This may seem silly but you have to love an old door bell ringer... right at eye level hanging in the microscopic place called a hallway. So, our's was a bit outdated... well, it still is... but at least it's not gold. It is now a nice flat black--oil based paint does wonders for small home problems, er, projects. Try it! Rustoleum is the brand I always buy and it's not pricey. Find the little half pint cans at any home improvement mecca or hardware store. Get ready for drips, so you need to apply with caution and also have mineral spirits on hand for cleanups.

A great tip: take off old handles from drawers, cabinets and such... dip them into the paint can, let the excess drip off, then lay them on a side that doesn't have paint to dry. Watch the paint just smoothe itself out. Fabo!