How about a post about hunting for knockers? Nope, not those knockers. This is just the follow-up we promised yesterday about updating our door knocker and doorbell.
Here was the situation before: a nice but quite aged door knocker whose main flaw was that the previous owner’s last name that was etched into it (it’s a little hard to see because I slightly blurred it for their sake).
We took the engraving as a sign that it needed to be replaced, rather than salvaged, so we figured we’d use the opportunity to buy something unique and statement piece-y. First we hit up our favorite local hardware store (Pleasant’s Hardware) which had some animal kingdom inspired options that Clara couldn’t keep her hands off of. But with those prices ($188?!) Sherry and I had no trouble.
Our next stop was a local architectural salvage place that’s always full of interesting pieces (Caravati’s). They had some cool options – we especially loved the chunky ring in the bottom right – but the prices were still about one digit longer than we were hoping to spend (that one was $185). I guess I never really thought about how much a door knocker could cost.
Next we scoped out Lowe’s and Home Depot, which both had options like these. The price was certainly right, but it was the same basic urn style knocker that we already had except smaller and not as “original” looking. Plus the size difference would mean we’d have to make new holes in the door to achieve basically the same look.
When the big box stores failed to excite us, we hunted online a little and found some interesting and slightly more affordable options at both Restoration Hardware and Anthropologie. Never did I think I’d put those two stores in the same sentence as “slightly more affordable” but compared to our first options their $50-ish price tags felt like a deal. But these were both about half the size (or less) than our original knocker, so we worried they’d look a little lost/piddly on our two-story facade.
Feeling a bit KO’d by knocker hunting, we started to look at our existing knocker with fresh eyes. A gentleman at Caravati’s had mentioned we could take it someplace to get the engraving buffed out… but maybe it was worth attempting an at-home buffing first? After all, my Dremel had some sanding pads that seemed built for a job like that.
Figuring we didn’t have much to lose, we removed the knocker and I attached the lowest grit sand paper to my Dremel (the one with the roughest texture) in hopes that it would scratch out the old owner’s name.
Scratching achieved. I stopped at first, worrying I was permanently damaging it, but Sherry assured me that a new coat of paint should cover it up. So I charged on, er, buffed on.
After a few passes with the low-grit sandpaper, I went back over with the high-grit stuff (which has a much smoother texture) to minimize the scratches by buffing them. It still had slight traces of my buffing pattern, but it certainly got smoother. It even revealed a gold finish that’s probably close to what the knocker looked like decades ago.
If gold was what we were going for – and if I had the patience to buff every nook and cranny – it could’ve been a very exciting discovery. Instead, I was just happy to get that engraving off so Sherry could get down to oil-rubbed-bronzing it to match the door hardware as well as some other dark-toned items on the porch (more on those in a second). She used her favorite self-priming spray paint by Rustoleum (Universal All-Surface Spray) and just applied three thin coats (more of a mist than a coat, so they built up gradually without dripping).
Once dried, the de-personalized knocker looked right at home on our new blue door. You can see how its fresh shine is reflecting the front yard – there’s even a reflection of Sherry standing in front of it taking the picture, but the area that I sanded down is exactly the same color and texture as the rest of it. Thank goodness for small use-what-you-got victories.
Here’s a detail shot of the door open to try to capture the smooth finish for you with less of the porch reflection thing going on.
While we were at it, we decided to clean up the doorbell too. We liked the shape, so it just needed a coat of the same oil-rubbed bronze finish as the knocker to cover the sloppy looking over-painted areas that had obscured its interesting shape.
Sherry’s trick for keeping the button from getting painted was to press a piece of sticky-tack over it (you know, that poster putty that you use in college to hang Weezer posters?). It was much easier than trying to cut painter’s tape in a perfectly sized circle. And as you can see above, it worked out pretty nicely – she just yanked it off after the paint dried and the button was clean and unpainted underneath.
So that’s how one can of $7 spray paint allowed us to keep and update two etched and painted over items on our porch. Hopefully it’ll come in handy for anyone else out there with a not-quite-there-yet door knocker or doorbell. We really like how the new darker finish helps them stand out more while tying in with the door handle, the black planters on the porch, and even the black rule around the doormat.
