Ashley’s Door Turned Mantel Decor

October 5, 2009 By
I have quickly learned to never turn down a piece of junk!  It may not be vision at first sight but it will soon come!  My BFF, Lauri, is a true friend!  I cannot count how many times she has called me willing to dumpster dive through someones trash if I was interested!  That’s where this story begins.  Several months ago I got a phone call from Lauri saying ~ I just passed a door on the side of the road….it’s not a whole door but do you want it?  Well, duh!  Great friend I have ~ she not only loaded it into her car on the side of the road, she also brought it to my house for me!  I have had many visions in the past months for this 3/4 of a door but I wasn’t super excited about any of them until this vision!  I had a hunch this would make the perfect focal point for my mantel!
Here she is the 3/4 door!
I started by taking the hardware off with a Dewalt battery powered drill.
I then marked off a line for cutting…..
and began cutting with a Dewalt battery powered circular saw.
Time for sanding!  I lightly sanded all over to make painting easier and to clean off the cobwebs and dust.
I painted her with Behr Cozy Cottage Satin…
distressed with my 3M sanding block (80 grit paper)
and painted on Minwax Red Mahogany Stain over the distressed edges.
Ralph stopped by for another visit (remember ~ paint on then wipe away)
While I was waiting for her to dry I went to JoAnn’s and found the perfect cardboard T on sale for $4.00 ( T is for our last name)
She looked great with 2 coats of Behr Forever Black!
I used Gorilla Glue to secure the T to the center of the “door”.
I found these two unfinished wooden corner pieces at JoAnn’s for $2.00 ~ painted them with the Behr Cozy Cottage and a touch of Ralph
and secured them to the top corners using Gorilla Glue!
Now for the finishing touch ~ I wanted this to still resemble a door so I purchased a large knob at Hobby Lobby for $3.00.  I drilled a hole to screw in the knob.
Perfect!
I LOVE my new mantel focal point!  It was so easy and almost FREE!!!!  If you would like to make one of these and don’t have a junky door laying around you can always buy one at a hardware store and follow these same easy steps!  I hope you have been inspired!

67 Comments Filed Under: Accessories
  • Miss Mustard Seed

    I love it! You girls are so creative and handy. I like seeing a woman with power tools. :)

  • Jenglamgirl

    HOW DARLING LOVE IT…. AND RIGHT next to those boo jar's on pedestals I love! GREAT JOB!

  • Leen

    I LOVE this. So clever.

    Thanks also for including the color paint that you use, you must have known I was going to ask :)

  • Mimi

    OMG Ashley, I LOVE it! Wow, that is really impressive. You are quite the talent!

  • Tammy@InStitches

    Darn, I threw out my extra door !! I would love to have made one. :(

  • tales from an oc cottage

    Fabulous!!!!

    m ^..^

  • Sherri S

    I love it! And all of ya'lls ideas! Plus the info included is awesome! Of course, I'd love one. Now I will be on the 'hunt' for a junk old door.

  • Sheri

    Wow, looks great!

  • Sharlotte

    Great idea! It looks great! Love the door knob. Thanks for sharing.

  • Jody

    Another creative idea love it!

  • Laura, Lynn and Macie Scow

    OH MY HEAVENS!!! I love this! I just so happen to have about 15 doors laying around that didn't "fit" in my 100 year old house. Now I know what to do with them! THANKS! YEAH!

  • Nori

    I love all of the the added embellishments! Soooo pretty!

  • Morning T

    Another great project. I love reading your blog as you both have me on the edge, trying to figure out exactly what you're going to do, only to be outwitted by you every time. Love it!! :-)

  • Amy

    SOOOO CUTE!!!! I love it! I'm gonna start looking for a door now!! hehehe

  • Natalie

    You guys get me excited for our town clean up days. The day that the neighborhood puts all their junk…I mean treasures…out on the street. I will be searching for a door and a chair! :) What a great idea!

  • cottagewish

    That was a great trash to treasure! I want the little knob :)

  • The Giffen Family

    Love it! I'm also a HUGE fan of the "boo apothecary jars" to the right. Adorable – did you make them, buy them…please share :)

  • Linda@Coastal Charm

    Sooooooo creative…just luv what you did here…my head is spinning with ideas of how to use it during the Christmas season. Thanks for sharing.

    Blessings,
    Linda

  • Tammy

    Oooh, another favorite post! I can't wait to find a door of my own. Thank you for the details, as always. You ladies are forever changing the way the world decorates. Or at least me. :)

  • Cindy Harvey

    Flippin' amazing…truly amazing!

  • duchess

    Looks great! It's nice to have friends who look out for you.

  • Beth Peele

    just love it! I love using letters around the house!

  • pk

    Very clever and cute idea!
    pk @ room remix

  • Rebecca D.

    So fun!I can't wait to participate!

