I love to give back to my community. Anyone who knows me well will know that I would’t be where I currently am without the love and support of my community, so when I have the opportunity to do something to give back, you can be sure I’m all in. Touched by the events in the US earlier this fall, DecoArt approached its team of core bloggers to see if we’d be interested in doing a curb appeal makeover for a charitable organization in our area. I thought long and hard about which organization I wanted to support, but it didn’t take me too long because I settled on the Oromocto and Area SPCA // here //.
*DecoArt sponsored this post, but all thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make PMQ for two possible.
Although Bruce (our dog) is from a breeder, both of our cats are rescues, and I know that I wouldn’t have them in my life if it wasn’t for the SPCA systems. I believe that all animals deserve a loving home, and the SPCA does just that. So helping put a little shine on an organization that does great work for all the unfortunate pets in our area was a no brainer. The Cat Rescue Maritimes aka CARMA // here // also runs a spay and neuter program for cats and local cat colonies from the same building, which meant I was really helping two organizations at once. They’re doing essential work for kitties, and I want to support that.
In case you’re not in the know, DecoArt also has a line of durable exterior paint — the Curb Appeal line // here //. You can paint your front door, your shutters, your trim and more. You don’t need to prime it or seal it, so that take a lot of the guess work and prep time out of it. I’m all about less steps and an easier process, so this was perfect.
DecoArt provided us with paint and a little bit of a budget to help with accessories, and told us to go wild! The team at the Oromocto SPCA and I agreed on a design and a colour, and I got to work.
This is what the front door of the Oromocto and Area SPCA looked like. Not horrible, but definitely not good. The ramp makes it all accessible for pets and humans alike, but it blocks the direct view of the door. The door itself was covered in smudges and pet scratches, and the door frame was home to about 30 spiders.
I started by prying all the signs off, cleaning the door and frame, and going at the whole thing with Goo Gone and then Windex – just in case!
I taped the door’s window, the door frame, and all around the handle and lock. Since the door was being used by people and animals alike during the entire process, I couldn’t just paint it without tape and hope for the best.
This was the original plan for the space — give or take some tweeks — and after some seasonal changes and a little bit of thinking on our feet, we got down to business with a version of this.
We chose a bright and vibrant red to match the red in the Oromocto SPCA’s logo. The Modern Red from the Curb Appeal collection // here // was the obvious choice.
I love a bright red door and it’s totally my style. I grew up with a red door, so being able to paint one was a nice little trip down memory lane for me.
I’ve only got a few process photos for you, because if you follow the very clear and simple directions on the side of the bottle, you’ll be good to go.
Step 1: Start with an angled brush and paint all the recessed areas using long strokes (when possible).
Step 2: Once all the nooks and crannies are done, pain the rest of the door using long generous brush strokes. The paint will even-out to a certain extent (so don’t worry too much about the brush strokes), but don’t heap it on like a crazy person.
Step 3: Leave your door to dry for about 2 hrs in between coats,
Step 4: Do a wet sanding using Windex and 220 grit sandpaper to get rid of any irregularities before applying another coat.
I left the door to dry overnight to make sure it was nice and dry before accessorizing.
A note about painting doors outside in November: do it before the temperature drops too low, and when you’ve got two consecutive dry days.
While the coats were drying, I got to work on a fun doormat. I used a stencil from the Curb Appeal collection // here // and created a Hello / Goodbye doormat.
I used the outdoor living paint and the style same doormat as for my September project // here //. You’ve gotta dab at the doormat using your brush. If you try to roll over the stencil it will just bounce all over the place.
The reveal, while not dramatic, is adorable and just what the Oromocto and Area SPCA needed to make their entryway a little more friendly.
Sadly, not everyone coming to the SPCA is coming to adopt. So it makes me a feel a little better knowing that the bright red door may bring a smile to their faces. PLUS the staff and volunteers love it, so I’m good with that too.
I also wanted to give them a nice big wreath for the door, but I couldn’t find a single one that I liked! Not a single one! I found tons that were supper cute, but nothing that rocked my socks once it was on the door and in context. On a hunch I grabbed one of my wreaths from home and it was kismet. Once the weather takes a turn for the seasonal they’ll be good to go for a big cranberry wreath and winter planter, but for now (with the mild fall weather) this combo felt better.
I mean, c’mon – look how crisp that colour contrast is. It’s fall perfection and I hope they can appreciate that.
The brass kick plate was a great addition to the space because it will save the door from little paws, feet trying to open doors, and all the wear and tear that occur with a busy door.
