This is medical school

Kitchen Screen Door

So, today's project was...
Finishing the bathroom (that will be a separate entry, when its actually done)

Today's new project became...
Fixing the stupid screen door in my kitchen!


My landlords put a nice unfinished screen door in the kitchen for giving the space some air. Thanks!
Unfortunately, the door is not on hinges. Instead, the door must be picked up, placed in the door frame, and attached with bolt locks on either end into holes they drilled into the frame each time I want to use it.

Door goes to street-front balcony/outdoor stairs that I love :)

Current set-up - requires picking up the door from behind the kitchen "island" where it was being stored (cluttering wall space all the while), placing it on top of the step up, and fastening locks. Had to be removed again to be able to access the outside.

So, today, I went to home depot and purchased 2.5" non-mortise hinges (2pk) for $2.27. I also purchased a 31pc drill/drive kit for my black&decker (B&D) power drill (below) - the kit was on sale for only $6.50 (originally 10.97)!!

My B&D donated by the masterful home flipping ex... I would give back an engagement ring if we'd been engaged but not this baby. Life SO much easier...

 The drill kit will make life easier whenever screwing anything into walls or doors. Before, I was using a drywall screw, which, as the home depot guy confirmed today, is not ideal because you generally want to pre-drill a hole that is actually smaller than the screw you'll be using, and my drywall screws were all 1 size (sharp, but 1 size). The reason you want to pre-drill into wall is to make your life easier, the reason you want to pre-drill into wood is to avoid cracking the wood, based on my experience. The other use for the drill bits will be for any time you want to put a drywall anchor into the wall, for which I was using the simple phillips head bit for my B&D - not wide enough, not deep enough.

Hinges, no big deal right?  Wrong. Realized it was unfinished wood and I could paint it white too! Also, forgot to charge my B&D overnight so this for the meantime...

Painting the door: Ideal order of things (didn't follow this exactly...)

1. Drink water all the time - lots of vasovagal action with all the squatting and rising.
2. Clean the door/remove dust
3. Unscrew deadbolts
4. Fill holes with putty 
5. Tape the screen part of the door along the edges of the frame, try to wedge tape under the frame where possible. I tried just following along where I paint with a folded piece of magazine back, but it would get paint on it, which came off on the screen as I went
1. Tip: tape doesn't stick to the screen very well (duh) so be careful when applying & moving where overlapping (you will want to overlap at least half an inch or else paint will get through cracks) because you will pull the whole thing off
6. Paint the inner molding of the wood with a small angle brush first (worth splurging for a nice one, it will last and avoid making it streaky).
1. Tip: Don't overload with paint, and go slow and steady when at the top, or else it will drip on the screen and its hard to clean off b/c its textured.
2. Pet peeve: sloppy drippy corners. Go over it when the brush is somewhat dry to smooth out the drops.
7. Paint the big parts of the frame with a rolling sponge brush (4x3/8") where possible, and preferably before the spill over from the molding edge to avoid texture. I specifically got the white kind that says "for smooth finishes." I didn't wait for the putty to dry. This project it not high priority.
8.  This will require multiple coats unfortunately, even while using a paint with primer, because as the wood absorbs the paint, it will be uneven and look pine-y.
9. Have to paint both sides of the door, because it will open into the kitchen. ugh. this is taking longer than I thought (as always). Wrap the brushes in a plastic bag so they don't dry out and come back in 1 hr when dry per instructions on paint can. 

I hate the goops in the inner corner - they dry and look messy and lumpy

1 hr dry time 2 hr recoat time meant 1 hr -> flip door, recoat --> 1 hr --> flip door, recoat

Back side was easier to do, mostly just used a roller - less molding. Used an angle brush for the inner side of the frame (perpendicular to the screen).

Next steps:

Kitchen cabinet handle

1. Mark where to attach hinges
2. Debate attaching handles that match door vs. kitchen cabinet handles (right)
3. Flip door in 1 hour from painting and paint the other side, same order - tape, then molding, then sponge brush.

