A Farmhouse Door......................( before and after )

When we first moved into this place this is how the doors upstairs looked...............
( vomit bag not provided - sorry )

Complete with flimsy plastic " stained glass " panel inserts. ( that made the worst plastic-y sound when you opened and closed the doors )

I know you're thinking " cheater - those are not the same doors at all "
But believe it or not I discovered that these doors had veneers covering the original panels ( you can read about my discovery HERE )

( We'll just call this privacy film a test run, ok?  It's not centered correctly - but still - even off centered, it such a difference already, right? )

Why anyone would mask them this way I have no idea - maybe an attempt to modernize the house back in the day?
I can't for the life of me understand the thought process on this one  - I just can't.

The conversation must have went something like this.
"Let's see now - how can we make these solid wood doors - filled with character - look more like hollow builder grade doors ?"
"Oh and I've found the perfect plastic panels we can use as inserts"

I mean a LOT of work had to have gone into creating the " look ", right?  Precise cutting - glueing etc..........on all 6 of them - both sides, so that's like 12 times -
Which created a lot of work to restore them, needless to say !

AND 6 dark doors in a very tiny upstairs landing ( 7 if you include another cupboard door )  made the entire landing extremely dreary looking - especially with the 70's upgrade railing and bannisters that are still there - painted but still there for now.

The veneers were removed and the doors were sanded down ( removing more glue than I've ever seen in my life ) and painted white.
I'm sure the square footage has increased with all of the shi crap we've scraped off  floors - walls - doors !

We then installed a plain panel of clear glass and added the privacy film which would allow light to come through. ( well actually we lived with a piece of plastic from a black garbage bag on the bedroom door for 10 months and even that was better than the plastic pane that was there before lol )
Originally there would have been a wood panel inserted in there - but I desperately need the light that glass brings into the landing.
I asked John at least once a day for those 10 months to PLEASE install a glass panel and finally last weekend he did it
10 months is pretty good considering there were a LOT of hockey games on in that period of time.
You need time to rejoice.................and to grieve.
I grabbed hold of him after one particularly great game and asked if he wanted to celebrate by installing the glass ( I could have got him to build new doors - he was that happy )

And the doors now look like this - well one of them at least - I'm in the process of finishing the others as I type - but playoffs are going to start soon - so I'm a little worried.
I've never had so much at stake for our team to win !

I spray painted backplates and found a vintage glass handle ( the screws aren't in the back plates yet because I tried all kinds of handles before settling on this one.
Maybe.

Although I can't make the teen tiny landing larger - I'm doing my best to make it brighter
I'd love to have a skylight installed but we're not sure if it's feasible -and there's still so much to do as you know ( I'm feeling discouraged the past few weeks - very very discouraged )

For now I'm enlisting the aid of white paint - and mirrors.
As many as I can squeeze in .....................

And now you know the story of my Farmhouse doors ( would you call them that?  Not sure what style they are actually ! )

All I know is that I like them a whole lot better ................

Here's a better view - which I was NOT going to show because the room's a mess - with a half painted mirror ( for months now - you learn to live like that when you're renovating - trust me ) and a mantel being used as a catch all - but I figured if I don't water mark it, I can always deny it's my room later on LOL

Country Doors - take me home........................

Huh?  Excuse me?  I've never seen this room in my life.

Have a wonderful rest of the day everyone
Much love,
Hugs too
Me


LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?
JOIN ME AT THESE FABULOUS PARTIES !

THE CHARM OF HOME                                         FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE                                     SHABBY ART BOUTIQUE
TOO MUCH TIME ON MY HANDS                      MY TURN FOR US
THE SHABBY NEST                                               MY ROMANTIC HOME
CLASSY CLUTTER                                                 THE GIRL CREATIVE
CHIC ON A SHOESTRING                                    FUNKY JUNK INTERIORS
PIECED PASTIMES                                                ONE MORE TIME EVENTS
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                              I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR
UNCOMMON DESIGN                                          UNDER THE TABLE & DREAMING
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                       COASTAL CHARM
SAND & SISAL                                                STONE GABLE
KATHE WITH AN E                                                ELIZABETH & CO.
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                  MY SALVAGED TREASURES
DIY BY DESIGN                                                     HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON
FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS              I GOTTA CREATE
THE DIY SHOWOFF                                              THE DEDICATED HOUSE
DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME    THE UPTOWN ACORN

I WANNA live there Wednesday # 116

There's a twist on this week's I WANNA live there - all of the homes you're about to see have been.....................
Abandoned

