Dining Room

Progress on the Yellow Door

I had an extra hour yesterday (which never seems to happen!), so I started work on the yellow door. I really wanted to add some architectural detail to that cheapest of cheap hollow-core door. This image from Patrice Cowan Bevins was my inspiration. I picked up three lengths of inexpensive shoe moulding from Home Depot,…

I had an extra hour yesterday (which never seems to happen!), so I started work on the yellow door.

I really wanted to add some architectural detail to that cheapest of cheap hollow-core door. This image from Patrice Cowan Bevins was my inspiration.

I picked up three lengths of inexpensive shoe moulding from Home Depot,

and six of these shorter mouldings from Michaels (the same bin I got my studded trim from).

This little hand saw has been my best friend today.

I absolutely zipped through the cutting of the moulding using the saw and my miter box (both are about $5 at Home Depot).


The bigger outer square is 20.5″ wide and the inner square is 16.5″.

I used some Liquid Nails to glue the squares on the door (I very roughly marked out the lines on the door first as a guide), but I think tomorrow I’m going to nail some wire brads in too before I caulk the whole thing and give it a paint job. I’m excited about the yellow! I think it will be a really fun and unexpected.

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44 thoughts on “Progress on the Yellow Door

  1. It's looking great so far! I was disappointed yesterday to find out that my local Michael's no longer carries decorative molding. And here in Charlotte we don't have JoAnns – can you believe that?

  2. Hollow core doors…eeewww, moulding applied in a creative way along with a coat of yummy yellow paint? Right on! What a great project to inject a little life and interest. Can't wait to see the result!

    Cathy @ Room Rx

  3. I've been trying to think of how I can make these big square moldings for my empty walls! I have never seent the miter box but now think it is brilliant. Thanks for the tutorial!
    P.s. I love the photo of you holding the hand saw but still with painted nails! haha

  4. How are you so awesome?? I love your can-do attitude and use of color. I used your black/coral bookshelf as inspiration and sassed up an old ikea shelf for my dining room. It's way cute!

  5. Duh! I didn't realize you could cut corners with a simple tool like that! I've stalled on many projects thinking there was some huge, complex tool you needed to cut corners! Thanks for simplifying my life!

  6. wow. i love that and would not have thought of it. all of our doors are already molded…so maybe some day in a different house i'll use that idea.

  7. This is such a great idea – I'm totally inspired. I didn't realize you could do this with a simple mitre box and hand saw. Awesome!! It's going to look amazing.

  8. What an awesome idea! I wish I could do this to the super cheap doors in the house that I'm renting. The landlords did a great job renovating and installed quality windows, blinds, and appliances, but totally cheaped out with the doors and doorknobs. I wonder if they would mind some decorative moulding…

  9. What a great idea for a plain door. The molding adds so much richness to it along with the pop of color. I love your blog- I'm a regular. Thanks for all your inspirational ideas- you're really helping me with my home.

  10. Hi Jenny,

    Your blog has been a favorite for about a year. In fact it has been the first one I check for inspiration for many months. I especially loved your kitchen island recently. I love your style and creativity! If I could hire a designer it would be you! However something has happened with your blog in the last month that does not allow me to see the pictures anymore. They are just little boxes. Such a dissappointment. I am not a techy so I don't know what to do. Clicking on the boxes doesn't change them into pictures. I have kind of stopped following your blog because it is too frustrating to not see what you are doing. Anyway thanks for all the ideas and inspiration.

  11. I am a novice to home projects like this but you make it look so easy. When I have an extra hour I certainly don't accomplish things like this – it's going to look amazing. I'm curious about the caulking part – why is that necessary? Hopefully you will talk more about this project in another post – I'm sure I am not the only one who is interested in all the little details! Thanks so much for continuing to impress & inspire.

  12. Which Michaels did you get the trim from? I also live in Manhattan and have been trying to track some down for months! The Michaels near HomeGoods didn't have it last time I looked… Thanks! :)

  13. I've been planning on doing the same thing to one of my interior doors. Right now I'm finishing up on upholstering one of them.

    And I have been planning to paint my front door yellow, too! I love yellow front doors with brass hardware as well as navy blue doors with brass hardware.

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