Monday, October 19, 2009

The Power of Paint


I'm not sure I have mentioned before my undying love for spray paint...really any kind of paint. It is amazing what a difference this small can of magic can make! See that picture of my fridge below? I used it for a post about clutter. Not until I posted it did I notice how horrible the handles of my fridge looked. I knew they were yellowing, but I guess I was in denial about how bad they really were. It's been one of those little projects that's been on the list for a while, just not top priority. Well, my hubby actually pointed out how bad they looked this weekend. When your husband notices something like that...you know it's bad! Lucky for me he thought it was imperative that those handles be painted ASAP, so he took it on as his little project.

Yippeee...one less thing I have to do!



Ouch...that's brutal!


Ahhhhhhhh.....that is so much better.


Be sure you buy paint made specially for plastic. Just don't buy this paint...it is horrible! We made do because they were out of the Krylon Fusion in white, but I wouldn't recommend doing that. Wait for it to be restocked...it's worth it!

Quality paint = quality work.


Oh, I cannot even tell you how happy those white handles make me. What a huge difference a bit of paint can make. What have you painted lately that made you smile?

44 comments:

  1. Wow! I always tell my husband we should paint things and he thinks I'm a little crazy half the time. I am definitely going to show him this as proof that paint really can make a huge difference! Thanks for sharing! :)

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  2. I got one of those flimsy,black build-it-yourself $25 bookshelves from Walmart for free when my friend moved. Dalaney and I painted in tiffany's blue (similar to Emmie's coffee table) and it changed my room! We also spray painted all my wall picture frames brown. It looks so much more pulled together. I have a testimony of pretty paint.

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  3. First time I've HEARD of spray paints for plastic, honestly! Thank you for the tip!.. And your refrigerator looks great! ~tina

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  4. Girl, I spent ALL DAY Sunday painting my powder room! Look for pictures today, 'cuz its truly a TRASH TO TREASURE! :)

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  5. Brilliant - love it! :)

    Will you do me a favor. People have been having problems with my new link switching on their sidebar. Will you delete the old one and put in the new one (beautyandbedlam.com) and see if it works fine. :) LEt me know, so I can see if it's fixed.

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  6. What a difference! It doesn't even look like the same refrigerator. Fantastic job and thanks for sharing. :)

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  7. I always feel so much better after a project like that. :) I love the quote on the front of your fridge. My fridge looks like preschool threw up on it. :s I also got a little happy on the top freezer door with The Office word magnets and some pictures....Maybe I should "edit." ;)

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  8. Amanda, I can't believe this. How smart of you even to THINK about painting those handles! I've never tried plastic paint, but you've inspired me! Oh, my goodness, the things that could be rescued. . . .

    I'm with you on the paint. I keep a painting board stashed by my back door, so it's always ready to whip out when the painting mood strikes. :)

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  9. Amanda,
    That made a huge difference. I love to paint too. It always makes an instant improvement! I painted my old brass bed a couple of weeks ago and still have not posted about it. I also painted about 6 or 7 candlesticks off white. They were shiny gold. When I get in a painting mood...everyone better watch out!


    Your fridge looks brand new!

    Hugs,
    Lee Laurie

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  10. I have the same problem with my handles. I am always trying something new to clean them and it never works. After reading what you did and how they look I think I will do the same thing. Thanks.

    Willow

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  11. I never would have thought to paint refrigerator handles! Very clever and it looks great!

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  12. Like Kathy I would have NEVER thought to paint the handles....

    A couple years ago my mom bought me a sun and a moon shaped mirror. I loved them however, I wasn't crazy about the gold color. So I went out and got some silver spray paint and even my husband is commenting on how great they look

    http://jenandmattsheely.blogspot.com/2009/10/sympathy-card-and-revamped-mirror.html

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  13. I have the same fridge. I am glad to know there is hope for my handles.

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  14. I would have never thought to paint the handles on the fridge. Looks awesome, girl!

