I'm in love :)

I started painting the door late at night:
Let me back up for a second. Before I even bought the paint, I tested my door to see if the builder had previously painted it with oil-based paint or latex based paint.
How do you test your paint? Dip a cotton ball in some denatured alcohol and rub it on your door.
If the paint comes off onto the cotton ball and the door feels tacky when you run your hand over the spot you rubbed with the alcohol, it's latex based paint. This means you can paint over your door with either oil-based paint or latex paint without having to prime it first. Hooray!
If the paint doesn't come off onto the cotton ball and the door doesn't feel any different when you run your hand over it, you're working with oil-based paint. This means you're going to have to prime your door first with oil-based primer because you can't paint over oil-based paint with latex paint – it simply won't stick. If you go ahead and try to paint it anyway, it'll peel right off. Womp, womp.
Allison's experience scared me so much that I ended up testing my door in a few places just to make sure that I knew what I was working with (latex paint)!
Anyway, back to my door. The first coat of paint looked kind of okay until I saw it in the daylight:
Yikes! The first coat is always the worst so I tried not to worry too much. I sanded the door down with a fine sanding block and then wiped it down with a damp rag. I waited until the door was dry (about 30 minutes) before applying another coat of paint.
I'll admit that painting around all of the studs was no fun. I thought about painting the entire door before gluing them on but I hadn't decided on a color at that point. It's probably a good thing I didn't though since some of the wood glue seeped out from under some of the studs and if I had painted the door ahead of time, I still would have needed to do touch ups. Six of one, half a dozen of the other I guess.
I ended up doing 4 coats of paint:
The finish isn't perfect but it's about as good as I can get it using a brush and a roller. I'm bummed that you can still see some roller marks even though I added Floetrol to my gallon of paint – Valspar's "Indigo Streamer" in semi-gloss.
I plan on investing in a paint sprayer one of these days and when that time comes, I'll sand the door down really well, remove the hardware, take it down from it's hinges, bring it into the garage and add a finishing coat to it. I can't wait for that day :)
I'm really glad I went with navy because it is gorgeous!
It compliments the colors in the artwork better than I expected. It's also really dark so it kind of looks black until your eyes adjust and realize it's actually blue. Maybe I just have bad eyes haha
Everyone likes a before and after, right?
Not bad for $10 worth of wooden studs and a weekend of painting!
Want to make a Big Bang Theory door of your own? Click here for the full DIY tutorial :)
What do you think of the transformation? Was it worth the wait to see the after photos? Are you as impressed as I am?





It's beyond amazing what huge difference such a little (cheap) update makes. Something most people wouldn't think of but it's totally genius Caitlin. I really mean it when I say I want a door just like it.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Julia! Meaningful comments like yours make me want to keep creating more and more :)
Deleteshazam! freaking awesome.
ReplyDeleteWoohoo! :D
Deletei love cassie's reply!
ReplyDeleteit's an awesome look! i love it! i've noted that people will pay attention to what's on tv show sets, strangely that i don't but I will now!
Haha, her reply is great! I never really used to pay attention to TV show sets but I have been a lot more lately. Some of those set designers do such a great job, it's hard to ignore their work!
DeleteLooks great! I love the color!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca!
DeleteIt's amazing! I am totally in love with it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Kelly! :)
DeleteLove this. It looks so sleek and like it cost a fortune. Inspiration can be found anywhere! Already pinned it ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for pinning! Let's keep the cheap, not-costing-a-fortune thing between you and me ;)
DeleteI do love it! The outside needs to be the same! Afterall, TBB door is on the outside!
ReplyDeleteThanks Scotty! The outside is on my to-do list! :)
DeleteIt looks amazing! I love the color!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! The color turned out perfect!
DeleteWoohoo! It looks great! Totally love it! xo Kristin
ReplyDeleteThank you Kristin! :)
DeleteI think you got big bang for your bucks there. Love that door. It looks amazing and original. Love the color!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katja!
DeleteThis is amazing! If it didn't involve me replacing my entire front door I would do this in a heart beat! Love love love!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you, thank you! :)
DeleteNavy was a great choice (when is it ever a bad one...eye makeup probably). I love the studding. It looks incredible!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amber! Navy eye makeup might not be a great choice. Eyeliner might be alright though! It's so dark, people would probably just think it's black haha
DeleteHoly smokes lady that's awesome! Quick question? What finish is the paint? Also, did you have to prime it first? Our door is that standard builder kinda glossy beige. I want to paint it with latex paint but Im afraid of the paint peeling off.
ReplyDeleteThank ya! The finish is semi-gloss. GREAT question by the way! I updated the post with this info but I'm posting it below too in case you don't come back to the post to see it:
DeleteBefore I even bought the paint, I tested my door to see if the builder had previously painted it with oil-based paint or latex based paint.
How do you test your paint? Dip a cotton ball in some denatured alcohol and rub it on your door.