Now if we can just do something about that bug-infested crooked light…
Update: And since our current home didn’t come with a wired doorbell, we ended up installing a wireless Ring video doorbell. It was crazy easy and took only 5 steps.
Psst- Clara’s at it again, being all funny and cute over here.
Theresa says
The door looks great. But really, I wanted to say your updated family picture is great! Ya’ll look so happy and summery!! (yes, summer-y)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Theresa!
xo
s
Theresa says
Yes, the door looks lovely along with the hardware but I really wanted to say how much I like your updated family picture. Ya’ll look so summer-y and happy!!
Jo @ To a Pretty Life says
Your “new” knocker and door bell look great! We had an engraved brass knocker on our door at the last house. I can’t remember what name was engraved on it. We never did get around to changing it.
I now have a rusty white cast-iron angel door knocker on my navy blue door, which was $6 at an antique shop.
Hanging on my living room wall, I have a black-painted cast brass lion head knocker that I bought from an architectural salvage place in England when I was 17 (Price: 10 pounds, which was about $22 CAD at the time) I just love door knockers!
YoungHouseLove says
So cool!
xo
s
LUCIANA says
Our closing is next we got and 1978 Villa 2b/2bt in Fort Lauderdale,FL with very tall ceilings,natural wood color ceiling beams and paneling, I don’t want to paint the ceilings or the beams with with, but I am not sure if grey walls would work and that’s is the color the I wanted to use for my walls, I love neutrals?? and also the outside paneling is dark brown and I wanted to paint the front door blue, any suggetions for what gray would work with the ceiling beams inside and what blue goes with chocolate brown exterior walls for the front door ???? HELP…
YoungHouseLove says
lighting is tricky so depending how much hits the front door or is in your villa it will change how paint reads (it could be darker or lighter or greener or grayer, etc). I would just bring back a bunch of paint swatches and hold them up to see what you like!
xo
s
Julianne says
Amazing tip! I would have never thunk in a million years that one could buff engraving out of metal. Great job :O)
Julianne says
BTW….What are your thoughts for a porch light? Do you think you will stay with your current light & clean it up, or look for something else? What kind of look do you think you’ll be looking for, if you are going to change it?
YoungHouseLove says
One of our neighbors has big lanterns on either side of their door and it’s awesome, so we’d love to do that someday! We’d also love to peak the roof of our portico so we can hang a bigger lantern up there instead of the little crooked one that’s there now.
xo
s
Julianne says
That will look fabulous! :O)
nic says
Hi J & S!
LOVE your blog and your book rocks too!
I did just spend some time looking up your “how to spray paint” tips, but I can’t find the answer to this one so I’d be sooo grateful for your help!
You have me HOOKED on Rustoleum ORB with the cool spray handle. But, sometimes when I use it, it “spits” small blobs of paint out and this ruins the finish of whatever I am spraying. It seems to do this regardless of how I am moving my arm and whether I am applying a thin coat etc. Some cans just randomly “spit”. Do you run into this and how can you avoid it??
ORB rules!
YoungHouseLove says
I have this issue occasionally so I’m convinced it depends on the can. Five can be fine and dispense it well but the sixth one can spit or even get completely jammed so nothing comes out. Since it’s a dispensing error, I bring it back and HD or Lowe’s lets me exchange it for a better can which seems to work well. I hate that extra step though, so I usually buy a few cans at a time if it’s a color I use often (then if one is jammed I can exchange it for another one after I complete my project with the other two cans I have on hand).
xo
s
Annie says
I wouldn’t buy it for $188 either, but that fox is freaking awesome. I am jealous of whoever has the extra cash to put that guy on their fron door.
Becky says
I don’t know if anyone already commented this, but your door knocker is from Things Remembered, if you ever want to replace it with one that either has your own last name engraved on it, or one that is the exact same size/shape.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Becky!
xo
s
Maggie Wallace says
Wow, looking at your door knocker I’m thinking we might try something like that on ours… Our house was built in 1955, but it was planned for in the late thirties but then WWII happened! So it’s very Deco in style. Inner front door is original (there was a porch outside when we bought it, which we have replaced with a bigger porch, it’s SW facing so in winter we go and sit in the porch when the sun shines and enjoy some warmth!) and the letter box and lock thingy got painted over when front door repainted after renovation. John (my OH) stripped most of the white paint off, it looks now as if it was originally a bronze colour rather than the black it was when we bought the house. So I’m thinking I’ll have to see if there’s a UK equivalent to your Rustoleum ORB so we can put our letter box back into original looks! It will help when we actually get around to finishing off the paint on front door too of course!
