Comments on: Door panels.

By: elaina

elaina — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 03:40:36 +0000

what about wallpaper on all the panels so it doesn’t look too top heavy? if it’s a bit much you can always go back to plain wood. i think the ferm berry black you just ordered would look great.

By: Scott ttocsnsac

Scott ttocsnsac — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 04:58:51 +0000

look into replacing it with wood but use a drill detail so you can still have the vent function and keep it looking historical http://www.marthastewart.com/article/drill-details?lnc=55c9758a65cee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=taxonomylist_crafts_wood-crafts

looking forward to seeing the finish product

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:50:07 +0000

Im going to stick my vote in for wood as well. I think doors are things that are best left nice and simple, otherwise i think it looks like your trying to hard, if that makes sense?

If you go the wood route, if you get bored of it in time, then have a think about changing it, but id just keep it simple, there is something very lovely about a nice, clean white door :)

By: Beth

Beth — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:08:46 +0000

I am going to vote for the wood since the the door would most likely be left open. If it was closed most of the time, I would vote for the doggie door idea. Ha! How cute is that! But if your dogs would not use them anyway…I know you will make the right choice. Your home is fantastic. I also am not a quirky type, but those wall-papered stairs are fabulous. That really makes a statement.

By: lisa

lisa — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 03:39:32 +0000

the purist in me says let a door be a door :-)
but then again, the idea of little pups climbing through a shut door for love and biscuits….

By: A Merry Mishap

A Merry Mishap — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:59:32 +0000

I like the dog idea. We have 2 and I can totally picture them doing that very thing!

By: Isabelle

Isabelle — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:54:00 +0000

What about pressed tin?

http://www.heritageceilings.com.au/tin-ceilings-patterns.htm

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:47:53 +0000

Erin, it is possible to cut all of the panels out, but I really don’t want to. The doors are 125 years old, and I think it would be a real shame to do more damage to them than has already been done. I may not be a strict restorationist, but I do believe in preservation.

For what it’s worth, this is a door that we will most likely be leaving open at all times, unless we need to contain heat in one of the two rooms during the winter.

By: Erin

Erin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:55:25 +0000

Is it possible to remove all the wood panels and replace them with something translucent? I think this would be a nice option that would maintain the balance.

If it is to go back to being between the middle and front room then it may prevent someone getting hit with the door and allow for light. If it is to go back to work as a closet door I might consider something patterned (upholstered panels) that you could change easily (again for all 4 panels).

By: woodley park-zoo

woodley park-zoo — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:03:59 +0000

I so love the thought of the dogs peeping through the holes.

By: Claire

Claire — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:07:46 +0000

22 is a great number, though.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:57:21 +0000

If the panels were at the top of the door, I would be more inclined to do something with them like put in glass or upholstery or metal of some kind. I like all of the ideas that previous readers have mentioned. The fact that they are on the bottom leaves me inclined to want to just replace them with wood and make them look like the other 2t doors in your home. I’m not sure why that is, but that’s the way I feel. Although I appreciate all of the work that you have to put into your 22 doors, I envy the fact that you have 20 out of 22 original doors, rather than the piece of crap doors I have (except for the 6 original I own) that I have to slowly find replacements for. Two of the bedroom closets upstairs had doors on them at one time, you can see where the hinges were, but they are long gone. Where to, you may ask, I have no idea. I love the idea we came up with for using those great curtains on the closets, but a part of me longs for the doors that were once there and I may just pay someone to make me some that will fit in the future. Call me old fashioned, but if a door was supposed to be someplace, I want a door there!

By: martha

martha — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:10:13 +0000

I would put wood in to match the other panels. I really like how you’ve kept the shell of the house old -just refinishing and fixing what is there or replacing w/ similar styled things (as in the bathroom you just did -the old faucets, etc.) and let the modern things be primarily pieces that are more free floating like furniture and lighting.
The old and new have a very nice relationship this way and there is a simple elegance to everything.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:29:11 +0000

I agree that glass would be weird on the bottom panels, but if you want to do something different but weighty and cleanable you could use that punched metal screen used in radiator covers. Not punched tin like a country pie safe but the slightly Moorish looking perforated metal sheets. (If you search thisoldhouse.com for “how to build a radiator cover” they have a “buying guide” at the end.)

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:14:52 +0000

Heather, that is so cute. :) Believe me, if I thought there were ANY chance of either of my dogs working up the nerve to climb through a hole in a door (circus dogs they are not), I’d definitely do that!

Ryan, my first thought was to use radiator screening, but I went to look at a bunch of different designs over the weekend, and they all looked like…radiator screening. Also, they were $40 (!!!) each, which is too expensive for experimenting with.

By: jennifer in sf

jennifer in sf — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:12:00 +0000

If it was the top two panels I would say go for it, but it does seem like it would be weirder on the bottom half for some reason.
Then again, none of those options are very expensive or intensive, so you could always try something and see how you like it.

By: heather

heather — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:22:41 +0000

that just shows what a good reader i am – i thought that was the top of the door! ;)
i vote for twin doggy doors! one that says fritz and one that says bruno.

By: Anna at D16

Anna at D16 — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:44:02 +0000

Nope, it can’t be flipped. The bottom panels are 2/3 the size of the top panels, which determines the position of the doorknob. Flipping it would set the doorknob at shoulder-height, and throw off the balance of this door against the other 21. ;)

By: srw

srw — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:37:10 +0000

Perhaps you could flip the door during installation so the open panels are on the top and fill them with translucent glass? It might take some more filling to adjust the height and placement of the knob though. I’m really just trying to make the translucent glass thing work. I like the idea of light filtering through.

By: kay*

kay* — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:29:05 +0000

hmm i was also going to suggest glass but agree that the door will look top heavy. i would fill it in like the others. i think you’re home is lovely and that upholstering those 2 panels might look a bit…’quirky’ to use your word.