Hand Built Entry Door

by Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs

$150

4 Days

Medium

We had been without an entry door for months because the old one didn't fit after we changed flooring. I took a leap of faith and built the entry door to our above garage apartment.

hand built entry door, diy, doors, foyer, The view from our stairwell

The view from our stairwell.

hand built entry door, diy, doors, foyer, Frosted plexiglass and 2x6 door painted a Royal Purple

Frosted plexiglass, and 2x6 door painted a Royal Purple.

hand built entry door, diy, doors, foyer, Even though I am not great at spray painting we love our door anyway D

Even though I am not great at spray painting, we love our door anyway! =D

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21 of 23 comments

Z on Aug 08, 2013
I'm very impressed Yvonne! It's beautiful.

1 Reply
Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 08, 2013
Thank you, Becky. :)

Like Reply
- See 18 previous
- Z on Aug 08, 2013
  You're very welcome @Yvonne. How do you like living in an apartment over a garage? We're thinking of building a garage with apartment for our son and grandson so I'm curious if you mind climbing the stairs with groceries and such.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 08, 2013
  @Z lugging groceries up the stairs is a little problematic, but using lightweight crates has helped. The physical inconvenience is minor compared to the other benefits we experience. I feel like we have the perfect situation. I'm close to my mom and brothers, who live downstairs, but my family and I have a separate space to grow independently as well. We have support, when needed, and privacy. Babysitting is as easy as bringing my daughter downstairs or having my mom come upstairs, and we are able to share groceries and other supplies, so buying in bulk is reasonable and shortages are not a problem. =D Also, since it has a separate entrance, the above garage apartment served well as an income suite for parents. :) That's just my opinion, though!
  
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- Z on Aug 08, 2013
  Thank you @Yvonne. Our son and grandson live with us now. Though they each have their own room and share a bathroom they'd like more room to spread out a bit. We started looking for an existing home in the little town we live outside of, but then there was the problem of before and after care for our grandson who starts school on Monday. I didn't want to have to drive into two twice a day and the cost of daycare seemed senseless when I'm available. We have lots left in our little country neighborhood so that option came up, which gave my hubby the idea to build the detached garage we've been wanting with living space above. I'd wanted a loft studio, but will at least get the style of garage I want. I just won't get to use it and I'm okay with that. Once our son finishes college and buys a home of his own I can either use it for my studio, though not a wide open space like I wanted, or we can rent to a couple college students. I'm glad to hear it's working out for you. That gives me some peace of mind. Thanks.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 08, 2013
  @Z I'm glad you have peace of mind. :) Your loft studio sounds fabulous. Would your husband be able to build in a compromise?
  
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- Z on Aug 08, 2013
  Unless we can find a perfect plan, and so far I haven't been able to, I'll be drawing up the plans. This weekend we'll be checking out a few buildings/builders to see what's available. If not it's to the drawing board for me. We know the basic specifications we need to house the boat/trailer, the riding mowers and other lawn equipment along with the utility trailer. And with our son living above we'll probably extend one end to park the mowers so he can have one of the stalls to park his vehicle. We still have to find out if we can build living quarter over a detached garage. If not we'll go for an attached one with a permit to add onto our home. It's all still early in the game. So much to check into. @
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 09, 2013
  @Z I wish you well on this endeavor. It sounds like a long road ahead, but it may be well worth it!
  
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- Z on Aug 10, 2013
  Thank you @Yvonne. With my hubby working in Cali most of the week and then having flights canceled it's not going to happen for awhile. I just noticed you live in Hawaii. Our daughter and her family live in Hawaii too.
  
  Like
- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 11, 2013
  @Z - Small world! Is your daughter on O'ahu or another island?
  
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- Z on Aug 11, 2013
  @O'ahu. Her hubby is Air Force stationed at Hickam. She used to be, but in order for her to be with him right away after they married she had to leave active and go reserve. We visited them in May.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 11, 2013
  I hope they enjoy living here, Becky. :)
  
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- Z on Aug 11, 2013
  They do @Yvonne. So much so they want to retire there. Personally I'm not thrilled about that because it's so far away that we'll barely get to see them and will have to watch our baby granddaughter grow up via Skype.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 11, 2013
  I can understand that difficulty, @Z We're a bit torn being so far away from my husband's side of the family in Florida, but we plan to visit every 5 years.
  
  Like
- Z on Aug 11, 2013
  Hopefully his parents are up to traveling to you too. If it weren't for my being our grandson's babysitter I'd go more often. Our daughter is a stay at home Mommy now so we'd have loads of fun. @
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 11, 2013
  @Z I'm sure you'd have lots of adventures! =D My dream is to be a work-at-home mom, hopefully within the next 5 years! I'm planning to start a small business building and selling furniture for cheap. I'd like to eventually partner with my local Habitat for Humanity. I'm also hoping my humble blog will earn some income in the next 5 years. We'll see! =D
  
  Like
- Z on Aug 11, 2013
  @Yvonne, that would be great for you and your daughter. Our daughter starts college soon using the GI Bill which is helping her be a stay at home Mom. She'll probably go back to work when her daughter starts school. I was a stay at home Mom for the most part though for fun I worked a couple part time jobs over the years once they started school. I always had their holidays off, including summers. All but one year I was home both before and after school, kindergarten through high school. That year they went to our churches day care across the street from their elementary two days a week for an hour after school. We were very blessed that we could afford to do so.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 12, 2013
  @Z I truly respect stay at home parents. I'm glad your daughter is starting college soon, too! =D I'm sure you know how expensive Hawai'i is, so I am praying that I could stay at home like you did for your children. =D Thank you for the conversations today.
  
  Like
- Z on Aug 12, 2013
  Choosing to be a stay at home Mom is not always an easy decision. We based every major thing we purchased (home, automobiles) on my hubby's salary alone so we didn't always have the latest or biggest of this and that, but we had what we needed. I wish you the best in your dreams @Yvonne. If you learn how to budget, you'll do just fine.
  
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- Yvonne @ Sunnyside Up-Stairs on Aug 12, 2013
  Thank you, @Z Budgeting is something my husband and I are definitely working on. :)
  
  Like
- Z on Aug 12, 2013
  Good luck. I'm sure you'll do great just by your saying your working on it together. @
  
  1

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