Rebecca says
Too funny!! We have the same knocker, previous owner’s engraving and all. Must have been a really popular thing back in the day. This was just the pep talk I needed to encourage me to take some sandpaper to ours!
Melissa @ ReThreads Charlottesville says
At the beginning of the post I was sad that you were going to trash (or otherwise donate/dispose of) the old knocker without seeing if you could deal with the engraving issue somehow. Or totally embrace the former owner’s last name. I’m so glad it worked out for you to reuse it – it looks GREAT!
Nicole A. says
Did I miss the door handle info? Was it already in place? I looooove it and would love to find something similar!
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
They were something we added right after we purchased the home (since we figured it’s always a good idea to change the locks after a home purchase). I believe they were from Home Depot.
-John
Jen says
You guys are just awesome. All of your houses have been beautiful and I so appreciate you choosing to just go with the flow on this new house. Keep doing what you are doing! Im excited to see what comes next!
Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says
That came out so purdy! I’m stuck in a house rut. I think something drastic needs to happen but I’m not sure what yet. I’ve got a case of the Tuesdays….blah… :o)
My best, Lynn
*how do you guys get motivated when you’re just not feeling it that day?
YoungHouseLove says
I try to tell myself “come on, Clara’s napping – this is your window!!” – which usually panics me into action. Haha!
xo
s
Julie M. says
I just want to add a pinch more of green to that blue door color. It would be the perfect aqua. I need to do this update to our knocker, doorbell and other hardware outside. Can’t wait to see what you pick for the outside light!
Skittle says
We have a very similar knocker on our house, it could even be the same one. Ours is brass colored & I hate it. I just have a personal aversion to pretty much anything gold colored. I don’t know why. But my problem is that I can’t figure out how to get the dern thing off the door! When we repainted the door, I tried my best to figure it out & finally had to paint around all those pretty curves with a tiny artist’s brush because I couldn’t get it off the door. Can you tell me the secret? Pretty please!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmmm, ours just had two screws visible on the inside of the door. If you don’t see any on yours, maybe someone painted or puttied over them? I can’t think of how else it might be attached…
-John
Skittle says
Hmmmm. It’s a metal door & all you can see from the inside is the peep hole. The rest of the door is smooth, so if “they” somehow camouflaged the screws, then they did a much better job of it than anything else they did to the house. Considering all of the crazy things we’ve discovered since moving in, I’d be more likely to believe it’s just glued on. Ahh, the joys of owning a 45 year old home. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, good luck Skittle!
xo
s
Jasmin says
Did anyone else notice that Pottery Barn has now teamed up with Sherwin Williams instead of Benjamin Moore? I wondered why my latest Pottery Barn catalogs had lost the color samples. This is exciting, since we don’t have many “fancy options” out here in the middle of good ole Nebraska! I wish more design shows focused on the parts of the country that don’t have “popular” box stores or outlets.
Sabrina says
You are a spraypainting goddess! My spray paint never sticks! That being said, I totally have to tell my mother how much you saw her original lion head knocker for sale. She threw her knocker in a free box on the curb!
timothy says
i love everything about your new door!!! it inspired me to go hang up our door-knocker that actually has our last name engraved on it too :) we just recently bought our house and it still has some work to be done…correction, a lot of work..( it has one of those plastic doorbells and its cracked) haha.
Lilly says
So cute! I got our whale knocker at a print shop in Dallas called We Are 1976 for $75 and it is always a funny way to let friends know they’re at the right place!
John might have touched my soul a little with the Weezer poster reference. My mom found my green album poster in the attic just a few weeks ago!
YoungHouseLove says
So funny!
xo
s
Tish says
We’ve been going through the exact same thing…wanting to paint our door all spring (and now summer), and then what to do about a door knocker. I think we have the same one as you guys, complete with the previous owners’ name…except that we’ve been in our house for two years now! Yikes! Thanks for the kick in the pants to get on this!
