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Artistic fix for ugly electrical panel
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Location: Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:48 am Post subject: Artistic fix for ugly electrical panel |
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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.
Thought someone else might like the idea too. 
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toni
Mistress of Garden Junque
 Forum Moderator
PlantStew Moderator
Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 07 Jan 2006
Location: North Texas (Map)
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:52 am Post subject: |
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What a wonderful idea for hiding an eyesore. Great job Primsong.
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Location: Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:04 am Post subject: |
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Thanks! I so enjoy seeing what everyone else comes up with in their homes, it only seemed fair to share mine.
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pondlady
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Joined: 05 Aug 2006
Location: New Orleans, La
Posts: 1829
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:32 am Post subject: |
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Wow, what a great idea. I never would have thought of that!
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cajunbelle
Daylily Diva
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Location: zone 8b Louisiana (Map)
Posts: 3334
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Very creative and inventive. I like it.
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Sharon
Phil. 4:13
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zuzu's petals
Silly Old Bat
Joined: 19 Oct 2006
Location: Coastal N.Carolina ~zone 8~ (Map)
Posts: 2568
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:22 am Post subject: |
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Well done!! You turned a minus into a great big PLUS.
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I put a lot of myself into my garden.
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bethie
Highly Skillful
Joined: 08 Jun 2006
Location: WestTennessee (Map)
Posts: 1610
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:39 pm Post subject: |
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That looks super. Those things are so ugly. We had the same problem so I painted a picture big enough to cover it. Down with ugly!
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
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Location: Scotland (Map)
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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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. 
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Location: Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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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. 
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Frank
Happy Gardening
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Location: Malmö, Sweden
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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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: 8821
PlantStew: 289 |
| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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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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CritterPainter
Awed by Nature
Joined: 27 Aug 2006
Location: Washington State
Posts: 1448
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: |
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That's really beautiful, you have a good eye for color!!
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I have a mind like a steel...sieve
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Primsong
Flower of the Shire
Joined: 15 Apr 2006
Location: Oregon (Map)
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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| 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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manolok
Just Arrived
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Location: Bath (UK)
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:02 am Post subject: |
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Good idea,
I've got something similar in my hall way and I'm going to borrow this idea.
Thanks
Manuel
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