Saturday, August 6, 2011

How to Add Molding to Your Doors- Door Header Tutorial

Hey ya’ll!  Recently I was blessed to be asked to review some paint brushes by Purdy and of course I said, “yes”!  I knew I had some things coming up I could use them on and this project was one of them!
Purdy-blogger-btn

Here’s what they sent me! Woo hoo! I’ll tell you up front these are the best brushes I have EVER used! (but keep reading…you’re gonna want to see what I painted with these brushes..and get the tutorial!   lol)
Purdy paint brushes

I have been wanting to do some updating to my doors for a while now and wasn’t sure what I wanted to do until I saw what Emily did to her doors. (she was inspired by Diann)
I’ll show you how I went from this……
how to put molding on doors
this….
how to fix your doors
and this….
how to add molding to your house

To this……
how to make your doors pretty
this…..
how to build door headers

and this……
how to make your doors pretty

To get started you’ll need pre-primed MDF boards from Lowes…I bought 3 1/2” wide x 8’ long boards for $6.76 each.  Each piece did two doors.  (well the regular sized doors…I bought longer pieces for the bigger doors)
First I measured the width across my doorways from the outside edge of the door facing  (most of my doors were 38” wide.) 
how to install molding

I then took my board and cut it with my handy dandy miter saw and nailed it above the doorway like this…


how to install door facing

The next step was crown molding (I had some left over from another project and just bought a little extra to finish up)

Crown molding is a little bit tricky to cut…you have to cut while it’s resting at an angle and upside down…like this. (see how the little curved part is facing up…that’s actually the bottom of the crown.  Also, it’s angled just like it would be when it’s installed)   You cut it at 45degree angles on each end,  and to the length of your board that you’ve already nailed up.
how to cut crown molding

Like this…. (see how the bottom edge of the 45 degree cut is right on the edge of the board that you already installed? This is what you want it to look like on each end)
how to install crown molding
The next step is to cut little pieces that will fit into that space on the end.  Your side pieces will have one 45 degree cut that matches the 45 that you just cut, plus it will have  a straight cut that goes against the wall. (these too are cut upside down and angled)
They’ll look like this when they’re in place
how to install crown molding

I just put some glue on the angled side……
how to install crown molding
stuck it in position and used painters tape to help hold it in place until the glue dried.  Do NOT try to nail this piece in place, it will split out your wood.
I installed a little decorative piece of half round next, to hide where the 3 1/2” piece of MDF joined with the regular facing.  I just glued that piece up too and taped it until it dried.
how to install crown molding
After the glue dried, I primed all the doors with my Kilz 2 primer and my Purdy brushes!
I have to tell you, I LOVE these brushes!  I used to think I was doing  the smart thing by just using the little foam brushes that I could throw away when I finished using them, but I was wrong! I think I’d have been much better off buying a reusable Purdy brush and just keep using it over and over…these have been amazing!  They come in these cute little boxes that you can reuse once you clean your brushes…it keeps the bristles nice and straight.
Purdy brushes

I also enjoyed using a brush with a real wood handle….they were very comfortable to hold. (and let me tell you, I held them for a LONG time…LOTS of painting with these doors!)
Purdy paint brushes

The paint went on beautifully with these brushes, BUT
how to paint woodwork

(ha, you thought I was going to say something negative didn’t you!) Nope, I was going to say, BUT, my favorite part was the angled brushes…they made getting the sides of the doors a breeze to paint! (and it was with no painters tape!)  The only time I used painters tape was to hold the wood while the glue dried! lol

how to paint woodwork

So lets see the before and afters one more time shall we?! (cause we all know that’s our favorite part!)

upstairs hallway BEFORE:
how to make your doors pretty
and AFTER:
DOOR HEADERS :)
Above the front door BEFORE:
how to install woodwork
and AFTER:
how to install crown molding
Over dining room BEFORE:
how to install crown molding
and AFTER:
how to install crown molding

I did ELEVEN of these doorways!! I told you I did a lot of painting!

Ok..to wrap it up, I sawed, I nailed, I glued, I primed and I painted and now I’m in LOVE with my doors and the Purdy Brushes!
If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask away!
Hugs!
Missy
Linking up to Beneath My Heart

46 comments:

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Looks fabulous, Missy...love all the architectural detail it adds!

Dianne said...

It turned out GREAT!!!!

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

Wow Missy, great upgrade over 11 doorways! - very clear tutorial too. Much appreciated.

Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss said...

Oh my! I am a huge SUCKER for great moldings so I am swooning over your new door moldings. FABULOUS!

And I'm a Purdy brush lover too, although I only have one...a 1 inch angled brush I use for everything. I guard that brush with my life and hide it when I'm not using it! LOL. One of the best things I've noticed about my Purdy brush is how nice and easy the paint rinses out of the bristles.

Jen said...

Oh my goodness Missy!! You always make my eyes pop out! I love, love, love what you did to your doors and thank you so much for sharing how you did it! I will be getting Mr Deekie Belle to read this so he can do it to our doors (I would but I am useless with 'men' tools and heights!!)
Hope you are having a lovely weekend!
Big huggles from Down under!
Jen xoxox

aimee said...

it looks beautiful! i love purdy brushes too! they are fantastic! i wish they were less expensive, but they do work great!
blessings,
aimee

Deb Plapp said...

Wow! What a difference crown molding makes. The doorways look fabulous! Great job.

Patty Marker said...

Wow, Missy. Those look fantastic. What a difference the details make!

gail@My Repurposed Life said...

great job missy! super tute too! :) your doorways look fabulous!
I love me some purdy brushes for sure!
gail

Crystal Rose Cottage said...

