Sunday, October 4, 2009

Ashley's Door Turned Mantel Decor

I have quickly learned to never turn down a piece of junk!  It may not be vision at first sight but it will soon come!  My BFF, Lauri, is a true friend!  I cannot count how many times she has called me willing to dumpster dive through someones trash if I was interested!  That's where this story begins.  Several months ago I got a phone call from Lauri saying ~ I just passed a door on the side of the road....it's not a whole door but do you want it?  Well, duh!  Great friend I have ~ she not only loaded it into her car on the side of the road, she also brought it to my house for me!  I have had many visions in the past months for this 3/4 of a door but I wasn't super excited about any of them until this vision!  I had a hunch this would make the perfect focal point for my mantel!

Here she is the 3/4 door!

I started by taking the hardware off with a Dewalt battery powered drill.

I then marked off a line for cutting.....


and began cutting with a Dewalt battery powered circular saw.

Time for sanding!  I lightly sanded all over to make painting easier and to clean off the cobwebs and dust.

I painted her with Behr Cozy Cottage Satin...

distressed with my 3M sanding block (80 grit paper)


and painted on Minwax Red Mahogany Stain over the distressed edges.

Ralph stopped by for another visit (remember ~ paint on then wipe away)

While I was waiting for her to dry I went to JoAnn's and found the perfect cardboard T on sale for $4.00 ( T is for our last name)

She looked great with 2 coats of Behr Forever Black!

I used Gorilla Glue to secure the T to the center of the "door".

I found these two unfinished wooden corner pieces at JoAnn's for $2.00 ~ painted them with the Behr Cozy Cottage and a touch of Ralph

and secured them to the top corners using Gorilla Glue!

Now for the finishing touch ~ I wanted this to still resemble a door so I purchased a large knob at Hobby Lobby for $3.00.  I drilled a hole to screw in the knob.

Perfect!




I LOVE my new mantel focal point!  It was so easy and almost FREE!!!!  If you would like to make one of these and don't have a junky door laying around you can always buy one at a hardware store and follow these same easy steps!  I hope you have been inspired!

REMINDER!!!

Don't forget our first ever Link Party and Giveaway this Thursday!! You can get all of the details HERE!!
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I will be linking this makeover at DIY Day over at ASPTL... Check it out!
I will be posting this at the Shabby Chic Cottage Transformation Thursday!  I will also be posting this at The Inspired Room and Hooked on Houses!  I will be posting this at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday!  I will also be posting this at The Shades of Pink

66 comments:

Miss Mustard Seed said...

I love it! You girls are so creative and handy. I like seeing a woman with power tools. :)

Unknown said...

HOW DARLING LOVE IT.... AND RIGHT next to those boo jar's on pedestals I love! GREAT JOB!

Leen said...

I LOVE this. So clever.

Thanks also for including the color paint that you use, you must have known I was going to ask :)

Mimi said...

OMG Ashley, I LOVE it! Wow, that is really impressive. You are quite the talent!

Tammy@InStitches said...

Darn, I threw out my extra door !! I would love to have made one. :(

{oc cottage} said...

Fabulous!!!!

m ^..^

Sherri said...

I love it! And all of ya'lls ideas! Plus the info included is awesome! Of course, I'd love one. Now I will be on the 'hunt' for a junk old door.

Anonymous said...

Wow, looks great!

Sharlotte said...

Great idea! It looks great! Love the door knob. Thanks for sharing.

Jody said...

Another creative idea love it!

The Scow's said...

OH MY HEAVENS!!! I love this! I just so happen to have about 15 doors laying around that didn't "fit" in my 100 year old house. Now I know what to do with them! THANKS! YEAH!

Nori said...

I love all of the the added embellishments! Soooo pretty!

Tricia said...

Another great project. I love reading your blog as you both have me on the edge, trying to figure out exactly what you're going to do, only to be outwitted by you every time. Love it!! :-)

Amy said...

SOOOO CUTE!!!! I love it! I'm gonna start looking for a door now!! hehehe

Natalie@Endless Crafting said...

You guys get me excited for our town clean up days. The day that the neighborhood puts all their junk...I mean treasures...out on the street. I will be searching for a door and a chair! :) What a great idea!

Pine Tree Home said...

That was a great trash to treasure! I want the little knob :)

The Giffen Family said...

Love it! I'm also a HUGE fan of the "boo apothecary jars" to the right. Adorable - did you make them, buy them...please share :)

Linda@Coastal Charm said...

Sooooooo creative...just luv what you did here...my head is spinning with ideas of how to use it during the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Linda

Tammy said...

Oooh, another favorite post! I can't wait to find a door of my own. Thank you for the details, as always. You ladies are forever changing the way the world decorates. Or at least me. :)

cindy said...

Flippin' amazing...truly amazing!

duchess said...

Looks great! It's nice to have friends who look out for you.

Design A-Peele said...

just love it! I love using letters around the house!