If the paint comes off onto the cotton ball and the door feels tacky when you run your hand over the spot you rubbed with the alcohol, it's latex based paint. This means you can paint over your door with either oil-based paint or latex paint without having to prime it first. Hooray!
If the paint doesn't come off onto the cotton ball and the door doesn't feel any different when you run your hand over it, you're working with oil-based paint. This means you're going to have to prime your door first with oil-based primer because you can't paint over latex paint with oil-based paint – it simply won't stick. If you go ahead and try to paint it anyway, it'll peel right off. Womp, womp.
I seriously cannot believe how amazing this is! Your creativity blows me away. This is the best front door I've ever seen :) Sheldon would be so proud!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kenz! :D
DeleteI love that color. A lot.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a paint sprayer a couple of weekends ago. Totally a good investment!
Thank you! If you don't mind me asking, which paint sprayer did you get?
DeleteBeautiful! Curious why you had to sand down the first coat. I've never painted with oil-based paint so forgive me if it is an obvious question!
ReplyDeleteThanks Becky! I was actually working with latex paint, thankfully. Oil-based paint is so stinky and takes forever to dry haha Anyway, I sanded in between each coat of paint because sometimes your brush or roller can leave ridges of paint or paint splatters on the surface. Sanding them down before applying another coat of paint helps give the door a nice, smooth finish in the end :)
DeleteHey there! Kenz told me to come over in lieu of reading her latest non-existant post & I'm glad I did. I <3 all things BBT and have secretly coveted that door. So glad someone finally knocked it off! As far as the roller marks - that's because of the finish. Try some soap & water and 0000 steel wool. Dip it in, lightly buff those areas & see if they don't disappear completely. And Becky C (comment above mine) you want to sand between paint coats (oil, latex, acrylic) to get out any imperfections before applying the next as it's much harder to get them after there are layers of paint holding them in (be sure to tack cloth or suction vac any sanding dust!). I'm going to go right ahead & add your blog to my list & check back soon. I should prob send Kenz a thank you for introducing me to your blog as well. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteWelcome Dee! Tell Kenz I said thanks for sending you my way! I'll have to try your steel wool mark removal method and see what happens. Is there a specific soap to water ratio I should use?
DeleteI measure nothing. Just make it soapy but not too soapy. I'm sure if you Google it someone has taken the time to post a more scientific/professional/cohesive tutorial on the process. I just wing it. ;)
DeleteAmazeBalls
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteLOVE IT! You did an awesome job, and the wooden nubs are a really cool touch.
ReplyDeleteThank you! The wooden studs definitely bring the overall look of the door up a notch :)
DeleteThis looks amaze-balls! I've been wanting to do the same with my blah-zay door for sooo long. LOVE the BBT and THAT door. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! :D
DeleteJust checking but regarding this paragraph here:
ReplyDelete"If the paint doesn't come off onto the cotton ball and the door doesn't feel any different when you run your hand over it, you're working with oil-based paint. This means you're going to have to prime your door first with oil-based primer because you can't paint over latex paint with oil-based paint – it simply won't stick."
Shouldn't that say "you're working with oil-based paint. This means you're going to have to prime your door first with oil-based primer because you can't paint over OIL-BASED paint with LATEX paint"???
NIce catch, Renee! Thanks for letting me know about the error. I updated the post :)
DeleteActually, with prep you CAN paint latex over oil based. The experts agree. :) http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-apply-latex-over-oil-based-paint/index.html
DeleteOh this is so, so crazy good! Sharing on FB!
ReplyDeleteKelly @ View Along the Way
Thank you Kelly! And thanks for sharing :D
Deletenow this is a great door! great color choice. (although i would be nervous after that first coat too!) and so glad you did the DI big bang theory style. love it.
ReplyDeleteOoooh! Very nice! I love how it's unique and unexpected. Pinning!
ReplyDeleteLooks so good with the added texture, and of course the colour, too.
ReplyDeleteI had to stop by and comment (again) - your door just looks so fab! And your tutorial was great! Awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow! Amazing. That before and after is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteAccidentally commented using my wife's google account. Whoops! Anyway, brilliant project!
ReplyDeletesuch a fabulous idea, and I LOVE that color, too!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me where you got the hardware from and how you applied it?
ReplyDeleteHi Christian! The full DIY tutorial (including what hardware we used) can be found here: http://www.desertdomicile.com/2013/09/diy-big-bang-theory-inspired-door.html
DeleteI covet your door. It is GORGEOUS and you are BRILLIANT.
ReplyDeleteAnnie XO
Your door looks great. I heart the Big Bang Theory--never fails to make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteYour door looks incredible! It has such character and makes a bold statement that I love. Plus I'm a huge Big Bang Theory fan so that makes me like the door even more. Would you mind to link this up to the Frugal Crafty Home Blog Hop? Our readers love to see DIY projects like this!
ReplyDeletehttp://carriethishome.com/2014/02/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop-64/
Love it Caitlin! Big fan of Big Bang too!
ReplyDeletehi! this looks great!!! What color did you use?
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
Valspar's "Indigo Streamer"
Delete