by Fran Casselman
Materials:
#6022 Single French Door (Houseworks)
#0029 Rippled Water Sheet
Basic craft tools
1/16" drill
white glue (such as #1249 Weldbond)
stain and paint of choice
Additional Supplies for version 1:
Basswood strip wood, 1/2" x 1/16"
Aluminum tubing, 1/16" dia.
Silver color, 1/8" brad (2)
Note: Basswood was used to ensure consistent color for a stained door. If the door will be painted, the wood pieces can be of any variety.
Additional Supplies for version 2:
#1123 Gold Plated Brass Window Handle Pull by Houseworks
General Directions:
Remove door slab from frame (the door is pinned top and bottom through the frame and can usually be removed by pulling out one pin). Remove the door’s acrylic panel and wood grid.
Cut a piece of #0029 Rippled Water sheet to replace the clear acrylic panel.
(To cut the rippled water sheet, score the line using a ruler and a sharp knife. Do not try to cut this line, just score it firmly in one pass. Then, hold the panel down flat with the score on the sharp edge of a table or block of wood. Press the free end down and it should snap cleanly on the score line.)
If your door will be stained, stain all the pieces now, before final cutting and assembly. If it will be painted, paint it after assembly.
Put the new rippled panel in place but be sure it can still be removed easily.
Version 1
Cut four pieces of 1/2" x 1/16" strip wood to width for rails, front and back (get measurements from your door; mine were 1 25/32" but yours may vary.) Glue in place, making the top and bottom openings 1 1/2" tall. Be sure to glue to the sides of the frame only. Move the panel a bit as the glue dries. Match the placement on front and back.
If the door (or only one side) will be painted, remove the rippled panel before painting. Work carefully; avoid getting paint in the groove for the panel. Paint or stain frame separately. Seal with clear acrylic varnish. Craft door handles from 1/16” aluminum tubing (hardware store), bent at right angles to the length you want and then cut to project a bit from the surface of the door. Mark placement and drill into (but not through) the door; press and glue the handles in place. Add the domed head of a 1/8" brad for a lock.
Version 2
The rails are made from the door’s original divider grid. Apply masking tape on the vertical sides of the door. Temporarily, put the original acrylic and grid back in place and mark the position of the horizontal bars on the masking tape. Remove the grid. Carefully separate (or cut away) the vertical piece of the grid, leaving only the cross bars to use as rails. Glue the rails in place as marked on the masking tape but be sure the panel can still go in and out. When dry, remove the panel and carefully paint the rails and the inside edge of the frame silver to resemble aluminum. Remove the masking tape.
Stain or paint door and frame as desired.
Paint a window pull silver and glue in place for the door handle. Paint a 1/8" punch from light cardboard to match and glue above handle.
Reassemble:
Slide the rippled panel in place and reinstall door in frame.