doorknob makeover

Simple things can be forgotten when buying a builder home...like the fact that the contractors search high and low for the cheapest of the cheap when it comes to installing light fixtures and doorknobs in our homes. I think the brass doorknob comes in at a whopping $5.49 in most Canadian hardware stores, compared to a decent black knob ringing in around $35.00 and up.

I can't walk by a door in my home without hearing that pshyco music (wweeh wweeh wweeh) as I see my head reflected back at me in the most unusual of bubbly shapes. And even though yesterday I was feeling the onset of a certain cold coming on...those knobs were going to meet their maker! I was in a shopping mood, and yet something must have been drastically wrong with me because after dragging a girlfriend round store after store to find who knows what, I came only with only flat black spray paint and birthday invitations. It was a proud day for Mr. vG. And the doorknob makeover begins...

Meet the enemy...

I put a screw through a piece of plywood to hold up the knobs of this sort, and then sprayed around them. I sprayed a coat of primer and then continued on with two coats of the black Rustoleum Painters' Touch in matte finish.

Mr. vG came home in the middle of my project and was quite impressed with my layout of knobs. But of course, had something to say. He thought that the primer was a good step to ensure a better adhersion of the paint, however, if you want to take it one step further, he suggests sanding lightly with a ultra high grade sanding paper, one that won't leave scratch marks and then priming and painting. Urgh. Well, I quit at my six knobs then...only 32 more to go tomorrow when I pick up some sand paper. So many knobs...

Here's a peek of the before and afters:





Oh and I've not looked around in blogland to see if someone has tried this already, so I don't know the success rate of how well the paint holds up. I will give it a couple of weeks for my three children to abuse them and let you all know. Until then...have yourself a wonderful week!

PS In the pictures, I haven't done the hinges yet...but they will come next let me assure you! My brassy days are numbered! : )