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Stairwell Makeover – Part 3

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“The best decisions are always made at the last minute.
Just know when the last minute is.”
-Holly Hunt

Well, I did it. I painted the previously galvanized sliding track.

I taped off the wall behind it, I cleaned it with Goo Gone and water, I used a 120 grit sanding block to scuff it up, I painted it with leftover black latex paint and I love the way it turned out!

Gray Owl paint cut by 50 percent | Sliding Barn Track Door

Time to start decorating! 😀

PS- For more makeover pics between posts, join me over on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram!

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Comments

  1. Kate

    I love the dark floors against the practically white walls. You mentioned earlier you were planning on changing the stair treads. Personally I hope you change your mind. Based on the pictures the floors are perfect compliments to your walls. But if the floors are more orangy than they look in the pics, I could see why you would want to change the color.

    • Layla

      Oh, yes! They’re are tooooootally orange-y in person! 😀 There’s a big time clash happening over there right now- LOL!

  2. Lori

    Wow, that looks fab! Did you paint inside the track at all? If someone does this project, would you recommend painting before you attach the hardware to the wall and door or was it just as good to paint in place?

    Lovin’ the transformation!

    ~Lori

    • Layla

      Nope, I just painted the outside. And, yes, I would totally recommend painting it while it’s laying on the floor and probably with spray paint! 😀

      • Lori

        From the picture, the inside totally looks dark like the outside! I figured you’d say paint while uninstalled, but since your work looks so neat, I wasn’t sure.

        Thanks for the reply.

  3. Theresa W

    LOVE!!! Such an amazing transformation – I can’t wait to try this where my bedroom meets the bathroom/closet. Thanks for sharing 😉

  4. sheri

    We are in the process of putting up a pair of sliding barn doors that my husband built (go him!). We had also purchased the galvanized rails when what i really wanted was an oil rubbed bronze. I want to paint mine as well – do you think it will hold up and not peel (I was thinking spraying before hanging)

    • Layla

      Hi Sheri! As long as you don’t knock into it with anything, I think it’ll hold up great!

  5. Donna Doble-Brown

    Layla, what a difference! I can’t believe how much I LOVE the handle hardware you choose . . . . My eye goes there constantly! Gosh I would never have thought to hang a door this way . ….. Just Love the whole thing! Thanks for sharing!!!!

  6. Dawna

    Looks great!! We just made a barn door for the laundry room downstairs out of some old corral wood from our farm. I may take your idea and paint our hardware for the track as well. Looks much better darker! Can’t wait to see what you hang on the walls!

    • donna

      Hi Layla, I am interested in painting my stained banister white and was hoping that you can give me some tips/product suggestions before I start doing so since you are clearly an expert in this field. Any info you can offer will be greatly appreciated. Thank You

      Donna

  11. mks

    I have a couple of questions – Can this door be opened easily from the inside of the room? If not, is it sort of unsafe if there’s a need to get out quickly? Or is it meant to be just decorative? And I know my kids would slam that thing back and forth and I’d be anxious about fingers. It’s beautiful. Just wondering about the functional aspects. Thanks!

    • Layla

      Hey there! Yes, the door opens and closes very easily, but since it does need to be guided to fully “close”, there’s no threat of fingers being slammed. As far as escaping, I think it would be easier to open this type of door than a door that closes with a latch and lock because it is never truly sealed off. Here’s a link to a previous post about it that shows how it works: https://theletteredcottage.net/sliding-door-tip/
      Also, this room will only be our toddler’s room while he is 3 and maybe 4, and then it will become my office, so we don’t anticipate closing it very much anyway. 🙂

  14. Kathy

    I love it. When I saw the galvanized, something felt off for the colors you are using , etc. Now it is PERFECT.

  15. Doris D.

    Does the door make a noise when it is closing? I know my pocket door does. Is this the door to the little boy’s room? This is beautiful.

    • Layla

      Thanks, Doris! Yes, it definitely makes noise, and I love it! Hoping my stairs start creaking soon, too- LOL! 😀 #OldHouseFanatic

  18. Linda

    OH-MY! , what an amazing job! , I feel your door and track gives your space a awesome architectural feature in this space , ( standard doors can be boring).,,,,you go Girl!

  19. Rosa

    Could you please give me the details on your hardwood flooring? Color….brand…plank width .etc.
    Thank you!
    your door is beautiful.

    • Felicity

      Yah, the hardwood floor is just amazing! Dear Layla, could you please share the floor info? Thank you very much!

  20. Ter'e Crow Lindsay

    Oh boy!
    Oh boy!
    Can I come up and help???? I have a pretty good eye. I’d be a big helper!!!!!!!
    I love how this door turned out. It’s so gorgeous, I could just kiss it!!!!!! Great job Layla!

  21. Rachel

    Grease that puppy thoroughly or it will wake up your little man every time when he comes home to you!

    • Layla

      Okay, but for the next year (while we wait) I am going to let that thing do it’s thing music-to-my-ears thing, LOL! 😀

  23. Corrie

    I love all of your posts. The white picket fence is sooooo cute. I am a bit concerned though about the strength of only two “biscuits” holding each slat in place. If someone other than a small child falls against the railings, will those two little biscuits be enough to hold the slats in place?

    • Layla

      Hi Corrie! Yes, I left a comment about that on my previous post, but I should probably go back and edit that post, too. The old spindles were only held in place by a small finish nail. The new pickets are screwed, glued and “biscuited” in place. MUCH sturdier and safer than the old rickety spindles. 🙂

  24. Mindy

    It looks great above that beautiful door of yours. I love the look of wood and white. Can’t wait to see your decorations : )

  26. Tisa

    Wow! What a stunning transformation! I’m always so pleasantly surprised by the power of paint!!

  27. Susie

    Looks great! Love the changed out railing! So cottage and soooo much better than the previous spindles.

    Can’t wait for installment #4!

    Great job!

  28. Becky

    It all looks really pretty. Love it! Not sure if this has been mentioned but you should pay attention to the amount of noise that the door makes when it’s sliding back and forth. You don’t want to wake a baby by that door, after you’ve spent an hour getting him/her to sleep!

    • Layla

      Thanks, Becky! We don’t actually plan on shutting the door all that often to be honest. And it’s sort of neat, but we’ve noticed if you pull the door out from the wall ever-so-slightly while you slide it closed, it doesn’t make a peep! 🙂

  29. Jess

    This area has been completely transformed and looks so clean and beautiful! Love that sliding door too.

  32. Carla Rosser

    Hi Layla.. Would you mind telling me what kind of wheels you used for your barn doors? I have to make a decision and just don’t know what to do. I’m afraid regular barn door wheels will be difficult to slide and be noisy. I’m putting double doors outside a small bathroom to save floor space. All the online door tracks with wheels are crazy expensive.