Resuming The South Hall
With the bump-outs now recreated, it seemed tragic that they were surrounded by an unfinished hall. Oh, the horror.
I did a lot of work on the hall in 2022 and had planned to finish the work but then got slapped with a Completion Notice for the Carriage House in early 2023 and that consumed my life for the rest of the year.
Now, as I stare in abject wonder at the recreate bump-outs, a wide smile across my face, having the south hall so close to completion, but not being complete, seemed foolish. Thus, the other day I arrived with a new paint roller to prime the hall.
But…ooops…I forgot that in the Cross House, before any room can be painted, the trim needs to be refinished first.
Looking south. You can appreciate how bad all the trim looks, And the dog scratched door.
But…better!
And no more dog scratches!!!!!!!! I have hated looking at them for 11 years!
Long-term readers with a good memory will recall that the door shown above had been, decades before, made into the south entrance door. I returned it to its original location shown here as the south vestibule door. And the whole world was just a tiny bit better. I also replaced the yellow glass triangle lower left which had been smashed, and the broken feathered glass transom glass above. And the whole world was just a tiny bit more better.
I am uncertain what to do about the door opening in the foreground. This is the location of the infamous door-which-makes-no-sense as it opened into the closet. The door itself is in the basement. I can easily make it open out rather than in, but the closet is now filled with return ducts and Fan Unit #2. The latter had been installed in the NE corner of the library, which made the whole room off. It had to go. Moving it to the south closet seemed no-brainer, although now I wished I had simply dropped it into the basement.
To put the door back will block air to the Fan Unit. I could simply make it so that the door cannot fully close, and be kept open by, say, 3 inches, but I suspect this will drive me crazy every time I walk past.
What I think needs to happen is that I will carefully remove the lower-most panel on the door and infill the opening with a painted vent. I will attach the panel to the back of the door so it could be put back at some point.
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For the closet door, how about instead, insert a shallow “shelf” with the entire back being decorative metal screen. The top section might even have a large photo hanging, there could be a small shelf to catch keys & whatnot – it could even be attached at the existing door hinges to swing out – a secret door to a secret room.
Sorry 😉 I like to dream in other people’s houses.
It all looks beautiful – I’m excited to see the hall color go up! 🤗
Oops – meant to say … shallow “shelf unit” – like full length & width of the door opening.
I was going to suggest removing a panel and replacing it with a vent but you are way ahead of me. I do think the original door needs to be restored to it’s original place.
Great job overall on everything. Not your dog so those scratches aren’t sentimental.
You will be so satisfied with this next small step forward in your restoration.
I, too, was thinking about removing a panel or portion of the door to allow air flow–but then I read your final paragraph. I think you answered your own question perfectly. (Walking past the opening now and seeing those hinge marks facing the wrong direction would drive me insane!)
And the trim is looking amazing! Lightens up that whole space.
This hallway is going to be gorgeous when finished.
Any evidence of a lost picture rail in the space? I would be curious to see how it, in theory, would have interacted with the bump outs, curved wall, and the arch.
It would seem odd to me for it to not have had one, as it was still a semi-public, often seen space, and likely decorated to match the rest of the entry hall.
Cody, the South Hall was decorated the same as the 2-story stairhall, and retains 1894 wallpaper fragments. I assume it also had picture rail.
There are multiple arches in the house and I’ve no idea how picture rail met them.
Just the wee bit you’ve done on the dog-scratch door makes the stained glass look even brighter. It’s beautiful.
Regarding the former closet, could your door doctor create a bottom louver panel so the air flows through from the bottom?
Keep up the good work!
Such a massive improvement from just stripping the trim and door!
I’m way behind on reading your posts! My father passed away in March, and it’s been a long couple of months adjusting to that change. I miss him. A LOT.
The bump-out looks fabulous! What a lot you’ve accomplished in this spot of the house. Bit by bit, baby step by baby step, those Baby Steps(TM) add up to a major improvement. Can’t wait to see all the changes in person!
Big big BIG hug, Barb!
Thanks so much, Ross. I really, really appreciate it.
Tiny typo alert: I think “by life” should be “my life” in this sentence: “I did a lot of work on the hall in 2022 and had planned to finish the work but then got slapped with a Completion Notice for the Carriage House in early 2023 and that consumed by life for the rest of the year.”
Thanks, Barb!
Oops. I found another one: I think “often door” should be “of the door” in this sentence: “What I think needs to happen is that I will carefully remove the lower-most panel on the door and infill the opening with a painted vent. I will attach the panel to the back often door so it could be put back at some point.”
Thanks, Barb!