Dogs Don't Eat Pizza

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!

FYI, this post contains affiliate links; see my full disclosure policy here. 

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 and a damp rag and it came clean! I sanded off the loose paint with some 120-grit sandpaper, wiped it down again, and left it in the sun to dry.

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 and love it!) and lightly sanded them to create a smooth surface.

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.” Two coats and it was just right.

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. While carefully holding them, I used my RYOBI crown stapler (in photo, above) to staple them to the screen from the back.

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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I can’t wait to see your home decor projects!

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