Kim says
Are you thinking a dark finish to the light like the knocker/handle/bell? Just asking as we are looking to replace our upper hall light and most of our stuff is brushed nickel but the entry chandelier is oil rubbed bronze and I kinda love a light in that finish but wonder if I should stick to brushed nickel? It’s a split entry. Love the dark accents with the fun blue and neutral-ish brick. (I consider brick red neutral as so much goes with it but I know not all agree)
YoungHouseLove says
I love layered metals (mixed but appearing a few times each, for example an ORB railing and doorknocker with a chrome light and knob) or matching them all. So as long as one finish isn’t the odd man out (which can look accidental) I think you’re golden!
xo
s
Megan says
Note to self…don’t read YHL while drinking soda. The title of this post made me laugh so hard it almost shot out of my nose! I needed a good laugh today, so thank you.
mollie d says
Ding Dong Hi-Low, you got a new doorbell
YoungHouseLove says
Bwahahah!
xo
s
Cortney says
I love the idea of a decorative knocker. My first thought was to try ebay after the initial search! So, I browsed and they did have some such as this (as an idea):
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lion-Doorknocker-Large-Iron-Door-Knocker-Lionhead-Doorknockers-Lions-Home-Decor-/370846898438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5658329906
YoungHouseLove says
OH MY GOSH. That’s awesome!
xo
s
Vanessa says
Hi guys! I just wanted to let you know that I love reading your blog! You even inspired me to write my own! If you want to check it out…
nessjustinblog.wordpress.com
Thanks for being awesome!
Vanessa
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Vanessa! Off to check it out!
xo
s
Jennifer :: Creative Scatter says
That looks great! I love that blue door too, it’s so inviting! All those pictures of knockers has me really wanting a lion head one. They remind me of being in Paris, they are every where there!
Katie says
The new knocker looks awesome, you guys are super clever.
PS. When my blog grows up, it wants to be just like Young House Love
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Katie!
xo
s
Emily Crowley says
No? No Young Frankenstein quotes? I always enjoy your clever titles though! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4Kbyte51MY
YoungHouseLove says
Boo! Sorry to miss out on that.
xo
s
Chaucea says
*cheers for re-using!!* Yay! I love it when people re-use instead of just gettin’ new. :-D
I’m guessing that taking that light fixture down, cleaning it up and ORBing it would do the trick?
YoungHouseLove says
It hangs a little crooked so we’re not sure we can fix that up or if we’ll donate it and get something else.
xo
s
Jackie Toye says
I got nervous for a second … had to “fast forward” (scroll down) and see you actually Paint the Knocker. I couldn’t believe you wouldn’t just Paint It. hahaha.
Whew, that was my mini Soap Opera Moment. I was thinking, surely she’s going to just paint it, it’s a Great Knocker.
Heather says
I use an old piece of floral foam for painting screws. Just press the screws in a little, then spray the heads. It works great.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip!
xo
s
Heather MacFeather says
I used styrofoam…same idea and it worked like a charm.
Lisa says
I just have to say that you guys totally crack me up.
End of story.
Lisa
missys says
I love love your door! I painted mine almost the same color a few years ago and just love coming home to it! I am betting your neighbors love all the changes!
Ruth says
Your front door is G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. Like the fact you managed with the old knocker instead of getting a new one. Can’t wait to see what you guys have in store for this house of yours.
You know, I was thinking to myself, you guys must be popular in the hardware stores around your area. You are always in and out of those places. Sure some of the people working there will always recognize you when you go there to shop.
YoungHouseLove says
Funny story: the very first person to rub my pregnant belly (back when I was cooking Clara) was one of our favorite Home Depot employees.
xo
s
Jennie says
“What knockers!” Commenting this late in the day, I’m sure somebody already beat me to Young Frankenstein ten times over. I had to say it anyway!
Looks great … nice that you were able to salvage the door knocker. Three cheers for salvage! All of our outdoor hardware was too pitted to consider keeping. I still don’t have a door knocker because I can’t make a decision! Drilling into your door takes real commitment …
braelin says
Looks great! Love the ‘use what you’ve got’ approach!
