We wanted our exterior doors to be steel for all the usual reasons.

Steel has superior strength, no warping and better insulation.

Those things took priority over appearance.

A white steel door just does not have that rustic feel we were after.

As a matter of fact, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING rustic about cold white steel.

So began my challenge…

Giving a cold, white, steel door that warm glow of rustic wood.

After a week of experimenting, and listening to Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore” on repeat,

I think I NAILED IT…

not the door…

I did not nail the door.

Perhaps it was Dean’s voice, or maybe those lyrics that helped me come up with a process that looks so  fabulouso!

The process I used was not easy and took about 3 days because I was doing both sides.

I did follow the manufacturer’s instructions for prepping the door, drying times and the use of the graining tool.

Also, I used Spar Polyurethane (Marine Quality) due to the exterior doors being exposed to severe weather.

After lightly sanding the door on both sides, I lightly spray painted both sides with a bonding type, pale yellow spray paint.

Don’t worry about perfect coverage, think of the color of raw wood, some streaking is fine.

So just a one time light coat is good.

I picked a light yellow because it best resembles the color of raw wood, which is what I wanted.

When my thin coat of spray paint was thoroughly dry – I applied the stain with a brush one section at a time.

Starting first with the molding around the glass and then the decorative insets at the bottom.

I just used a rag to wipe the excess stain off those parts as the graining tool would not fit or function well on those areas.

Then I applied the stain to the horizontal sections, using the graining tool while the stain was still wet.

Slowly rocking the graining tool while firmly pulling in one direction.

This is where Dean Martin’s song really paid off!

I applied the stain and grained the vertical sections last.

The beauty of this process is that if you mess up – you can just brush on more stain and start graining the section over again.

It took a long time to dry – mine felt tacky for about 24 hours.

Be sure you are happy with the look before the polyurethane is applied.

When the stain is thoroughly dry, brush on Spar Polyurethane – once that is dry I had to repeat the process on the other side.

This process was done on the interior sidelights and door jam too.

For me – practicing with the graining tool on painted scrap wood was key until I learned the appropriate pressure needed for the look of real wood.

You can see the yellow color come through as I pressed the graining tool over the stain.

Here is the photo of the outside finished white steel door transformed into the warm glow of rustic wood.

And if you are admiring the stonework in the photos, you are not alone…

I admire it too.

It was all done by my hubby, Sir-Lots-a-Wit.

He is the master of all things heavy…

and all things over 10 feet high…

and all things that are complex…

okay… basically, I just did the doors.

When speaking about our entry – it just wouldn’t be right not to mention our Proud Indian.

He is always keeping a faithful watch for our next guests.

You can tell by looking at him that it is all about the attitude!

That piercing stare,

the way he stands so proud with his tomahawk and offering cigars to our visitors.

I keep telling him he needs to breathe –

 Be more like Dean Martin – relax and stop being so stone-faced.

but he has always been this way,

he is just one of those intense types.

But we love him anyway, “That’s Amore!”

You all have a great weekend, I have a couple of more steel doors to transform.

Until next time…..

“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, That’s Amore……”

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