Golly
Yesterday I did CH: Day 77, about…at long last…moving the front door.
I was so very excited.
I assumed y’all would be, too!
Oopsie!
A friend called me. “Ross, why do you put yourself out there like this? If people are just gonna be critical…not knowing all the facts, issues, and considerations, and entirely discounting your long experience and talent…I think you should just shut down the blog.”
Tempting! Tempting!
About 18 months ago I decided to move things around at the Carriage House:
- Move entry to north narrow wall.
- Move large window under turret.
- Install small window where large window was.
The motivation for all this was the fact that the NW corner originally had a porch. This likely meant an entry, too. This was removed circa-1921 when the structure was converted to a house and much altered. Along the main west front a Mission-style porch was grafted onto the Queen Anne-style 1894 building.
The porch dominated. It also obscured that the new entry was not centered on the turret. And it obscured a weird dormer to the south of the turret. And blocked a lot of light from entering the living room through the large window.
The porch was also severely rotted and needed to be rebuilt. It seemed wiser to just remove it. I have never regretted this.
During the following years I often pondered the facade of the Carriage House. Could it be made really attractive? It is a wonderful, delightful structure and I felt that it deserved better.
So, of late, the small diamond window was installed a few months ago and I am thrilled with the results. This will afford some privacy for the living room when people stand on the new porch in the NW corner.
Last month, the big window was moved under the turret and I am thrilled with the results.
Getting the entry relocated on Wednesday was, too, a thrill. At least for me!
During these past 18 months I have given a great deal of thought to these changes, made many measurements, done numerous sketches, and had long conversations with Justin. Only once I felt on path did I proceed.
Of great concern is that because the completed work (such as the new porch roof) is almost certainly many years away, some of the new work might appear a bit awkward although this should vanish with all the work completed. I have no magical solution to this. I think of the interim work as a teenager.
Some readers did not understand why I moved the large window under the turret. Since the move was completed though such concerns seem to have been alleviated.
Regarding the entry door: This is part of the circa-1921 alterations and comprised a door and a pair of sidelights. Each originally had beveled glass but this remains only in the north sidelight. The rest is plastic.
The door itself seems of a later date (the hinges on it do not properly mate with the hinges on the frame).
Moving the entire entry assembly was never possible as its new location is not wide enough. The interior wall is 73-wide while the entry assembly is 80-wide. It could fit if I cut the vertical side trims in half.
Ahh…no.
Even with that done, the assembly would have butted against the very wide opening between the foyer and living room. I call this the ‘fabulous entry’. It has two low wood walls topped with columns, topped with glass lighting globes, and just under carved oak brackets. Yes, fabulous. This is the glory of the space and I sooooooo did not want the relocated entry to visually compete. My solution was to lose one sidelight, and install the entry as far away from the ‘fabulous entry’ as possible.
Breathing room, dahlink, breathing room.
This all seems the correct thing to have done.
A vital consideration is the view from the south entry of the Cross House. This is the entry I use 95% of the time.
Another concern about installing the complete (with both sidelights) 1921 entry on the narrow north wall is that the wall would then be mostly glass. This, I feared, would make the turret look, visually, unsupported.
Ahh…no.
With just a single sidelight, and the entry moved as west as possible, I could have two vertical trim pieces on the outer corner (looking supportive of the turret) and some wall to the left with siding (looking supportive).
My worry about the turret looking unsupported would only be compounded by the later heavy roof being installed over the new NW porch. It seems vital that the first floor appear to be able to carry the load of the second floor, particular when I step out of the Cross House.
Another thing I was loathe to do was have like a 2-inch-wide strip of lap-siding between the right vertical entry trim, and the vertical corner trim board.
Ahh…no.
My solution is to have the vertical entry trim kiss the corner trim. Ahh, so crisp and elegant! To do this though the interior vertical trim board will have to be reduced in width a bit. Not perfect. But I never fight for perfection as it is an sisyphean effort.
Of note is how asymmetrical the foyer is. The ‘fabulous entry’ is not centered on its wall but hard left. There is a stair in one corner. The new large window, while centered on the turret, is not centered on its inside wall. The foyer is Z-shaped.
In short, the foyer is highly wonky. So, when all is done, the new hard left entry should look entirely OK.
I chose to remove the south sidelight because I wanted the door of the relocated entry to open to the right, and up against the west wall. This is normal. Doors like opening in a corner. Hence, my retaining the original north sidelight. This will also help make the foyer seem a bit more spacious as one will walk into one side rather than in the center. This will also…so vital!…create a better view of the ‘fabulous entry’.
Because the door lost its beveled glass, and because the door appears to be a later replacement, I have no issue buying an antique door which will open to the right, and with the correct size beveled panel. This will be significantly less costly than ordering a new bevel panel.
There were questions about the floor grills. This is not an issue as the entire north end of the foyer floor will later be taken up and new oak fitted in. The grill now in the NW corner will be shifted to the NE corner.
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One of your great strengths as a designer/architect is to see possible vistas when poorly thought out previous installations were muddled. The interior view through the arch flanked by the recreated half-partitions to the new large window and leaded transom will be simply grand. The family entrance to the Cross House looking to that of the CH, and vice versa, relates the buildings to one another. A single asymmetric sidelight wonky?
Wonkiness, thy name is Charles W. Squires. No way to know, but I bet the old boy would approve your domestic solution to what was a barn.
Thank you for sharing all of your process and results Ross. It’s always a fun journey and I love living vicariously through you. I am glad when “you do you!”
That’s what makes this blog extra special!
Here! Here!
Hi Ross, I enjoy reading your blog, and look forward to your posts. Way back, you said …you want peoples input, ideas, and suggestions. Everyone has their own ideas of what looks nice, and how they think it should be…but,…..it all boils down to its your house, your paying for it, there for it will be how you want it, end of discussion. People give their suggestions, and you take them for what their worth, not everyone is going to agree. Keep up the good work!
