This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of FrogTape® for IZEA. As always, all opinions are 100% mine.
You guys know I like things bold, so you probably won’t be surprised that from the moment we moved into our home, I was itching to do something, anything, to liven up the very bland, off-white stucco box that is our detached garage.
When we started planning the first phase of our backyard makeover a number of years ago, we decided on a patio constructed of square concrete pavers with dark charcoal mortar between each, creating a modern, grid pattern. As the patio came together, I realized that painting the man-door leading into the garage in a coordinating dark grey might be the perfect way to break up the white of the garage.
We’ve been loving our grey door for the past six years, but the door jamb had seen better days! The paint was peeling, exposing the raw wood underneath.
It’s one of those projects I’ve been meaning to take care for a long time, and I decided it was finally time to buckle down and do it before the winter weather hits {which, here in Colorado, often happens as early as October}. I worried that left un-touched, the exposed wood might become damaged during the snowy months.
I started by using a sanding block to remove all of the peeling paint.
We originally decided to paint the door jamb grey to match the door, but opted to leave the trim molding around the door off-white. like the stucco. I like the look, and wanted to stick with it, so before touching up the grey paint, I used FrogTape® Multi-Surface to prevent any paint bleed onto the white trim. {FrogTape® also makes specialty painting tapes for delicate surfaces and textured surfaces, so be sure to check out all the options before deciding which one is right for your paint job.}
Before applying the FrogTape®, I used a damp cloth to remove all of the dust that I created by sanding the old paint, then used another cloth to wipe the surface dry. Once the door jamb was clean, I applied FrogTape® in long strips, using my fingernail to press down the edges to ensure a good seal {a firm, plastic tool like a putty knife or plastic card also works well – in fact, probably even better}.
Did I mention that green tape also makes a stylish bracelet?!
I know some people like to paint without tape, relying on a steady hand and a good brush for a nice, straight line. That’s a talent I don’t possess! I’m a painter’s tape girl all the way!
For me, it was well worth the 10-15 minutes of time invested to tape around the door jamb so that I could paint quickly and worry free! FrogTape® brand painter’s tape has patented PaintBlock® Technology that reacts with the water in latex paint and instanlinetly gels to form a barrier against paint bleed. I knew I’d be assured a nice, sharp paint line and that I wouldn’t need waste time touching up the white door trim paint.
I removed the tape while the paint was still wet, although Multi-Surface FrogTape® can be removed cleanly from most surfaces for up to 21 days.
I pulled the tape off slowly and at a 45 degree angle, and those super sharp paint lines make me grin from ear to ear!
I’m so glad that I finally made the time to touch up the paint on the door jamb! I love being able to check a home maintenance project off of the list, especially when it also improves the style of our home! Look what a difference it makes…
Of course, to get the full impact you need to see the side by side comparison of the dark door difference!
I love the way the dark grey door breaks up the white of the garage wall, and how it ties in with the charcoal mortar between the patio pavers. Be sure to check out our full backyard tour to see how we’ve transformed it from a boring and underutilized space into a colorful, outdoor living room with plenty or room for the kids to play. It proves that even small, urban yards can be full of fun and function.
Are you digging the dark door as much as I am? Painting doors dark has become a popular home improvement project in recent years because it’s a quick and easy way to make a big impact. My favorites are doors in shades of grey, black, and navy. You can find lots more ideas for incorporating dark doors, both indoors and out, on my “Dark Door Style” Pinterest board!
Looking for even more ideas? Check out all of the FrogTape® painting inspiration boards on Pinterest!
