Welcome to this month’s Power Tool Challenge – and, if you saw my fireplace makeover post, fireplace week at The DIY Bungalow! The theme for this month’s Power Tool Challenge is home decor and, at the end of this post, I’ll show you how you can link up your home decor power tool project for the chance to win a great prize! For my project, I did a DIY fireplace screen, made from an old window screen!
I’ve actually had this screen for months and just didn’t know what to do with it. I found it in my neighbor’s trash heap and thought, “Hey! I can make something out of that!”
It wasn’t until I measured my recently fixed-up fireplace that I realized it would work as a fireplace screen!
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This is what it looked like when I found it…
…except that all four sides looked like the side on the left! Ew.
I cleaned it up (outdoors!) using Krud Kutter
Meanwhile, I built the supports for the fireplace screen. I found a piece of scrap wood in my shed and knew it was the right size. I wish I could say I used a precise mathematical formula for measuring these supports, but I didn’t. I just took a speed square and divided these identical scrap wood pieces in half.
Then I cut them using my RYOBI jigsaw (I have this jigsaw
Since the window screen is white with some dark wood peeking through the distressed areas, and since the tile on my fireplace is a terra cotta color, I knew I wanted a rich, dark stain on these supports. I chose Varathane stain in “Kona.”
After one coat…not quite there yet!
After the stain dried, it was time to attach the supports to the screen frame.
Using a speed square to ensure the supports were straight and level with the bottom of the screen, I glued them in place using wood glue
Voila!
You may have noticed that, in a photo above, I cut four supports, but the finished fireplace screen only has two. When I held the window screen up to the firebox, I realized that the back two supports would make the fireplace screen stick out, rather than sit flush to the fireplace. And I didn’t want that. Plus, I really didn’t need the back two supports, so I just used the two in the front.
And here it is (with Hank, naturally):
It looks much better than the old brass insert – much more like something that belongs in a 1929 bungalow!
Check out all of the Power Tool Challenge Team members’ projects here:
The Kim Six Fix – Pottery Barn Inspired Concrete Top Coffee Table
Domestically Speaking – Large DIY Wall Sign
H2OBungalow – DIY Live Edge Coffee Table With Hairpin Legs
My Repurposed Life – Sofa Side Table
My Love 2 Create – Fabric and Wood Wall Hanging
Virginia Sweet Pea – Card Display Holder
Designed Decor – Upcycled Wall Shelf
Create and Babble – DIY Wood Plank Walls
Thrift Diving – DIY Bath Vanity
And it’s time for you to show off your project, too! Link up your Power Tool Challenge Home Decor Project for a chance to win a HomeRight DIY Paint Package which includes a Finish Max Pro Paint Sprayer, Large Paint Shelter and Small Paint Shelter, and a Rapid Clean cleaning tool for the Finish Max!
Here are the rules:
- The project can be made from anything as at least one power tool was used to build it.
- The Home Decor Power Tool Project Challenge is open for entries from 3/16 through 3/30 via a link up (see below).
- Submit an old or new project as long as it’s a home decor item.
- Each participant can enter up to three (3) projects.
- Winner must be 18 or older and live in the U.S.
- The Power Tool Challenge Team and HomeRight will vote on the best project and one winner will be selected.
- Void where prohibited.
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A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
You have to show your neighbor what you did with his discarded screen. I think he’ll be impressed. Your new screen better fits the bungalow style of your home and I like it much better than your old brass insert. There’s a brass insert in my living room that I’ve been wondering what to do with. Another project for my list!
Thank you, Paula! Yes – I need to tell them what I did with their screen! They won’t believe it – it was left for dead in their trash pile. Go for it with removing that brass insert. It makes such a difference!
This turned out so cute, Karen! It’s a big difference than just leaving it ugly and dirty like most fireplaces are. And if you ever wanted to use it, just remove it. 🙂 Love that!
Thanks, Serena! It’s so much better than what was there before, and it fits the style and age of our home now!
This looks waaaay better than a brass fireplace insert would! Such a good find and upcycle. Your forsythia looks perfect there as well. Pinned and shared!
Thank you, Wendi! I love it now!!
You are so creative, this was the perfect new life for this window screen, it looks so great on your fireplace! Pinned
Thank you so much, Mindi!!
Brilliant solution Karen! So much better than before. I love the patina of the wood on the screen. The brackets (supports) that you used from scraps really work well. Isn’t it funny when we think we have it all figured out, put it in place and notice that we don’t need something, or that we DO need something. It makes a certain bench come to mind-I built it laying down, and when I stood it up, I realized I totally forgot the front legs! still makes me giggle.
Pinning!
gail
LOL! That’s hilarious!! I have had this screen for a long time and just wasn’t sure quite what to do with it. As soon as this popped in my head, I knew it would be perfect! The execution was a different story…but I’m glad it worked in the end!!
What a transformation! Love the wood finish!
Thank you, Maryann!!
How smart of you to think of making a fireplace screen with that old window screen – I know I wouldn’t have had your vision! Nicely done Karen!
Thank you, Jeanie!!
Karen, did you show your neighbor how you cleverly repurposed his window screen? Pinning this idea to share ☺
I am definitely going to! Thank you so much, Marie!!
I love this! So much prettier to look at than the blackness of the fireplace when there’s no fire or in the warm summer months. You did a great job!
Thank you!! Yes, I like it much better this way!
Karen, This is such a great idea! I would have never thought to use an old screen for a fireplace screen.
Thank you, DeDe! As soon as I realized the size of the firebox opening, I knew it would work!
I like your advice of leaving an adult in the room whenever a fire is burning. You can never be too careful when dealing with home fires. Even your teenagers may not understand the risk that it poses to leave a fire even for a few minutes.