Before I started this project, Efiwym and I stopped at a couple home improvement stores to look at cabinet hardware. We were going to look specifically at hardware with a satin nickel finish. We had switched over to that finish on projects throughout the last couple of years: faucets, light fixtures, and the shower door. We saw some door handles we liked, but we did not like the price. I wanted a little bling; Efiwym was cold to the idea. I was not thinking 12” handles, but I wanted something that was stylish and modern. We left the stores without purchasing any door hardware.
A decision needed to be made soon. During one of many trips to the home improvement store, I looked at a couple of options. I was considering two 3-inch satin nickel handles that were somewhat inexpensive but did not look cheap. After texting pictures to Efiwym, we decided on a package of 10 door handles. It was the perfect amount for the 3 bathrooms. We would address the kitchen and laundry room hardware later.
Now that I had the door handles, I could install them on the master bathroom doors. My dilemma was where on the door should I install the handles. Should I center it on the top rails and outside stile? It made sense to me the symmetry of this placement. So that was the direction I would go.
For those that have installed cabinet door handles they are aware there is a small tolerance for a measuring error. If you drill the holes just slightly more or less than the 3 inches, you cannot line up the screws and threads on the handle. Since I was only going to install 2 doors, I felt it was unnecessary to make a hole template. So, I carefully measured the placement of the 2 holes for each door. Using my Milwaukee® drill, the first three holes went well. However, the last hole was a debacle. As I carefully lined up the drill bit to the center of the pencil marks, the bit slipped, and I missed the mark. It was not by much, but I would find out it made a difference. Darn it!
I installed the handle on the first door. No problem. The second door gave me a problem. Believing I could line up the screw with the thread on the handle by keeping the top screw loose, was not going to work. No way; no how! I used my Milwaukee® drill and by drilling on an angle I was able to create an oblong hole. The hole was small enough to be covered by the door handle, so the blunder was not visible to the naked eye.
Before I could enjoy my sense of accomplishment, I cleaned up the floor of wood shavings and gathered up my tools. Now it was time. I had that Zen moment. Stepping back, I could enjoy the moment. With all the issues, these doors looked great. DIYers love to show off their finished projects. However, I did not want to be pretentious. I like people to walk by my projects and make the comment, “I love it.” Unfortunately, nobody but Efiwmy would see it. That was okay, I was still proud.
For several days when I was in the master bedroom, I would walk over to bathroom so I could take another look at my achievement.