Anonymous said...

Very clever and cute idea!
pk @ room remix

Becca said...

So fun!I can't wait to participate!

Sandy said...

Seriously Cool!!!

Sue said...

Hi Ashley, what a fun project to turn a partial door into something attractive for your mantel. I like the addition of the two corner pieces on top. You are one handy chick.
I've never heard of a battery operated circular saw before. How novel of Dewalt to come up with this! Thanks for coming by for a visit this morning!
:-) Sue

Michelle said...

Love the mantle door! The knob is perfect but my favorite the font style of the "T"...very cool!

Team Skousen said...

Great idea! Don't you just love dumpster diving friends??

Wendy @ Ramblings from the Sunshine State said...

It looks lovely!

Jennifer Juniper said...

It's the cutest little mantle door ever! I'll bet The Nester would love this :)

The Feronti Family said...

Thanks for the shout out, friend!! I am still mad at Don for throwing out that chair i went and got for you. He just didn't see the chic in it, only the shanty! MEN!!!

I am also quite impressed with your safety glasses. Always wear your saftey glasses!!!! Safety, safety safety!!!!!!!!

-Lauri

Dresser Girl said...

WAY COOL!!!

Mommy Words said...

OMG I just saw a beat up door today! Is 10.30 too late for a 6 month prego to go driving around and lugging away solid wood doors? Probably. They might think I was up to no good. This is a great idea though. I did notice last week that the ReStore had a TON of doors for $25 and under. Usually I build things new but now I am re-thinking it all!

Beth@The Stories of A to Z said...

It's adorable. Looks like a lot of work went into creating its cuteness. Come visit sometime!

Beth

Angie said...

Love this! I'll have to look in Joanns because I haven't seen these big initials.

Anonymous said...

What an amazing project! I am loving all the ideas I have seen using old doors. This one is just fabulous!

Unknown said...

Love, love, love it! You girls are always soooo creative!

Sharon@Sharon at Home said...

Love it ... something from nothing.

Mandi Shandi said...

Hey ladies! This is the first time I have been to your blog but I will be back for the party! Love the old door. It looks fantastic!

Ashlee said...

This is too original!! Great Job!

Anonymous said...

What a great idea and so creative!!! You girls come up with such amazing ideas!!!

Janna said...

Your blog is so cute and I love the door. I'm gonna follow your blog!

Unknown said...

F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!! What a fantastic idea. Gotta love those big letters at JoAnn's!

Southern Fried Gal said...

Cute idea! Love your letters!

Unknown said...

Love it, now if I can just get up the nerve to use those power tools.
Sandy

Unknown said...

LOVE it! Love it, love it!!!

It's so neat! You did a great job!

Nancy

Jenn said...

Hello,
I have looked everywhere and cannot find candlesticks. What size are your candlesticks? It looks like the two smaller ones are the same size than the other one is a bit larger? I cannot seem to tell from the photo?

Thank you,
Jennifer
isaacwc@hotmail.com

Shanty 2 Chic said...

Hi Everyone! Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments!!!!! ~Ashley

Shanty 2 Chic said...

Jenn~ It is not letting me reply to your email question...The candle sticks are small...and you're right one is a little !taller than the other two. I would say they are around 4 inches tall! Hope this helps

stefanie said...

ta da, you to are awesome!!!

Marigene said...

Oh, to be so creative...love it!

ImagineCozy said...

What a creative way to decorate the mantle.

-Angela

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

I REALLY love this! Looks so, SO good! What a great and creative idea for a door!!!

Have a great weekend! I know you will be busy! :)

Lou Cinda :)

Signing Out said...

It's gorgeous! You are so creative.

Jane

annies home said...

love that I think I will try to make one for my daughters house

niartist said...

LOVE THIS! I'm hosting a giveaway at my blog of genuine Cross Bottles valued at $175. It ends Monday, so hurry over. I think you'll love them! Have you been by yet?

Sam said...

OMG! I love this. My mom has an old pantry door she just had removed and I have a cardboard T upstairs! (T is for our last name too!)

Come on over and say hello at my new blog. I would love the visitors.

trish said...

You two are just amazing! This is way too cute! :o)

xinex said...

You are both so creative and talented...Christine

xinex said...

You are both so creative and talented...Christine

bj said...

o, this turned out really neat. I love it.
It always makes me want to roar when I see a woman using those amazing power tools....!!
"ROAR....I AM WOMAN!!" ;O)

nannykim said...

Wow great fun idea!! The only thing I can make without my hubby is stuff requiring NO power tools!! I am a chicken!!

nannykim from spindle cottage

The Tablescaper said...

How fun and creative! Love the made it without my Hubby!

- The Tablescaper

Michelle said...

Very creative project, I love it. Stop by for a visit soon!
Michelle

Julie said...

Wat to cute
xoxo
Julie

Geezees Custom Canvas Art said...

Love it...you are so creative!

 
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