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Primsong Flower of the Shire Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Location: Oregon (Map) Posts: 1769
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:48 am Post subject: Artistic fix for ugly electrical panel
One of the very few things I didn't like about this house when we got it was that right opposite the couch in the family room was a dark grey electrical panel, just the view you (don't) want your guests to be left staring at. As a make-do we decorated it with some magnets, but I finally hit upon a solution that didn't make it difficult to get at - here it is...
First I sanded it lightly to break the surface. I went all around the edge with rub-n-buff "autumn gold" (a bright copper look - goes with that room's decor)- this created a frame.
Next, a couple layers of background color to coat the grey metal after edging the copper area with blue painters tape.
Then some more layers, with some sponging and rubbing..
And finally a few light coats of satin varnish to seal it. Done!
I'm no Michaelangelo, but I think it sure looks better than it did. This pattern corresponds with a painting that is on the opposite wall of the room.
Joined: 07 Feb 2005 Location: Scotland (Map) Posts: 13209
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:58 pm Post subject:
I'd probably have searched high and low for a picture to cover it up but would never have thought to paint it the way you have. What a brilliant idea!!!! You'd nver know that there was an ugly electrical panel there at all!!! Prim you are a star.
Primsong Flower of the Shire Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Location: Oregon (Map) Posts: 1769
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject:
I did that - I kept looking for a picture or mirror that would be the right size to mount on the door of it (as it still had to be able to be opened) - I looked into attaching mirror tiles to it with magnets, considered decoupage and a cloth hanging that looked like a fake window with a windowbox... which is why we've lived with it grey and icky for nearly three years already.
Now you go 'do' something to yours and show us what you did.
Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Location: Malmö, Sweden Posts: 10228 PlantStew: 2213
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject:
Hehe what a creative bunch we have here at the Stew, I wouldn't have thought of that either.
Quote:
This pattern corresponds with a painting that is on the opposite wall of the room.
Would love to see that Prim.
One question, where does the path lead?
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glendann Official Garden Angel Joined: 19 May 2006 Location: Texas (Map) Posts: 8340 PlantStew: 256
Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject:
I do love that idea.Prim and would never have thought of painting it.
I hope a neighbor or stranger never has to run in and shut the power off fast.They will never find it.
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Primsong Flower of the Shire Joined: 15 Apr 2006 Location: Oregon (Map) Posts: 1769
Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject:
Gardenstew wrote:
One question, where does the path lead?
I can't say! It just wanders off into the mist in the other picture as well. I have a sort of 'sunrise colors' theme with copper down in this room, and it looks rather like an early misty sunrise in a field with streaks of copper in the grass.
No doubt there are gnomes hiding in the grass.
I read about some folks who built an entire cabinet around their panel, like an old German cuckoo-clock, to hide it. Now that might be a bit much... this one at least is still the right size and shape, and it opens right up (I even painted the edges of the inside to match, heh).
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What a brilliant idea!!!! 
You'd nver know that there was an ugly electrical panel there at all!!! Prim you are a star. 