Question for you– on the first doorbell picture it looks like there’s some white paint from the frame/trim that had been painted on the brick by mistake years ago… However, in the updated photo it appears that the rogue paint splotches have been remarkably removed. Please tell me that you’ve found a great product to help remove old paint from brick!?!? We have paint on our brick from years ago when prior owners painted gutter downspouts without bothering to protect the brick behind/adjacent. I’ve not had much luck removing it and am sick of spending $$ on more stripping products that don’t work.. did you find a solution?! (fingers crossed…).
YoungHouseLove says
Check out the first page of comments for tips on that! Both what we tried (and someone else chimed in with something even better) are in there :)
xo
s
braelin says
Thanks for the reply/directions to those comments (I *try* to read the comments before asking a question that might have already been answered, but missed it this time)! Goof off was one of my (many) failed attempts, but the idea of painting the brick in those spots to match the brick color is genius! Really… how did I not think of that before attempting 67 other chemical solutions!??! In any case, thanks again for providing the forum for such helpful idea sharing!
lindsey [ourhomegrownspud] says
great timing for this post! we just moved and have “eve and owen” etched into our knocker. looks great! I will be attempting to replicate this project soon. thanks!!
Jen F says
Nice, it looks great. Hey, just fyi, automotive sandpaper is great for metal – turns out that jewelers use it all the time. It looks like you got it under control, but in case anyone else doesn’t have a sander, this is an easier sandpaper to work with for things like this.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip, Jen!
-John
Albequerque Plumbing says
Isn’t it amazing when you realize that you don’t have to buy something new, you just have to upgrade what you already have. It looks amazing!
Heather MacFeather says
I love how the knocker turned out. What a great way to suspend the money hemorrhage.
I have old glass knobs in my place and replaced most with one of the ones you were thinking of (in ORB finish as well). In places I didn’t want to spend the money (like the covered porch off the kitchen) I used your ORB spray paint trick. I masked off the glass and sprayed the brass with ORB paint. Same with the circular flange thing. And a light fixture. They turned out SO well. Thanks for the idea…I thought of you guys while I did it!
Susan says
He he he… so you’re getting rid of the blue on the inside and putting blue on the outside. Lol. J/k. Door looks great.
Flamingo says
That lion-form is amazing, gives you the feel you should think twice before knocking at the door :)
Lynda says
Did you get your doors rekeyed? People don’t understand that is the first thing you should do because anyone could have a key.
YoungHouseLove says
We actually purchased and installed new locks, just because the old knob was rusted and pitted.
-John
Andrea says
I’ve been thinking of investing the money I’ll get next year in a house of my own. Now I’m sure I’ll do that just to have a colourful front door of my own :D
Love the ORB’ed knocker – so pretty :)
kelly says
Love the redo on the knocker! I am all for fixing up whatever possible before buying a new one or even vintage. It looks great, can’t wait to see more!
angie says
I love the look of ring knocker as well but certainly did not like the price. I was at Hobby Lobby one day when I saw a hand towel bathroom ring that looked like it would work just like a knocker to me. I spray painted that baby oil rubbed bronze and you’d be none the wiser. It is metal, the door is metal (painted) and works like a charm, and for $5 hellooooo! Amazing!
YoungHouseLove says
That would be awesome!
xo
s
Kaela says
Ahhhhh I feel totally stalkerish but I’m so using pretty much everything you guys have done with your entrance. We bought our first house almost a year ago and I’ve been wanting to do a similar coloured door but couldn’t find a lot of pictures of that blue with red brick!! I was too nervous to just do it without seeing a good example. I also want to paint the bit of siding (now light yellow, soon to be gray like yours!) and re-do the knocker and doorbell. Twinsies!!! I’m hoping you feel flattered vs feeling like calling the police…
Amy says
This looks great! I have trouble with the light even coats process when spray painting, but I would love to know how to do it better. Have you ever, or could you, do a video on your spray painting process? Everything you do comes out looking perfect! Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Sure! I’d love to make a video sometime!
xo
s
Lori says
I am absolutely in love with that door! If my door didn’t need to be replaced (definitely going to happen before fall) I’d paint my door the same color! I’m actually about to paint a bench and two Adirondack chairs something very similar.
YoungHouseLove says
That will be so charming! Send pics!
xo
s