INDULGY

My love of houses began at a very young age - especially period houses - none of my friends " got " my obsession ( and yes it was a borderline obsession - today it's a full blown out one )

My Aunt & Uncle lived in the Laurentians when I was a little girl - in a cabin in the woods owned by my Uncle's family -
They were going through hard times financially and gratefully accepted the free cottage but as soon as they were on their feet they quickly moved back to the city - quite literally walking away from that little gem.
It was too lonely, my Aunt explained - there were no phone lines - no electricity - no modern conveniences, so I completely get that it must have been difficult with 3 small children.
But it had the most magnificent fireplaces - and an Aga stove in the kitchen - there were 4 bedrooms with dormers under the rafters - and there was such a feeling of warmth in that little house.

As a teenager we went back to visit this abandoned cabin - which had long since become a hunting cabin (or a place for vagrants to come in from the cold. )
My family was horrified at what had happened ( what did they think would happen, I wonder? )
but I was completely mesmerised - and my strange love affair with abandoned buildings began.

They're all hauntingly beautiful - and though I'll likely never know any of the stories that go with these places, they still manage somehow to speak to me..............

TUMBLER

I'm not so much into classical Art - the Picasso's of the world are far better left to those who can really appreciate them -
As for me?
I was almost moved to tears seeing these.

INDULGY

This is my art - this is what moves me immeasurably.
So to think of such beauty - such craftmanship - such memories being left to return to the elements is difficult to see.-
It's as heartbreaking ( in my world ) as seeing a Rembrandt tossed in a bin.

These buildings are priceless in my mind - they hold memories of laughter and holidays - of wars and grief - of extravagance and frugality by necessity.
Of lives lived - whether happily or sadly - lives were touched by all of these walls in some type of capacity.

INDULGY

Babies took their first steps
Hide & seek was played
And curtains swayed with Spring breezes after long cold winters

TUMBLER

INDULGY

Music echoed from the parlors
Meals were prepared

INDULGY

Fireplaces were lit on cold days
Messes were made.

INDULGY

And tucked upstairs in bedrooms,  big or small, dreams were dreamt .........
A Father's of providing for his family
A Mother's of her babies
A Daughter's of marrying Prince Charming
A Son's of setting off to see the world.

PINTEREST

Did any come true?
Did the young daughter marry her Prince ?
Did a son march off to war ?
Did he return ?
Did grandchildren grace the rooms ?

PINTEREST

Did they rejoice at the end of a long productive week?
Did they despair?
Did they stoop as they walked up the staircase with worry ?
Did the children slide down the bannister , blissfully unaware ?

INDULGY

Did fresh flowers greet you as you stepped inside ?
Did a pipe rest on a table in the den ?
Did aprons hang on a hook in the kitchen ?

PINTEREST

Were frogs and snakes hidden in boy's rooms ?
Was there chintz wallpaper in the girl's rooms ?
Was there a lake or a swimming hole nearby ?
Were there home made swings hanging from great oak trees that had been around longer than the home ?
Were mittens and scarves knit ?
Was there bread in the oven ?
Did the radiators hiss on cold winter days ?

PINTEREST

Did homemade quilts cover the beds ?
Did the floors gleam from wax ?
Did laundry sway in the breeze ?
Did families gather around the piano to sing Christmas carols ?

PINTEREST

I'll never have the answers to those questions but what I do know is that at some point in time - long before I was born - someone sat on a porch - looked around with contentment and maybe a little awe and thought..............
" I'm home " with appreciation, pride and a sense of being blessed.

INDULGY

INDULGY

They'd never have believed that far beyond their future -  a lady would be sitting in front of her computer late at night - staring at their beautiful homes and thinking of the families that once dwelt in them.
They'd have thought their lives weren't interesting enough, I'm sure.

But they'd be wrong.
_________________________________________________________________________________


More Abandoned beauties on my PINTEREST page.
Have a great Wednesday everyone
Hugs
Me


SHARING HERE !!!

HAVE A DAILY CUP OF MRS. OLSON                FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
THE CHARM OF HOME                                          FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE
MY TURN FOR US                                                  PIECED PASTIMES
LIFE ON LAKESHORE DRIVE                               I SHOULD BE MOPPING THE FLOOR
BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH                       COASTAL CHARM
KATHE WITH AN E                                                ELIZABETH & CO.
SAVVY SOUTHERN STYLE                                  MY SALVAGED TREASURES
DWELLINGS - THE HEART OF YOUR HOME
COMMON GROUND