  • Sandy

    Seriously Cool!!!

  • Sue

    Hi Ashley, what a fun project to turn a partial door into something attractive for your mantel. I like the addition of the two corner pieces on top. You are one handy chick.
    I've never heard of a battery operated circular saw before. How novel of Dewalt to come up with this! Thanks for coming by for a visit this morning!
    :-) Sue

  • Michelle

    Love the mantle door! The knob is perfect but my favorite the font style of the "T"…very cool!

  • Craig, Blair and Turbo Skousen

    Great idea! Don't you just love dumpster diving friends??

  • Wendy

    It looks lovely!

  • Jennifer Juniper

    It's the cutest little mantle door ever! I'll bet The Nester would love this :)

  • The Feronti Family

    Thanks for the shout out, friend!! I am still mad at Don for throwing out that chair i went and got for you. He just didn't see the chic in it, only the shanty! MEN!!!

    I am also quite impressed with your safety glasses. Always wear your saftey glasses!!!! Safety, safety safety!!!!!!!!

    -Lauri

  • Dresser Girl

    WAY COOL!!!

  • Mommy Words

    OMG I just saw a beat up door today! Is 10.30 too late for a 6 month prego to go driving around and lugging away solid wood doors? Probably. They might think I was up to no good. This is a great idea though. I did notice last week that the ReStore had a TON of doors for $25 and under. Usually I build things new but now I am re-thinking it all!

  • Beth@The Stories of A to Z

    It's adorable. Looks like a lot of work went into creating its cuteness. Come visit sometime!

    Beth

  • Angie

    Love this! I'll have to look in Joanns because I haven't seen these big initials.

  • Kara@ Creations by Kara

    What an amazing project! I am loving all the ideas I have seen using old doors. This one is just fabulous!

  • Gina @ The Shabby Chic Cottage

    Love, love, love it! You girls are always soooo creative!

  • Sharon

    Love it … something from nothing.

  • Mandi Shandi

    Hey ladies! This is the first time I have been to your blog but I will be back for the party! Love the old door. It looks fantastic!

  • Ashlee

    This is too original!! Great Job!

  • Aimee

    What a great idea and so creative!!! You girls come up with such amazing ideas!!!

  • janna

    Your blog is so cute and I love the door. I'm gonna follow your blog!

  • Teri

    Very creative! I love it!

  • Kimm at Reinvented

    F.A.B.U.L.O.U.S!! What a fantastic idea. Gotta love those big letters at JoAnn's!

  • Southern Fried Gal

    Cute idea! Love your letters!

  • Sandy

    Love it, now if I can just get up the nerve to use those power tools.
    Sandy

  • Nancy

    LOVE it! Love it, love it!!!

    It's so neat! You did a great job!

    Nancy

  • Jenn
  • Shanty 2 Chic

    Hi Everyone! Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments!!!!! ~Ashley

  • Shanty 2 Chic

    Jenn~ It is not letting me reply to your email question…The candle sticks are small…and you're right one is a little !taller than the other two. I would say they are around 4 inches tall! Hope this helps

  • stefanie

    ta da, you to are awesome!!!

  • Mimi

    Oh, to be so creative…love it!

  • ImagineCozy

    What a creative way to decorate the mantle.

    -Angela

  • Lou Cinda

    I REALLY love this! Looks so, SO good! What a great and creative idea for a door!!!

    Have a great weekend! I know you will be busy! :)

    Lou Cinda :)

  • Jane (Frugal Fine Living)

    It's gorgeous! You are so creative.

    Jane

  • shopannies

    love that I think I will try to make one for my daughters house

  • niartist

    LOVE THIS! I'm hosting a giveaway at my blog of genuine Cross Bottles valued at $175. It ends Monday, so hurry over. I think you'll love them! Have you been by yet?

  • Sam

    OMG! I love this. My mom has an old pantry door she just had removed and I have a cardboard T upstairs! (T is for our last name too!)

    Come on over and say hello at my new blog. I would love the visitors.

  • Tricia Anne

    You two are just amazing! This is way too cute! :o )

  • xinex

    You are both so creative and talented…Christine

  • xinex

    You are both so creative and talented…Christine

  • bj

    o, this turned out really neat. I love it.
    It always makes me want to roar when I see a woman using those amazing power tools….!!
    "ROAR….I AM WOMAN!!" ;O)

  • nannykim

    Wow great fun idea!! The only thing I can make without my hubby is stuff requiring NO power tools!! I am a chicken!!

    nannykim from spindle cottage

  • The Tablescaper

    How fun and creative! Love the made it without my Hubby!

    - The Tablescaper

  • Michelle

    Very creative project, I love it. Stop by for a visit soon!
    Michelle

  • Julie

    Wat to cute
    xoxo
    Julie

  • Geezees Geezees Custom Canvas Art

    Love it…you are so creative!