Family Organization Center Door
It’s hard to stay organized when you are a DIY blogger, Mom, wife, cook, cleaner, taxi driver, and a student (taking evening classes for the general contractor exam.) I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve dropped a few balls in this massive juggling act. But, I strive to improve and part of that effort involved hanging a Family Organization Center Door next to the refrigerator. Did you know there was such a thing? Ha, me either until I saw this half window door at our local Habitat ReStore.
A vision of a place to plan meals, keep track of chores and keep reminders became clear in my head when I first saw it. Want to see how I took this old door and turned it into a family organization center? Hang around for a few minutes to find out.
Materials:
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- Door
- Self Closing Gate Hinges (Pair)
- 4 – 2-1/2 Inch Hex-Head Lag Screws
- 6 – 1 Inch Hex-Head Lag Screws
- Socket Wrench
- Coax cable
- Staples
- Heavy Duty Staple Gun
- Drill
- Drill bits
- Rockwell JawStand
- Aviation Snips
- Pencil
Optional:
- Circular Saw
- Kreg Rip-Cut
- Scrap sheet metal
- 2″ swivel caster
Instructions:
After finding a door for your organization center, you may need to trim down the sides to fit your space. I had to trim an inch off each side of my door to fit on the side of our refrigerator cabinet. Use a circular saw to trim the door. Using a Kreg Rip Cut will help keep the saw straight.
For extra stability, you may want to add a caster on the bottom of the door (opposite the hinge side). This is not necessary, but will add extra support.
Cut scraps of coax cable to fit into the tops of the windows.
Working on the back side of the door, press the cable onto the glass up against the mullion (window grid) at the top of each divided light. Staple the coax cable to the window mullion. This provides some tension to shove papers under the cable and hold them against the glass.
You can barely see the cables at the top of each window, but they hold the paper behind the windows.
Hanging the Door with a Rockwell JawStand:
Working alone is tough, especially when hanging a door or holding something heavy. The kind folks at Rockwell sent me their JawStand to try. Hanging the door was the perfect opportunity to test the JawStand and have that extra set of hands.
Directly out of the box, the JawStand is compact and in two separate sections.
Start by rotating all three legs to open them (tripod style.)
Next, slide the clamp column into the tripod base.
Turn the clamp adjustment knob to loosen the clamp jaws.
Slide the JawStand onto the door.
Level and plumb the door. Make adjustments and then tighten the clamping jaws on the JawStand.
Securing the Gate Hinges:
Figure out the location the hinges will attach to the wall and the door. Locate a stud to mount the door onto. Mark the holes in the hinge with pencil.
Pre-drill a small hole. Then use the socket wrench to secure the lag screw through the hinge and into the wall stud.
Line the door up with the hinges. Pre-drill small holes through the holes in the gate hinge. Secure the hinge to the door with 1″ lag screws.
Repeat the same steps to hang the door from the second gate hinge.
When the door is securely hung, loosen the JawStand clamps and release the door. I can honestly say, hanging this door by myself would not have been possible without the JawStand, unless I had a second adult to hold it instead.
Test the door to make sure you can open it enough to access the papers behind the glass occasionally.
Slip your menu planner, chore lists, artwork or reminders in between the cable pieces and the glass.
And enjoy being organized! (I created the menu planner with images from The Graphics Fairy. Stay tuned for a downloadable version.) Who else loves Taco Tuesday and Pizza Friday? Not to be outdone by breakfast for dinner!
The boys can easily see their chores for each day and check off when they are done. The glass creates the perfect dry erase surface.
At the bottom of the door, I added some sheet metal that was transformed with Modern Masters copper paint and patina solution. We use it as a magnetic board. I’ll show you that copper painting process soon.
If you have a sharp eye, you may have noticed that I covered the original door knob and dead bolt holes with another piece of sheet metal and a face plate.
I’m curious what you think about our family organization center door?
Is it wacky or genius?
Disclosure: Rockwell sent me the JawStand for a product review. This is NOT a sponsored post. I was not paid to blog about the JawStand, nor was I told what to write about the JawStand. I will always disclose to you when you are reading a sponsored post or if a product was sent to me at no cost.
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I looked at this post but the part about the cable just flew right over my head. Thanks!
Your door looks amazing and you make it look possible even for the craftily challenged like me! 🙂
Love the idea..would change alittle to include either a corkboard in one window or maybe a chalkboard. It would work great for a craft space or home office too. Who doesn’t need help keeping organized! Keep up the great ideas.
I love this idea and you make it look so easy. The jaw stand appears to have worked great for you. I love your blog. You always have the best ideas.
Very cool! I love the metal at the bottom for magnets! So much better to look at than a blank wall!
Everything about this is Sheer Genius! Wow, I’m so impressed with this idea & that Jaw Stand, what a piece of equipment to own! There are so many ways a person could use this idea of yours! Your plate doth overfloweth without a doubt! Great tutorial & post. Thanks so much! X
Ha! The doorknob plate was what my eye caught first, probably because I love those old ones. I love the idea and would probably one add one thing: a glass or old doorknob so I could hang a purse or totebag or backpack from. The coax cable idea is brilliant, as is the JawStand. Who couldn’t use an “extra hand” when a real one isn’t available? Looking forward to the patina tutorial. Good luck with the contractor’s exam.
What a cute idea! I love the organizing of those things all in one place, and in an attractive way. You’ve inspired me to visit my local ReStore more frequently!
This is positively BRILLIANT! I had no idea there was such a thing as the Jaw Stand! That is one awesome tool! I hope they let you keep it!!!
The coax cable as a clip is also brilliant!
I missed the door knob cover until the last photos. Gorgeous. Love the paint job.
You truly knocked it out of the park with this one. There are SO many possibilities and variations… my head is spinning. Love this! Thanks so much!!!