FOYER: Day 1
You will note a new title.
This is the first post of what may consume all of 2024: finishing the interior of the Carriage House so I can earn some money off it. At long last.
The plan (!) is to do one room at a time, beginning with the foyer. Each blog title will reflect the current room being restored:
FIRST FLOOR
- Foyer
- Living Room
- Dining Room
- Kitchen
- North foyer
- Pantry
- Bathroom
- Secret Bedroom
SECOND FLOOR
- Stair
- Hall
- SW Bedroom
- East Bedroom
- North Bedroom
- Turret Bathroom
- North Bedroom Foyer and Walk-in Closet
- Main Bathroom
I posted such pictures previously but now much mess has been cleared away. I love this view.
The famous wide leaded glass window, fully restored. Thanks, Pam!
From the front door looking in. With the door in its former location one never noticed the stair,
At the stair landing is this delightful pet window.
Turning left one takes in the expansive arch. LOVE LOVE LOVE. When the house was converted into apartments a thin wall was carefully installed just behind the columns with a door. It is amazing that all this was not just ripped out. I believe the circa-1921 conversion of the structure was designed by the original architect, Charles Squires, as the work evidences the playful quality typical of Squires.
A glimpse of the Secret Bedroom, which I named as such because it is tucked under the stair. LOVE THIS, TOO!
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Looking forward to 2024 and all these updates. May it be a very happy and productive year dear Ross, most of all one which finds you in great health.
Most sincerely
This is so delicious and tantalizing! Love the restored leaded glass window and the view of the stair with the front door moved back into 1894 position!
Yay Ross! You made all this happen with a little help from your friends!
I’m intrigued and perplexed by the last photo showing the stairs and the secret bedroom. Is there a narrow gap between the south living room wall and the stairs, or is there a full-width hallway with full head space there? (We need a photo taken on about the 7th step, looking east.) And was the second flight of stairs originally open with a railing, or is the wall original?
Ross, you spoil us! I can’t wait!!!
I find the pet window very oddly placed. Like the window was there first and then the stairway was put in.
Secret bedroom may have been an office. I have one in the front of the house. Door is in the living room. While there is a closet, which technically makes it a bedroom, you would have to exit, go through the living room and dining room and into the hallway to go to the bathroom which is between the two bedrooms that lead off from the hallway. Rather awkward for a bedroom. The original owner used it as an office. It has mahogany wainscoting.
I know you want to reverse the door to left opening, but with right opening the first thing someone sees is the window and then the staircase. Then they step into the house and continue looking left to the opening to the living room. It is a series of reveals and surprises. You’ll lose some of that when you reverse the direction of the door.
I must say the view from the living room out the window is perfect. And it is exactly framed between the two pillars.
I agree with your observations regarding the pet window. I wonder if it would pass an inspection for a Certificate of Occupancy. If it is opened for ventilation, it is hazardous to pets and children. I don’t think an architect would place a window in such a location.
Hi, Michael. I’ve no doubt the window is part of the 1921 conversion. And if Squires was the architect, it’s exactly the quirky kind of thing he’d do!
I love the view of the entryway too and the leaded glass window is gorgeous! Thank you Ross for taking care of it. My little dog would love that pet window.
My big dog would love that window. While she could stand looking out the front door, the action would be on the street. While she could stand and look out the big window eventually she would figure out she could lay down and have a perfect view of the street from the stairs. My Husky mix would figure that out right away. She would probably stake out that spot because it would also get morning sun.
Pet window or teen-ager’s late nights/ early mornings door.
Looking forward to seeing what you do in this space! It’s such a welcoming introduction to the house.