It’s #MonthlyDIYChallenge day! If you’re new around here and haven’t seen one of our Monthly DIY Challenges, here’s the scoop.. each month we get together with a few of our closet blogging friends and pick a random item or topic that we each have to use to create a DIY project. This month our theme is “trash to treasure” and we had to either find something someone else had thrown out, or use an item that would typically be thrown out in our own home. Fortunately for us (and maybe embarrassingly so), we’ve become rather skilled at the art of garbage picking. We recently found this really cool old door on the curb and decided to give it a makeover to be used as decor in my living room.
The door is much more narrow than a normal interior door, but I thought it would be perfect to prop behind a table in my living room beside the couch. It’s solid wood but had quite a few large gouges and lots of nail holes.
I decided to use wood filler on the large gouges in the picture above. Once that was dry and sanded, I layered several coats of very watered down chalk paint in this order: French Linen, Duck Egg Blue, and Old White (all Annie Sloan brand). When I say very watered down, I mean very watered down. I would dip just the tip of my brush into paint, then dip it into a cup of water and paint. If the paint was still too thick I would dip my brush back in the water and go over it again.
The high water content causes a very thin, uneven coating and if you apply some pressure with the brush, it will even remove some of the paint to let the original wood show through.
One note about painting with water like this: it’s drippy and splashy and messy. I would highly recommend doing this outside.
I added portions of this graphic from The Graphics Fairy to make it look like an old door from a grocer. Since I’m keeping this for my own home, I changed the name at the top to my late grandfathers name, just to make it more personal and because he’s been on my mind a lot lately.
I also watered down the paint for the graphic just a tad (it’s Old White) and tried to roll with the distressed areas. I didn’t want the door to look massively distressed then have a fresh looking graphic on top of it. It makes the graphic a bit hard to read, but that’s how I wanted it.
I wish I could show you a picture of it where it’s actually going to be in my living room, but that room is a total work in progress right now. I’ll be sure to share some pics when it’s done. I may even add a little wreath to the door, and I’m definitely going to secure it to the wall so one of my munchkins doesn’t drag it on top of themselves. It’s solid wood and quite heavy!
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What an awesome find to be sitting by the curb! You did a great job bringing life back into the door and I especially LOVE that you kept the original hardware. Great job!
Thanks Katie! I wish it still had the knobs but even the backplate alone is pretty :).
We too love Trash to Treasure projects…so happy you rescued this antique door and gave it a new home. Your paint layering and graphics are beautiful. We especially love the homage to your late grandfather. Your “new” door will be a great focal point in your living room – well done!
Thanks ladies!
LOOOOVE this! It looks so fun with that “old” graphic!
Thanks so much, Kristi!!
What a beautiful door! Love the graphic on it, Amy! I bet it’s the perfect addition to your living room! Have a great day, friend!
Thanks, Kendra! I’m on the search for a sideboard and an end table for that room before I can pull it all together. I’m excited to finish it!
Oh my gosh! It turned out beautifully! I’m always on the lookout for old doors but never have any luck. Love the graphic you did, Amy!
Thanks Lauren!
Oh my goodness this is SO beautiful! You really are the queen of vintage chic 🙂 I love that you dedicated part of it to your grandfather – what a sweet way to pay homage to him! Can’t wait to see this in your finished space!
Thanks Erica! I love adding something personal to the pieces I’m keeping. I didn’t show a picture of it on the blog, but on Max’s ship dresser I painted his initials on the ship :).
Oh, I love it! The personalized touch you added with your grandfather’s name just makes it that much better. I love the distressed look you created!!
Thanks so much, Jenny!
Awesome garbage find… and I love what you did with this, especially adding your Grandad’s name… It’s so nice to add personal touches like that to things 🙂 Oh – and I’ve done the ‘watery paint’ thing… I agree, messy, but fun 🙂
Thanks so much, Erin!
You and your graphics, I love it! This turned out fabulous 🙂
Thanks Bre! I fear people will get sick of seeing graphics on my stuff but all that detail work is like therapy for me! I just love the process of it. So even if you’re over it just pretend like you’re not because that’s what friends do :).
This is so fantastic Amy, I LOVE the way it came out and I can’t wait to see your living room! Sending you hugs, Coco
Thanks so much, CoCo!!
Aw, this is such a sweet project. So nice to have a little reminder of your grandfather around. Those are the best kinds of things to have in a home. Also, I’m looking forward to seeing your living room revamp! xo
Thanks Bre! I still have a lot of work to do in that room before it’s finished. I’m on the hunt for an antique sideboard and not having any luck so far, but hopefully with summer markets starting up I’ll be able to find one soon!
This turned out amazing! Love the graphic! Can’t wait to see your living room!
Thanks Tara!
This came out awesome, Amy!!! You’re so great at making things look perfectly distressed and pretty! The hardware on that door is to die for as well! What a cool find! 🙂
Thanks Christina! I loved the hardware too. Wish they would’ve thrown away the knobs to, but I guess garbage pickers can’t be choosers :).
Wow! What a makeover! I love the personal touch you added too. You are so talented Amy!!
Thank you so very much, Sydney!
LOVE!!! Greta job on this! I love the graphic that you used! I have been on a hunt for an old door!
Oh I love this! I’ve got to get my hands on an old door, there is SO much you can do with them!! I love how the watered down chalk paint looks!