Before and After Party: A private pantry

Hello there! Welcome to the Before and After Party for November! (Can you even believe it�s November?) I can�t wait to see what you�ve been up to! But first, I wanted to show you the pain-in-the-booty project that I am SO GLAD is done.

Remember the pantry door transformation I showed you?:

I was lucky enough to get this beauty for FREE with some help from an Amex Points promotion. But, like always, I saved some cash by installing it myself (with Dad�s help!).

It wasn�t the easiest project ever. Actually, it was really quite annoying. And the part I finished up this weekend didn�t help it�s cause. Sheesh!

I mentioned I wanted to cover the windows on the door with something � I originally bought window film -- but it wasn�t the texture I was looking for. (I ended up using it for the ghost in our foyer!)

So when I posted this project, a few of you mentioned you had used plain old contact paper to get the look I was going for. Bahhhrilliant!

I admit I was a little teeny tiny bit doubtful � I picked up some clear contact paper at Target, and when I got home I tore it open, I was expecting it to be perfectly clear.

Well�you Squeezies were right (I know, I should just believe) � it was exactly what I wanted! A very soft, hazy look � just enough to let light in, but block the view to the canned goods. :)

What you lovelies didn�t tell me was it was a TOTAL AND COMPLETE pain in the booty to install. Gah. OK, maybe you did. I may have blocked it out. 

I started with my supplies � not much needed:

I tried a few things, and the pan scraper worked best for this project by far! I cut out a piece of contact paper, slightly larger than the window pane. When I installed it, I used a razor to trim the contact paper so it would fit perfectly in the pane.

The problem was�1.) the contact paper is supersonic and I tried four razors and not one would cut it easily 2.) when I would push hard to get through the �paper,� the knife would grab at the painted trim around the panel and little itty bitty flecks of black paint were coming off and getting stuck under the plastic:

It was driving me batty. I tried everything possible, and finally gave up. I decided to just cut a piece that was the exact size of each window pane, so I wouldn�t have to do anymore cutting with the contact paper on the window.

It was a lot of trial and error. Lots of cutting, holding it up, cutting, holding it up, cutting, realizing I had cut it too small, starting over. :)

When I would finally get the right size, I�d make sure it was perfect one more time:

Then I soaked the window with window cleaner:

You can try to do this without soaking the window but you will realize quickly it�s next to impossible. :)

When it�s wet, you can move it around and make it fit just so:

Then use your scraper (or any flat surface) to push out the bubbles:

You�ll want a paper towel handy to soak up the cleaner as you go. Lots of pushing, wiping, pushing, wiping.

It took FOREVA. Mostly because I would cut it the wrong size, or scratch it when peeling it off the backing. I lost my mind a little more with each window pane. :) I think it took four days of me tackling it whenever I had a few minutes to tackle it. FUN stuff.

Did I mention I couldn�t use the same size cut out of the contact paper for every window pane? You�d think they were all the same size, but amazingly � NO. Most were just a tad different. How is that possible? Because it�s a Sarah project, that�s why. :)

BUT. Dare I say it�SO worth it!!

It helps just a tad that I decluttered and moved some items around in the pantry:

I adjusted my little labels so they were centered on the shelves:

And I LOVE it.

But I wasn�t done yet. :) Remember how I wanted to light up the inside of the pantry? Dad and I talked and figured out how we�re going to do it � but for now, I rigged it up with an extension cord just to see how it would look:

SWOOOOON. Exactly how I pictured it in my head all those years ago when this project first popped in my head. ;)

I used rope lights around the door frame to get the �glow� look. And now I can see to find my sour cream and onion chips at night:

Awwwww yeah. All is right in my world.  :)

**The instructions on the rope lights say to not put them in an area with no ventilation, as they get just slightly warm. I called the hotline on the package to confirm a pantry is OK, and the man on the phone had no record of the product number � the product they make � so he was zero help. But I have talked to two people experienced in wiring/lighting, and they said it�s absolutely fine. When the manual says the lights get slightly warm, they mean slightly warm.  :) 

The contact paper idea would be perfect for any smallish window where you want privacy but don�t want to block the light � for cheap! The roll was $5 and even with all of my mess ups, I barely used half of it. This would be a great solution for windows above tubs, sidelights by a front door � whatever!

So there�s my before and after for this month�I don�t have a before, before picture handy of the white door we had up initially, but here�s the new door unpainted:

Here it is painted:

And here it is all soft and purdy and lit up:

And here�s all of our food for the world to see before, and the softly lit after:

It makes even wire shelves look pretty. :) This wasn�t an easy project�but totally worth it. And only five bucks for the privacy! (Which, by the way, is WAY cheaper than the window stuff you can buy.)

I am one happy chick!! :)

It�s time to see your before and afters! Remember to only link to the specific post � not your blog. I�ll leave this open so you can link up till next week!

Link it up yo!