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  15. That is awesome! I share your addiction to paint too! I love looking around my house and envisioning what something will look like in another color. Such fun!

    XOXO
    Jen

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  16. It looks great! I never knew you could paint plastic with a special paint!

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  17. I always learn so much when I come here!

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  18. I've been painting things chalkboard. I heart it. I now have chalkboard lamps and chalkboard ornaments.

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  19. I love the spray paint too. What a great solution. Looks great!

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  20. Ha, thanks for the visit.. I LURVE their costumes!

    K- way to be cost effecient... NEW FRIDGE... 3-5 grand, can of paint 4-5 dollars THE LOOK "Priceless" A bit cheesy, YES! IT DOES look great! way to go to the hUBS!

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  21. I am a spray paint newbie, but already an addict. In fact, I just came inside after using up my first can on a desk (stay tuned). What's made me smile recently is when I created a "Buzz Lightyear" headpiece for my son using a dollar store helmet and dollar store spray paint! Watch my (new) blog for the pics and details, please! :)

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  22. Whoa, that is amazing! I painted over a $2 thrift store sign for my kitchen recently. As soon as I get the lettering done I will be posting it.

    Thanks for sharing this inspiration.

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  23. I {heart} spray paint. I've redone both of my aluminum screen doors for $6 instead of $600! Sweet. And I recently repainted and reapholstered a bench. Spray paint is an amazing invention!

    Love your blog.

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  24. Looks new! I'm always amazed what paint can do....:o)

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  25. I have never used the plastic fusion spray paint... but I will now.
    I think came out of the womb with a paint brush... LOL
    Lee

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  26. Normally I don't leave words out of my sentences.
    Lee

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  27. Thank you for your very kind comments about my portraits.
    I appreciate it more than you know.
    Lee

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  28. I am going to try this b/c ours looks so horrible no matter how much I scrub now on to those spider webs!

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  29. Looks great! Don't ya just love a coat of paint?

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  30. Ah yes paint!!! It's a quick fix for so many things!!!That looks awesome!

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  31. The best painting project is one that someone does for you! It looks great!

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  32. I am a painting fool! I painted all my switch plates AND my refrigerator door handles too! Great minds think alike :-)The switch plates I have hated since we bought the house, just had not found anything that I loved or wanted to spend ALOT of money on for $7 they look FAB!

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  33. Love the paint job on the handles and love even more that your hubby did it for you. Maybe I need to show Lon this post, HMMM. About that Valspar paint, I also bought some because they were out of the Krylon, and I was not pleased either. I had started a project with Krylon and tried to finish it with this stuff. Bad idea. Oh well, we live and learn!

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  34. I love, love spray painting! Will spray paint anything! (IN fact... I'm super sick, but the ONLY thing I did yesterday was crawl out of bed to spray paint a tray and a pumpkin... results will be shown soon!) ;)

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  35. I'm with you on the spray paint love! It makes everything look better!

    Kim

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  36. Amanda - I have the EXACT fridge, with the EXACT yellow handles!!! I've never photographed them, so I guess I didn't notice how icky they were until I just took a look in my kitchen!!! LOL I am totally painting them.

    Thank you!

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  37. OK...now I'm looking around for things to spruce up with paint, which could be dangerous because painting is really not in my skill set. I usually make a terrible mess! www.satisfiedsole.com

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  38. Nice improvement! Little changes can make such a huge difference!

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  39. It should be called miracle in a can!

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  40. Saw you on Better After! Love the transformation and love your blog! I am now a follower! (The sign on the fridge caught my eye! I need to print that out for myself!)

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  41. How is the paint holding up? I want to try this too, but thought I'd ask first just in case.

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  42. Handles look great! I need to do this too, but I also wonder how they held up over time.

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  43. Hi, I can see a couple of folks asked about how well the paint held up to use? Any tips?
    Thanks!
    Arlene

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  44. How did the painted handles hold up over time? Any chipping or re-yellowing? I plan to do the same and am just curious what to expect. Thank you! :)

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