Paint It Black

To be fair, we actually saw 2 white doors instead of a red one, but you get the idea. Out of all the DIY projects Mr. O and I have executed (and there have been quite a few) painting the front and back doors and replacing their respective hardware was by FAR the biggest pain in the ass. Don't be fooled (as we were) into thinking this is an easy task. It's not. To begin, drill out your existing hardware. Hinges, locksets, and handles. You'll want everything to match in the end so it's best to knock it out all at once.

Once you've removed your hardware, prime and paint. We had the good fortune of being able to schedule this in the dead of August when it's so hot if you're working more than 5 minutes outside you start to see spots. If you've got cutouts in your door you'll want to hit these with a brush first then roll the rest. Once you're painted get ready for the fun stuff. Install your locksets first. Wiggling and jiggling is all a part of the process. Do your hinges next. This is what we had the most trouble with. Even though we tried to drill into the existing holes we just couldn't get the door on straight. If anyone has any tips please jump in. Do the strikes next and then pour yourself a damn huge glass of wine. Nay, stick a straw in the bottle.

BEFORE AND AFTER