Our 1920 Craftsman Bungalow from the backyard.

By Susan Shanklin

New day. New dream. New something.

I think new is a good word. Kind of reminds me of fresh. Fresh air, fresh vegetables, fresh finds at the thrift store, ha. I guess that would be fresh old, smelly finds, which I have many of, but no longer smelly.

I press in to something new each day.

Yesterday, I wanted to freshen up some old metal pulls on the wooden windows in the living room. I thought perhaps I had done this in the past, but wasn’t sure, so I removed one and gathered my sanding block, rags, disposable gloves, and an assortment of Rub ’n Buff tubes. Rub ’n Buff is a liquid metallic paint that you rub and buff. Any DIYer sings of its astonishing and fabulous qualities to transform objects into stunning glory.

I was going for a brass look, but I don’t know. It didn’t seem to fit the style of our 1910 Craftsman Bungalow. Too rich and snooty perhaps for these old drafty windows.

I took pictures of them and examined the photos to find some clues to what I should do. Nothing came to mind, so I decided to ask my very DIY decorator daughters.

The more I thought about it, I just thought mom should do her own thing.

The pulls weren’t original to the house but old enough to be quaint.

I try Antique Gold and European Gold Rub ’n Buff.

Methinks not so good, so I rub a little black Rub ’n Buff on the handle and make it worse.

Quickly, I rub the handle back to old, worn look that matches the original look that I started with.

To tell the truth, I was bummed.

Ha! You laugh. So small a thing to set you off.

Well, I was bummed, no matter what you think. I was trying to improve something that I thought could be improved.

I took my time and genuine effort to only to be dashed by failure.

Goodness, Susan, aren’t there bigger fish to fry…? Yes, I suppose.

The worst part of this small adventure was putting away the mess, tubes, and tools.

After gathering my chin off the ground, I looked at my to-do list, which read, “Bathroom grate.”

My teeny weenie downstairs bathroom has a decorative grille floor heat vent plate.

When we moved here, the downstairs bathroom had been a holding cell for dogs and slash human bathroom. It was nasty, and the grille vent cover needed renewal. I thought I could just spray paint it, and I did.

Three and a half years later, it was frightful again, and I thought I should do a better job of it this time or (twist my arm) buy a new one.

Again, I gather my disposable gloves, soapy vinegar water, rag, sanding block, wire brush, metal putty knife, and spray paint.

Seeing that my lip is in a better position now, I’m pretty upbeat and can smell success in the air.

As I’m scraping off chipping paint, I can see I didn’t prepare the surface well if at all last time. I was trying to get by. I was in a hurry. I suppose I didn’t do due diligence. It will always come back to haunt you.

I must say the paint comes off easily as I scrape and sand and then wash and dry.

The vent looks a wee bit beat up. And knowing that this is the last hurrah for this vent, I take it over to the black trash container and lean it against the wheel to spray paint. Fitting place, I feel.

I had a little high-temp matte black spray paint left from previous projects, and I did the once-over. Not bad, methinks.

I let it dry and put it back in the bathroom.

Looking good, folks.

No one’s going to notice it, not even Tom.

Not all things get noticed.

Then again, all things get noticed.

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