Budget:
Hinges - $2.27 (2 pack)
Drive kit - $6.50 (31 pieces)
Half sponge brush - $3.97 (2pack)

Kitchen painting

Kitchen painting

 One of the first things I did when moving into this apartment was to paint the baseboards - of the whole apartment. Including the radiators. Took a huge amount of time, especially in the rooms with dark paint, but I think it really made the apartment look clean and finished.

Key tips:

1. Wide and good quality painters tape ($5?) - wedge under baseboards where possible. On the walls, make sure the tape is sticking firmly to the wall, or else paint will leak through and get on the walls in splotches. Don't leave the tape on too long or you risk pealing off the original paint. If the new paint dries in a continuum with the tape, use a tape knife along the edge while pulling off tape or the new paint will peel. 
2. Color - Started off with using ceiling paint, but ended up redoing it in a softer white because ceiling paint was way too bright, and didn't match existing trim.

Before - Yellow Baseboards

After - White baseboards

After - White baseboards & radiator

Decided to also do the under-cabinet baseboards a dark black to match the appliances. It was not very difficult and made a big difference - it really framed the overall kitchen and made the existing cabinets look nicer.

Before & After -  Baseboards painted black.

Before

After

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After

Before

 While I had the black paint out, I also decided to paint the rod on the stove (was brown, above) and the step where the door is which I didn't take a pre-photo of but it was in similar condition and color to the baseboards below the cabinets.

Black painted door step.

Internal clock

Today, while doing a crossword standing in the return line at home depot, my internal clock gonged like it was midnight in Back To the Future. Not because I suddenly got an urge to procreate, or defy space-time continuum, but because I realized that I was looking around excitedly for what other cool new toy I could possibly buy before checking out, and it felt so reminiscent of my younger self's excitement at going to the mall, imaging all the high-fashion couture styles I could create from Limited Too teeshirts. Then I got a little older and the mall was replaced by the fabric store, with a poignant condescension toward anyone that simply bought clothes at the mall - how commonly.

When I bought my first sewing machine and learned how to use it by trial-and-error, I knew my habit would have to be supported, so I got a job at Joann's fabrics (where I proceeded to spend half my paycheck on fabric). I wasn't very good, but I always had grand ideas. Sometimes making new clothes from fabric, sometimes tailoring and sprucing cool finds at thrift stores and Garment District (the years living in Cleveland were amazing for this. I miss the salvation armies). I think if I had a dressform I might pick it up again. But now, with my sewing machine broken, my energy has been redirected toward DIY projects around the house nonstop. I recently moved into a beautiful "fixer upper" in a lot of ways, and I'm doing my best at fixing upping. My clock has hit adulttime. But at least its in a fun DIY way - I still get to experiment and not worry about things being perfect. Nothing matches in my new apartment. At all. I used to try but the imperfection makes it extra comfortable.

So, why blog about it?

1. I am so ADD that 1 project leads to 10 and without recording it I may just forget!
2. I am so ADD that those 10 projects may go unfinished and yet I will add another, as my friends can attest to with this recent move. My clothes are still in boxes but I've already done about 10 different things. I need something to keep my accountable.
3. I was puttying up some holes today and realized I've done this before, but don't remember my own tips. So hopefully this will help me reference my own experience.
4. So many people on pinterest, apartment therapy, etc. with many different tips I want to draw from.
5. I'm terrible about money. I'm going to try to keep track of how much I'm spending on each project here.
6. I'm terrible about time. Hoping that keeping track of how long I spend on each project will help me be realistic before I take on projects.

I aspire to make a new blog entry for each project, to be written during breaks, while paint is drying, etc., and maybe afterwards.

So, today's project was...
Finishing the bathroom.

Today's new project became...
Fixing the stupid screen door in my kitchen!