A Discovery!
Today, I was standing on a ladder in the carriage house dining room, priming the ceiling, when Cody shrieked: “ROSS!”
I froze, paint roller suspended in mid-air.
And I waited. And waited. Did he need help?
Then, Cody came into view. Holding something in his hand. Was it a dead mouse?
It was not. It was something fabulous.
In working on the carriage house these past months I have endeavored to discover if the house had picture rail. If so, at what location? In the Cross House, it is about 20-inches below the ceiling, as was common during the 1890s. But the carriage house was reborn circa-1921, so it did not likely have picture rail so low. My sister has a 1920s bungalow and it it about a half-inch below the ceiling. Her house though does not have the high ceilings of the carriage house. So, did the carriage house have picture about 12-inches below the ceilings? This made sense as the proportions of the first-floor rooms would look better with picture rail at this height. As things are now, all the windows and doors looks curiously short. A picture rail 12-inches below the ceilings would fix this.
Well, all my sleuthing proved naught. Quite vexingly!
Until today.
In 2014, I removed a non-original wall severing the Secret Bedroom from the foyer. Today, only a 2×4 on the ceiling remains.
Today, while Cody was going up the stairs, he glanced over and thought: WHAT is that?
THAT proved to be the elusive picture rail a half-inch below the ceiling. It has been visible all this time. I just did not see it.
In time, as I later restored the foyer, the picture rail would have been discovered. But, I always enjoy sooner rather than later. I WANT IT NOW!
Behind the bits of picture rail was the same distinctive grasscloth wallpaper previously discovered. This was normal; paper first, trim second. This make for a vastly easier wallpaper job.
It is now confirmed that the foyer, Secret Bedroom, and living room all had the same paper. The dining room was gutted to the studs at some point so no historic fragments remain.
While I expected picture rail, and while a half-inch below the ceiling was common for the era, I am nonetheless surprised that it is not 12-inches below the ceiling. The rooms would look better.
So…what will Ross do?
12 Comments
Leave a Reply Cancel Reply
Your email address will NEVER be made public or shared, and you may use a screen name if you wish.
I know the Carriage house would tell you she wants picture rails at 12 inches. When she gets that she will heave a sigh of relief because her years of mistreatment will be over.
I love that they were there and that they’ve been found! I agree with Pam that the house will probably want you to move them.
The house always wins.
Great discovery.
Move the picture rail to where it will look best. The house will thank you.
Is that a curve right under where the piece of picture rail was?
Yes. The Carriage House wins & picture rail will once again be restored!
I’m betting Ross will put the picture rail where it looks best, and document where it was. And I’m looking forward to seeing how this all plays out. The Carriage House will be beautiful again when you’re done with it.
How could you go wrong with 12″?
What will Ross do? Why, put his bare butt on the radiator!
Yes! Butt to radiator and think! Good one Tiffaney! Good eye Cody! 🙂
Wow, great discovery, Cody!
What a lovely Art Deco shape to that picture rail too! Very 1920s.