Prettier Pantry Door

I don't know about you, but there's something about this time of year that simply beckons projects.
Maybe it's because we're all cooped up and I can't help but notice seemingly unimportant things that begin to really bug me.
I know we all have those things in our homes that drive us nuts, but I decided to tackle a few prettifying projects to see if that might help ease the loathing a bit.
Well, um, kinda.
Just as long as I don't look at the other stuff.  :)

Let's take my pantry door, for example.  It's a functional pantry, pitifully basic and unimaginative.  But I don't really have the time, budget, or inclination to really change it, so...I decided to gussy it up a bit instead.

I realized I should take a before picture, but I'd already painted it high gloss white ~ years ago I'd painted it the same color as the wall, even the trim!  I've never liked the door, and I was hoping to make it blend in a bit.

Here is the freshly painted white door.
Yawn.

Then I got to thinkin' again.  What about stenciling a word down the door?
I had all but settled on  "PANTRY" in bold, black chunky letters, but looking around the rest of the room, it simply didn't fit.

I grabbed my bin of acrylic paints that I use so often I store them in the frigid basement and then had a coughing fit over the dust that flew in my face when I opened up the cover...I digress...I still couldn't decide on a color, so I was waiting for inspiration to hit me.

I ended up stippling with basic white and adding a glittery gold to the edges.  Oh, and above the door obviously.  So absolutely nothing like what I'd envisioned!
And I love it!
It's understated, but detailed.  Cute but not too cute.

But the door was looking too white and boring.  What to do, what to do.
Isabelle and I had just purchased a stencil at Michael's (with a coupon!) that I had in mind for another project, but the gears started turning again and...

Same colors, same process, shoot- same paper plate!
Ready to be amazed? ? ?

 

It's so difficult to capture the part I love most in a picture!  Because I left lots of areas of the stencils just white, you don't really "see" them on the door, but you can see the difference in texture and sheen.  The golden edges give everything just a hint of sparkle.

I also thought I'd be SO smart by saving money and buying only a non-functional levered handle, and that I could somehow rig it up with the existing knob...who's gonna see the inside of a pantry door, folks?...but no, in fact no such rigging occurred.  I frowned.  And maybe pouted.  I wanted this to be a super cheap-o prettifying project.

But in the end, I caved, and it cost me $21.88.

And I think it's totally worth it!

Nice, huh?

Sah-wooon.

I know, I know, I've been planning on replacing those tired, builder-grade lighting fixtures in the main entry for a few years now...in time.  In time.

I'll just keep looking at my lovely levered door for now.   :)

Happy Weekend Everyone! 

Happily sharing with The Lettered Cottage 
DIY by Design
the Shabby Chic Cottage
At the Picket Fence