Not everyone is critical of your design decisions. I know you put a lot of thought into every single change or restoration you make on the Cross House and Carriage House. It does no good to suggest rearranging the door and sidelight after the work has been done. It is not easily changed around. There is a method to your madness, (this is meant in a good way). I know in the end, the Carriage House will look fabulous. Keep up the good work, I enjoy your blog and would miss reading about your restoration adventures.
It’s so nice to have the process explained; your ideas and future plans outlined. It does seem like a complex process.
I’m so glad you have friends to ask for ideas and to perhaps help with the execution of your vision.
Your energy seems boundless! I’m always glad when you explain why you take off a day or two if weather prohibits outdoor work. You are so sensible Ross!
I do not read all the comments to this blog. I do think it is silly to question an artist at work. The Carriage House is a work of art put together with much thought and materials at hand with a mind to expediency with the upcoming deadline…So, Ross, labour on! We commend you!
It all seems fabulous to me. You’re an artisan and a top-notch writer as well, so carry on!
Personally I love what you have done. I think the carriage house should be like it was originally the “back up dancer” to the main house. While I hate the “barn door” trend. I’d love for it to look like it was originally designed as a Barn. A high end classy barn but I think you should recreate the barn door, albeit a large shutter I think it keeps the historical narrative alive.
Another benefit of this configuration is the view of the side of the Cross house from the carriage house’s new front door. I hadn’t appreciated how lovely even the side of the Cross house actually is!
Ross, the entryway with one sidelight seems so modern to me. Did you consider a double door entryway at all? Just curious.
Well, I hope unfortunate comments don’t inspire you to close this blog. I rarely comment myself, but I check this blog every day, it is one my my favorites. Myself, I have learned over the years that even if I can’t envision the final result of an idea you have, that it will all fall into place at the end. For instance, the library: I couldn’t see how all your plans would tie together until they….did. I know the carriage house will look great when you are done. Thanks for always sharing your work on this house, I think this blog brings happiness to a lot of people. Take care.
Don’t you dare close this blog!
I live for every edition, political or otherwise. The photos are worth 10,000 words!
And the interspersed stories about light fixtures and their transformation back to the present are excellent segues!
Maybe this blog could be converted to a video podcast, 1tentimes more entertaining than anything on This Old House or HGTV!
I agree! Ross, it’s your house. Do as you damn well please. But don’t you dare shut us out!
You know you can buy beveled glass and specify the size of the bevel…
You do you Ross. I have made a couple of suggestions over the years that were not accepted because you have your own vision. That’s fine, I just thought you might enjoy someone else’s ideas. I was not offended when you chose not to follow my ideas. I love that you are an individual, it’s your property to do with whatever pleases YOU! I will however be VERY ANGRY if you get discouraged and discontinue this blog. I am daily entertained and amazed by your efforts and results.
Thanks for opening a discussion about process. You provide a helpful example of how to maintain a vision without squelching the expression of ideas by others. It’s fun to express ideas and opinions, and extra fun when the artist responds with their thoughts. Seeing the view from the South Entry puts the door’s new placement in perspective for me. I think there is a good rhythm to the shapes and patterns created. — I think the placement is sensitive to the surrounding architecture – the tower above and the proposed roof.
I check this blog so often, though I rarely comment but would like to chime in on how much fun it is to watch you figure out elegant solutions to complicated problems. I’ve personally learned so much from this blog and look forward to each post! Thanks for all your work not only on the house but in your posts, which bring so much interesting and useful information to folks like me, who aspire to one day do something similar!
It is your vision and expertise that set you aside from others. No one could make this project any better as you add your wonderfully unique style to it all. Thank you for this blog, I read it daily. Don’t you dare close it!!!
Hey Ross, just wanted to add, as you can see, so many of us truly love this blog and living vicariously through you. Thank you for sharing it with us!
Dear Ross your blog has buoyed me and given me joy during many difficult times. You are a brilliant man and architect. You are the handsomest of them all. You love kitties. You have taught about the baby steps. I love your writing style. You have built a wonderful community. We love you. Please keep on keeping’ on.
Giant hug!
Karen
I hate that you had to do this, and i hope you never feel you have to do this to appease the masses.
As someone else said, its your house and you dont need or have to elaborate like this!!! It will all come out in the wash, the method to your madness is just that: a method!!! Always well researched and fully thought out.
As a crafter, I am familiar with projects not looking pretty in the middle phases. No one who has built or designed anything should think unfinished projects need to look museum worthy. Ignore the haters. There are lots of people who love your blog. Just because you do things differently than they would do (or than I would do) doesn’t make your style wrong. I mean, we would all do things differently if we had gobs of money and unlimited budgets too.
I look forward to your blog posts, like so many others here, and check back every few days for updates. I’ve been following the Cross House blog for years now. Someday I hope I will have the chance to get up Kansas way and have a tour. Keep on baby-steppin Ross! We’re with you all the way!
I agree with most of your loyal readers… you may occasionally change your mind or back track but you know what you are doing, you work with care, and you are entitled to do what you need to do for the betterment of your property. We are just grateful that you share it with us!
If anyone has a problem, remind them that the Cross House is not a democracy. It’s a ROSSOCRACY!
Hi, Ross. I am reporting a tiny typo, as I know you dislike them on your site: “(he hinges” should be the “(the hinges”
As always, you may delete this comment after you’ve fixed the typo.
I’m not sure which entry has the better view: the view from the Cross House toward the Carriage House, or the view from the Carriage House to the south facade of the Cross House. Especially now that you’ve spent about a half a million hours resurrecting the south facade.