katyelliott.com

A daily design journal about new england life, home decorating resources, and renovating a 257-year-old house in Marblehead, MA.

Rot Door Frame in Entry

Posted on | December 21, 2011 | 9 Comments

rotten door frame Rot Door Frame in Entry

A few days I woke up early to bring out the trash and noticed the door frame in the entry leading down to the basement was all gouged out. I came stomping up the stairs yelling, “What the heck are doing ruining 18th-century molding?” I knew I had heard him downstairs late that night making some kind of mess and I was rather annoyed.

As Greg explains he was removing the rot. The wood was so soft that the door would never hang. My rebuttal, “Well we never open that door and don’t you think it’s better to preserve it?” Anytime I want to fix something he always throws the preservation zinger in my face. Yes, I was acting childish but it felt the right moment to throw it back at him. I asked, “What are you gonna do fill it with wood putty?” You hear the annoyance in my voice but I’ve become extremely frustrated with the picking and picking of every project. To him it will never be perfect…The den molding we’ve been painting; He decided to re-sand a few spots and fill with putty because the gouges were annoying him. In my head I’m screaming, Just finish a damn project!!!

The damage has been done to the door frame and now we need to come up with a solution. He removed the molding covering the top of the rotted frame. The wood is one solid piece extending the whole width of the wall. I guess we cut out the rot wood and replace it with a new piece. Hopefully, once the jam is painted and the door rehung with HL hinges we’ll hardly notice the difference.

Ah the trials of a house renovation…

DSC0254 Rot Door Frame in Entry DSC0257 Rot Door Frame in Entry
DSC0251 Rot Door Frame in Entry

Related Posts:
Front Entry Progress
Restoring Door Jamb in Den
Learning More About HL Hinges

Decorative Fireplace Fitting

Posted on | December 2, 2011 | 21 Comments

brass gas fitting Decorative Fireplace Fitting

While I was working on polishing the antique brass andirons; Greg remembered we had this brass fitting that needed to be cleaned up. With a bit of scrubbing a beautiful decorative fitting appeared.

The fitting sits to the right of our fireplace, we’ve assumed it went to a former gas line? But how did it work? Did an additional line come out of the fitting to light the fireplace?

Any ideas? We would love to hear your comments!

DSC9886 Decorative Fireplace Fitting
antique brass fitting Decorative Fireplace Fitting

Related Posts:
How To Clean Antique Brass Andirons
Restoring Fireplaces From Historic New England
Day 3: Brick Chimney Build

pixel Decorative Fireplace Fitting

keep looking »
  • About Blog

    postcard of house

    A journal about new england life, decorating inspiration, and renovating a 262-year-old house in Marblehead, Massachusetts. read more...

  • Follow Along

    Sign up for bi-weekly post updates


  • Press & Mentions

    marblehead home and style

    best 20 interior blogs

    best 20 interior blogs

    instyle editor pick nov 11

    marblehead home and style

    improper bostonian

    times online

    the guardian
  • Categories

  • Monthly Archive

  • Most Popular

  • Sponsored Links


  • Blog Courtesy

    I love to share! Please credit my blog and provide a link when re-posting to your blog, website, pinterest etc. Please ask permission to use complete blog posts with my original written text, instructions or photos for web, tv or print use. E-mail me with questions: elliott.katy@gmail.com.