much sturdier than what the builders are putting in these days. Can't wait to see it hung!

maura said...

You two are amazing DIYers. I'll bet that door turns out amazing. Wish my husband was as gung ho about household projects!

Teacats said...

Brillant project! Can't wait to see the finished result -- hope that the double panes of frosted glass does allow the bathroom visitor SOME privacy! Just teasing!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Love the Decor! said...

You two are amazing!!!
Way to be so very creative :)

Anonymous said...

You two inspire me! If you can take that door from so drab to fab, I can certainly tackle some of my long-put-off projects...

Ashlee @ Prairie Cottage said...

I love the new door! I have similar old doors all through my 40s cottage. I would love to know how you guys are planning to restore the old doorknob. I have doorknobs that have been painted also and I have been trying to figure out the best way to restore them for some time. I'm glad to know that paint stripper will at least do part of the job. Any other tips would be much appreciated!

Jessica @ Decor Adventures said...

It's really nice to hear about that Stripper After Wash, I didn't know they had such an item. I need some now for a project.

Kristine said...

I am new to reading your blog- and I am HOOKED! Can't wait to see how this door works out. I think I especially love your blog because my 3rd daughter is named Layla- small world! :-)
Kristine

KellyMellyBoBellyBananaFanna said...

I love that you were able to salvage the doorknob -- it's gorgeous!

p.s. I used to work for a company that supplied solid core wood doors, so I love to see you rescuing this beauty! Just a quick tip for anyone else that wants to try and salvage one: use a meter to check the moisture level of the wood, and store in an air conditioned space to prevent warping.

Great post!

Kelly
http://tearinguphouses.blogspot.com

Grace @ Ruby Moon Designs said...

Your door is coming along beautifully! Thanks for sharing its progress!

-Grace

Cottage Dreamers said...

You guys are so clever! Now I want to do that too! Look forward to seeing it finished!

The Country Nest said...

Wow, the door looks great and you made stripping paint look so easy. You two amaze me at how you jump in and try things and they all turn out so we. Can't wait to see the finished project.
Donna

Frugal Jen said...

Wow, that looks great! I look forward to seeing the finished product.

Now I've got an itch to do some paint striping.

The Huntsville Dunns said...

I love all the detailed pictures and step by step instructions......you make it look possible for a beginner to do. I can't wait to see the finished product!

Honorablyfallen said...

WOW awesome that stripper stuff lol we need it in 5 gallon buckets here! its funny we have the EXACT same door even the door knob in our bed room in this old house. - Sarahlynn

Anonymous said...

Looks great!! can't wait to see it all done!

Cheryl said...

What a beautiful wood door underneath all that paint. That citri stripping stuff works. Did it have an awful smell to it or no? Was it nice to work with. It looks like it does the job for sure. Love your idea with the frosted glass. The bathroom door will be very unique.

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Love the grain of that wood. I can't wait to see the finished project!

Rachel Elizabeth said...

I can't wait to see the finished project

Chris said...

Oh man! It's like a cliff hanger! I can't wait for tomorrow!

Roeshel said...

You made that look way too easy. It's going to be fabulous. Can't wait to see it all done! :)

R

Meghan said...

You guys are SO inspiring. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

sarah said...

looks great, love the knob and how the wood came up

nice step by step...

Sarah

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

If only the auburn game had gone as well as your project!

geri said...

Hi Guys.
You made it all look so easy and doable I "ALMOST" want to run and get my goggles, gloves and stripping knife and give it a shot.
However I then remember how I paint anything and everything that stands still. It is hard to not remember taking 3 days stripping a dresser to find it had all sorts of pressed woods that it was made of. YIKES! I was bummed.
So for now I will just enjoy watching you and Kevin transform this frog into a prince.
Love it so far. geri.

Sissie's Shabby Cottage said...

Wow, that's a great project and required a lot of elbow grease.
Great Job and thanks for showing us the step by step redo.

Beach House 27 said...

hi

love the door and the knob -
great blog
i'll be back

marsha

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

HI, Layla, I had to come back in town & catch up with The Nest shoot. Sounds SO exciting! I'm so happy for you both & can't wait to see it all in print. What a fab opportunity.

Christine said...

This looks great! I love that after wash, I need to use that.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

And, when you're done, you're both coming to my house and doing that same thing to my downstairs guest bathroom? ;)

Is there anything you can't do?

Anonymous said...

Can I ask how old the door is? From the 50's? Our house is 100 years old, and when we remodeled, the kitchen doors, which have been painted for most, if not all of that time, wouldn't let go all of their paint when they were stripped. Seeing this makes me want to try again though!

Angie
shopaholic0603@hotmail.com

Cassie said...

It really looks great so far! I have never had to remove paint before but I have a piece sitting in my basement waiting to have the paint removed and I was trying to think of the best and easiest way to do it. I'm so glad I saw your post, you made it look so easy. We'll see if I have the same luck! :P

I can't wait to see the door when it's all finished. I'm sure it will look so pretty!

Stefanie said...

Looks great so far! I can't wait to see the finished product....especially since we are trying to figure out what color to stain our wood floors. I remember seeing "special walnut" on the list of possibilities!

Angie said...

great timing! We are about to embark on this very same project. Our upstairs hallway is so dark- I just know that the frosted glass door will help a ton!

Amy R. said...

Wow! That is looking great! The door is going to add so much character to that bathroom!
Amy

Anonymous said...

I just started following your blog and I love it! Now that I read about y'all being Auburn fans, I am hooked!
-Leslie

Sharon said...

Door looks great ... love the two layers of plexiglas to let in the light.

Kim said...

I have a question about the paint stripper. Can it be used on furniture that is NOT real wood? I bought this bookshelf that has been painted many times over, with either latex paint or something else really thick and difficult to sand off. I don't think it is real wood, so I don't want to ruin it, but I would like a much easier and faster way to remove the paint without going through a massive amount of sand paper. Any thoughts?

Your blog is so inspiring! I'm so glad I came across it!

decorator to the stars said...

GREAT STRIP JOB. FOR FUTURE JOBS, I LAY A GARBAGE BAG OVER THE ITEM TO BE STRIPPED AFTER THE STRIPPER SOLUTION IS APPLIED, THIS HOLDS IN THE HEAT & ACTIVATES IT MUCH FASTER (WITHIN 15 MINUTES).IT MAKES A LONG JOB EASIER & FAST, HARDLY ANY SCRAPING ALSO. GIO

Unknown said...

Wish the game had turned out as well as the door. Great job and War Eagle!

Dondra

Kristi @ Addicted 2 Decorating said...

That's really brilliant the way you left the 1" border of wood to attach the plexiglas to. I've always wondered how people do that. Now I know!! You've inspired me. I'm really needing to switch out my cheap hollow core doors with something with character. Maybe I'll head down to Restore and see what I can find! Thanks for the inspiration...and the tutorial.

truly blessed said...

what a great project! you guys are so stinkin' creative. i'd love to just live in your head for a few days. my house would truly benefit from it! can't wait to see the finished door. i'm sure it will be uber fabulous.