Oh Missy, this really gives an elegant look to all the doorways and walk thrus! You made it look easy...well, for my husband to do anyway! I just bought some really cheap brushes and I did look at the Purdy's. I am thinking I need to go back and purchase the Purdy's! Another job well done Missy! I bet your husband is just in "awe" of you!~Hugs, Patti

Beth @ UnskinnyBoppy said...

Beautiful job, Missy!! I'm blown away by those afters! WOW!

Gail said...

Very nice! I'll have to keep those brushes in mind.

Carmen said...

You certainly made that look easy (and I know it's not!) It really adds such a look of grace. I walked around and looked at my doorways and thought hmmm - I wish we lived closer. lol While I can do somethings, crown molding didn't make the list. I can't think upside down and backwards. Really, it's what you have to do, no? At any rate, it looks lovely and thumbs up!

❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ said...

Looks great Missy!! I love having trim work around my doors and openings...makes it look SO much better. :)

My Cottage Charm said...

Carmen...I'll let you in on a little secret...this was only my second time doing anything with crown molding. I bet you could do it! :)

Cindy said...

You are totally amazing, you just get in there and do it! The door frames look so much more substantial and high end now. I want to learn how to miter things, but i remember trying it once, and holding a piece of wood, and the little miter box and thinking "now what" my brain can't do it!

Cindy

Linda {Calling it Home} said...

this looks fantastic! Your tutorial is so easy to follow. Well done!

Chris said...

What a fantastic post, Missy! I keep telling myself I'm going to do this, and I chicken out. You couldn't have done any better with the tutorial. I'll be using it! Thank you!

Traci@ Beneath My Heart said...

Missy! I absolutely love this molding! I am hoping to do this type of treatment on some of the doors in our new home someday.
(We were featured at CG together!) Woo to the hoo!
Great job!

Hilary said...

Looks awesome. Thanks for the tips - I am going to teach myself how to use my miter saw, STAT! FYI I linked to your post when discussing my foyer updates. THANKS!

Mrs. Jones from the Circus said...

Holy cow! I love it! I had not thought of just adding to the current molding...I always thought I would need to remove and replace. I love it! Especially over the front entry...very fancy and just perfect! Thanks for sharing!

Katherine said...

I'm totally doing this over every doorway in my house! Thanks so much for sharing!!!

Love Of Quilts said...

Thank for the tutorial you did a splendid job on yours. Trish

farmhouse-story said...

thanks for the tut--it looks lovely!

Monica said...

They look fantastic! I found you through Pinterest. I want to redo my front door and these look great! It'll be my first time with crown molding, although I've done casing before. Wish me luck! :)

Home Lighting said...

Brilliant idea. The molding made the door more elegant. Thanks for sharing this!

Laurie said...

Love these moldings! What is your ceiling height (am curious if my 8-foot ceilings can "support" the look).

stefanie said...

that looks soooooo good, what a huge difference!!! love it!

My Cottage Charm said...

Laurie, my ceilings are just normal 8 foot tall ceilings too. :)
Missy

Anonymous said...

So helpful and it looks great. I am staring at my walls trying to figure out how to do it all as we speak!

Nickie said...

Wow, thanks for the tutorial! I was planning to redo my trim too but I love what you did.

Unknown said...

I have a questions about these beautiful doorways. I was going through the tutorial and it looks like there is a gap behind the crown molding. Do you cover that on the top or how do you clean back there? Maybe just a vaccuum attachment...

Thanks,
Jen

My Cottage Charm said...

Jen, it is open on top...I just use my vacuum cleaner hose to clean it out on occasion. :)
Missy

Kathleen @ Treasure said...

This is the most understandable tutorial I've ever seen for crown molding ... your use of the power tools is to be admired! Love the room "identities" hanging over the doorways - so elegant! A project I definitely want to do!

GirlyGirl said...

I agree with Kathleen - this was the most understandable tutorial. I am terrible w measurements and angles and all that but reading thru it makes sense in my head how to do it. Looking forward to trying this! Found thru Pinterest. Thanks so much for sharing!

GirlyGirl said...

Also, this might sound weird, but do u know of any other way to cut the board/moulding? Like would a table saw work? I think that's what hubby has.

My Cottage Charm said...

GirlyGirl...You couldn't use a table saw for this project, you really need a miter saw because of the angles etc. :)

JOY 2 JOURNEY said...

I don't know how I got to this page as I started way back and followed the links to here! I am doing this on my doorway and I love the tutorial you have. I think I made mine way to hard!!! So glad I found you!!!
Hugs,
Bj@Joy2Journey

Anonymous said...

Just curious, the third door looks very close to the wall, did this cause any problems for you?

Salt Lick Shop said...

It's so cool how a little thing such as trim can transform a home. I love it. Thanks for sharing the idea. I am gonna start this project this weekend!

macmomdaly said...

OMGoodness! I have the same front door entrance and never thought of this! Great idea! I'm going to pin this (give you credit of course!). Thanks for sharing.

Rayne Daze Creations said...

Love this! I'm in the middle for remodeling my home, and I think I will do this on all the doorways in the hallway. My question is: how did you do that texture on your ceiling? I want that!!!

Corina said...

Amazing, I am going to do this today! So... I have the same brush, and am not sure on the best way to clean my brush? Do you have any suggestions?

Todd Stone said...

Which crown molding from Lowes did you use?

Unknown said...

Missy, it looks like your hallway moldings are taller than the dining room molding. Does it just look that way to me? If they really are taller, did you have a reason or a rule of thumb? I'm so glad to find your blog. I've been wanting to do the windows and doors in this house from the beginning. I've also seen people do more elaborate window ledge areas. I think all of those details really make a huge difference. Thanks so much. Betty

Marie wallis Interiors said...

This is the perfect tutorial thank you so much..

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