We are currently tackling our pre-thanksgiving to do list. Marc has the big items (porch floor, new back doors) and I have a million little things. Like painting the kitchen window. I know it isn't a big deal, but it is not a great window, so I wanted it to not be the dirty yellow focal point of the kitchen.
Before..........After
I know it is just a little thing, but that window was driving me crazy. The paint was THICK and gobbed on and filthy dirty. Plus, whoever painted it that horrid yellow never scraped the paint off the glass (just like the teal upstairs!).
Here's a belly shot (don't I look enormous?) showing the crappy window a little closer, and then a finished close up.
I wanted to get new hardware, but of course, this stuff is so old that they don't sell hinges that size anymore AND a new similar latch is nowhere to be found.
So I soaked them 24 hours in turpentine and got the 15 layers of paint off. The hinges still looked like crap, so I just spray painted them white, but the latch actually looks really great stripped!
I need to get blackened screws to match that original finish (I think it is just patina'ed brass) and then I'll be all set!
A sneak peak at Marc's work: Here is the really beautiful back porch step. It might actually be good weather at the end of the week for staining!
Labels:
kitchen
Nice photos! Check out restoration hardware for the latch - they carry them.
ReplyDeleteand still jealous of your awesome kitchen...
ReplyDeletenice work on the window, it looks great! we were able to find a latch just like that at a local architectural salvage place, you might be able find hinges at a some place like that.
Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI should add that Marc plans on converting this window to an out-swinging awning window at some point. It makes sense to do that because right now, an in-swinging window will interfere with the cabinet swing. So, that is why I didn't kill myself looking for new hardware.
For future hardware projects: Instead of soaking the paint encrusted window or door hardware in solvent based nasty chemicals, boil them in a pot for about 20 minutes, or get an old crock pot from Goodwill. Add a little automatic dish soap to the water. The paint will just peel off. I still use an old tooth brush and chopstick to get the more stubborn paint off. I really wish someone had told me before I did the hardware from my first kitchen update. All that paint thinner was nasty.
ReplyDeleteNow in my new house I've removed the paint from all the cabinet hardware this way and some of the windows. I'm just not ready to take all the windows down yet.