A little backstory: I'm a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory and have always loved the look of their studded apartment doors.

I love them so much that I made a Big Bang Theory inspired studded door of my own!

I started the project by measuring the height and width of our front door as well as the height and width of the top and bottom panels. I created a life-sized version of the door in Illustrator for two reasons – A) so I could figure out the exact spacing of each stud and B) so I'd know how many studs to order:
It took a lot of math to nail down the spacing but I finally figured it out after a lot of trial and error...and headaches. My spacing will differ from yours (unless we have the same door) so I'm not going to explain mine in detail but if you have any questions about it, let me know!
After I figured out the spacing and the total amount of studs I needed, I started searching for bulk quantities of them. I found the cheapest ones here:
I ordered 200 3/4" Maple roundhead plugs. They were $5 for a bag of 100 studs so I ordered two bags for $10...and paid $8.95 in shipping :(
After they arrived, I started to transfer the measurements from my illustration to my door by measuring 1 3/8" in from each side and drawing a light pencil mark:
Then I started measuring out the placement of my studs:
This part was fairly easy since all of my math was figured out in my illustration!
I checked and double-checked each measurement, took a deep breath, and started gluing the studs to my door:
The studs are lightweight so I just used wood glue to stick them to my door.
After I finished the top row, I started on the left and right sides:
I taped a smaller level to the left of my pencil mark so each stud would line up perfectly:
I wanted both the left and right sides to line up exactly so I taped two levels together to act as one larger one that could span both rows.
Don't judge me haha I have a 36" level that I could have used but it hit the door's trim and made it stick out away from the panel's so I had to get creative. I don't own a laser level but it would really come in handy if you decide to tackle this project yourself!
Anyway, after the glue on the left stud had started to get tacky and it was no longer wiggling, I lined the makeshift level up to the bottom of it and leveled the level. I added some glue to the back of another stud and lined it up with the bottom of the level. As soon as it was no longer wiggly, I used another smaller level to make sure it was in line with the previous studs above it. I double checked everything a few times before moving onto the next row:
A few repetitive hours passed until I had the full top panel and top row of the bottom panel done:
I repeated the same glue, level, check process for the rest of the bottom panel's studs:
See? Proof I own a larger level ;)
I finished adding the studs on Friday night. I taped everything off and prepped the door for painting the next morning:
In case you're wondering, I painted it navy (Valspar's "Indigo Streamer"):
The door turned out much better than I expected! I love it so much that I'm thinking about adding the studs to the front of our door too!
I hate to break this post up into two but I want to focus on the DIY details today and will share all of the after photos tomorrow! UPDATE: Click here to see the after photos :)
Are you a Big Bang Theory fan? If so, what do you think of our "new" front door?





great post!! how creative!! it looks like a brand new door!!
ReplyDeletepainting supplies
Thanks!
DeleteWOW! this is so cool!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cassie! :)
DeleteI think this is another genius idea. It looks beyond awesome. I would totally love this on my door but we have one of those annoying windows!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Julia! I'm sure you could make it work around the window!
DeleteLove love love! Great idea Caitlin :) xo Kristin
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristin!
DeleteYou are way too creative! I love it. Can't wait to see the final door.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kelly! :)
DeleteThis is awesome! Seriously. Super smart.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle! :)
DeleteOhhhhhhhhhhhh my gosh. THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kenz! :D
DeleteOh man I love the navy so much I wish I could do that in my home but I just don't think it would go. Navy is just so classy, love love love.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shel! I'm really happy with the navy. It's so dark that it almost looks black until your eyes adjust and you see the blue. Or maybe I just have bad eyes haha
Deletebrilliant idea! love, love, love it, and Big Bang theory :) can't wait to see the final pics!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sonja! Final photos will be posted bright and early tomorrow morning! I'll also update this post with a few of them in case you miss the other one :)
Deletegreat idea. I have always loved those doors (Ross on friends also has the same kind of door!) i've always wondered why I've never seen one in real life in any home or apt!
ReplyDeleteLove the color choice too. And darn it 8.95 to ship it!! Can't to see it complete!
As if a navy door isn't sexy enough, you had to go and step it up ten notches! I love love love it. And my not-ocd-enough side of me totally appreciates your attention to detail. I would've eye balled it and hated myself.
ReplyDeleteOr just made my husband do it. Yeah.
Ooh, what a good idea! I can't wait to see the finished product. You have such cool style.
ReplyDeleteDarnit woman! You and you're your creativity!!!! I love this so much!
ReplyDeleteWow I love that door… now where can I incorporate that idea in my house…
ReplyDeleteThis is so beyond fab! I love this project!
ReplyDeleteI was so inspired by this post, I had to do it myself. I know this must be old news for you but I did it! And even made a little video showing others.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqKuSuWzxec
If it was't for your effort it wouldn't have come out so great. Thank You.
The Big Bang Theory has its origination in an exceedingly domain that is way on the far side the comprehension of the senses and also the mind. it's for the Enlightened beings to be able to perceive in absolute order the conception of the massive Big Bang Theory network.
ReplyDelete