Thursday, May 30, 2013

TROMPE L'OEIL CARRIAGE HOUSE DOORS REVISITED

     These are the garage doors that I painted to look like old barn doors.  The client was so happy that she upgraded them to "carriage house doors".  I think it's been eight or 10 years since I painted them.
     When I'm in that neighborhood, I often drive by to see how the paint job is holding up.  From the street they always looked good.  Recently, I told you I saw a For Sale sign in the yard.  Yesterday, I was in the neighborhood and drove by to see if the house had sold and it had sold and the workers were there doing major renovations.  I gave them my card to give to the new owner in case they wanted me to try to touch up the doors.
     But, when I went outside and looked closely the doors weren't doing too well.  The one on the far left was perfectly the way I painted it and I bet they rarely opened it.  The other two were faded and looked like they were scraped by the door frame being too tight.  I think it would look just fine if they painted the faded two the house color and just left the one as a carriage house door.  In a few weeks, I'll drive by to see what they did.
     The two on the right were in the morning and noon sun and I'm thinking that's part of the fade problem.  I used exterior paint on them and there was no chipped or scratched paint.


From the street they still look ok, but not up close.
I'm sooo glad I have good photos of my work.  They were unique and special.  It was a little bit sad to see them today.
Don't forget to take good photos of your work!!


Here is the link to the 
when I first painted them.

6 comments:

  1. I love the idea of painting the doors the way you did. I'm sure the sun had a lot to do with the fading, but 10 years is a tribute to how long your work lasted.

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    1. Thank you, Maggie. Yes, I knew it was important to use exterior paint. It's more durable in the sun. In my experience, reds and pinks fade the quickest.

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  2. You did a terrific job on the doors. The sun can really fade paint and I am sure that is what happened. Most people paint about every 5 to 7 years. Your did a good job.

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    1. Thank you! I'm eager to see what they do with the doors. I did leave my card with the workers, but I'm not sure if the new owners would want the doors repainted like wood.

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  3. I remember the post with the doors, I had loved how you created them, your trompe-l'oeil work is bar none OUTSTANDING it gives me such pleasure to see it. Their loss if they don't call you to paint them. Have a wonderful weekend. Great tip to always take good pics of your work..

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