Sunday, June 9, 2013

19 Vintage Door Upcycling Ideas

Did you miss this post about the raffle? You can enter to win my painting Two Cows for Oklahoma AND help the Red Cross at the same time!

vintage door ideas

chippy-door

This old french door has been sitting in our garage for as long as I can remember. Now that escrow has closed and we gotta be outta here in three weeks, this baby is coming with me. Somewhere.

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Look at all of that chippy goodness. I’m trying to leave as much intact as I can, but it needs a few good coats of poly on it to protect it.

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It doesn’t have the original doorknob unfortunately but the keyhole adds an extra touch of character.

It’s propped outside, against my shop right now and I’m thinking I can add the coats of sealer in between packing all of the boxes. But the question is, what will I do with it in my new house? Especially since I’m not 100% sure yet where we’re moving.

There are quite a few options, surprisingly.

 

Chalkboard Doors

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This would be pretty easy, wouldn’t it? I already have chalkboard paint so no added expense.

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Hanging above my desk? That might help keep me on track, but I already have a distressed chalkboard and I rarely use it.

 

Jewelry Holder

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Even with the seven panes of glass there’s room to add some little hooks and have a great jewelry holder. Except I never wear jewelry save for my wedding ring and a pair of earrings once in a while. Nope, I’ll find something else.

 

Magnetic Board

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This is different – a magnetic board. This’d be great for all of those inspiration ideas. Except I don’t rip thru magazines like I used to now that Google has become my BFF.

 

Vintage Door Into Table

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How about a vintage table? So lovely. Of course, this is a full size length door so it’d be much longer.

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More like this. But then I’d have to have a piece of glass cut and, besides, we already have a nice dining room table. Although it’d make a fun workdesk, wouldn’t it? But I already have one of those too.

That’s part of our problem – we already have way too much furniture between us, Mom and I. We’re trying to downsize though. Or, I should say, she’s trying to downsize. I’m trying to find a bigger house.

 

Garden Gates

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How unique is this? At least, I’ve never seen it before. I’m not sure I like it just with two posts on either side though.

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I like this one much, much better. Except, I don’t think I’ll be digging holes and setting posts and building 4 x 4 frames soon. Like, any time soon.

Bedroom Ideas

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Oh, a pretty headboard! I love this idea, actually. I’ve had my bed at Mom’s house set up as a daybed for the past year but the door would work that way too, wouldn’t it.

But again, I know myself. If there’s any building or tweaking to be done, it ain’t gonna happen. If it should just happen to be the right height, length and all, then maybe. But I doubt it.

No, this house will definitely be DIY décor but it’s gonna be “Lazy Gal” DIY, mkay?

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Pretty, but no. Just not me. But it is pretty.

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Maybe a pantry door? That’d certainly add character but it’s doubtful that my door would fit into a rental house door jam. And who knows if I’ll even have a pantry. Still . . . cute though.

 

Bookshelves

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Who would’ve thought of making a bookshelf from a vintage door? Some people are just clever.

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Lovely ideas, all of them. However, if we get the house we’ve applied for there are tons of shelves already built in. (cross your fingers!)

 

Hall Trees

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I think I could manage something like this by finding a bench to set in front of the door. Matching the chippy finish might be a challenge, but I’m always up for a paint challenge.

Building challenge, no. Paint, yes.

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It looks like they pushed a bench right in front of this door, doesn’t it? And it doesn’t even match. Huh. Sometimes my OCDish tendencies run rampant, i.e. matchy-matchy, and I need to back up, take a breath and let them go.

It’s a better look to coordinate and complement, as opposed to just matching everything, I think.

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Now, if I could ever get Brittany, the Pretty Handy Girl, to move to California, she could build this adorable nightstand for me like she did in her guest room.

I’m not holding my breath on that though. Not after all of the work she’s done to create a beautiful home. And I mean she created it herself! (go take a peek – it’s a home tour!)

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Maybe just paint some decorative flowers. I can do that. And it’d be pretty and nice.

But I don’t want ‘nice’. I want something better than ‘nice’.

 

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Cue the choir. This.is.it. Okay, almost. She used actual pressed botanicals and inserted them into each pane. Lovely. Stunning.

I’m thinking that I’ll paint vintage botanicals for each pane. I’m hoping they’re easy to pop out so I could change them with the seasons.

Better than ‘nice’, huh?

Have you scored an old piece of junk that’s been crying for a little love lately? What is it? What are you going to do with it?

2 comments:

  1. Oooh, Love your door! I've seen where people turn them up on their side and install them as a transom window. This allows some light into a room that may not otherwise get any; such as a pantry or perhaps a 1/2 bath. I know that you will find a great place for it! I look forward to that post!!

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  2. I have an old door with an oval glass and i keep int in a corner of my living room and i hang things on it during the year but at Christmas i decorate it with all kinds of Christmas decor i hung a piece of red fabric behind the glass and it looks like i painted the glass...i'm looking for more ideas...its been fun...

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