happy tears

This morning I cried happy tears. Seriously. Seriously crying. Seriously happy. What a Sunday!

I love all kinds of architecture, but the folk Victorian and Arts & Crafts styles are my two favorites. We hit the jackpot with Charles, as she was built as the folk house and her addition was A&C. B I N G O! And, while we have this historic documentation from DHP, what we don’t have are any photos of the home in its original design, or its second life of adding the addition. While frustrating, it is also liberating because as long as I am in keeping with the historical integrity of the home and its heritage, DHP has been very supportive of approving my design plans.

A favorite of the Victorian fretwork has always been the “ball and stick” design. You can still find it in antique pieces, furniture and decorative trims. I found a company outside of Dallas that has been recreating Victorian trim for forty-three years. They are old school. They answer the phone. They call you back. They have very southern accents (I swore the woman was asking if I wanted yeller or white pie. She said pine). They made Charles’ fretwork just for her. We put the happiness of folk Victorian right back on the front porch as it should have been there all these years. It is like a happy explosion of lottery balls! It made me smile. Clap. Then cry. I shared my vision with Dan. He endured tedium of painting all day yesterday and installed it today.

The new fretwork now frames our most expensive and beautiful addition to date. Meet our new old front door.

DHP always prefers that original parts of the homes are preserved if possible. If not, there are guidelines that you must follow to replace the doors and windows. The doors must be wooden. I was on a two month hunt for the right door. I wanted it to be reclaimed. It had to be period appropriate and finally beautiful. Doors like this are not easy to find, in such good, restored condition, ready to hang. I found just the right door. Right size, right look, but changing it up a bit to become a left-hand swing. It was coming home to Charles. I still have the original door, and I’ll do my best to strip and sand it, but the dry-rot and damage is extensive. It has absolutely no R-Factor and the original clear glass is long gone, replaced by leaking plexiglass. I’ll find a home for it inside somewhere. We’ll let the new old door relieve it of its service. It was shipped from an antiques dealer in Denver the morning of the snow storm two weeks ago. We were up against the clock when the semi arrived in freezing sleet. This door was packaged impeccably. The delivery guy and I looked like we were escorting a large casket down the sidewalk and to the porch. There were a few tears on this day too, as my hand got stuck between the original door frame and the crate, but alas, no broken bones, only some bruises and blood, and our door was inside and safe. It was now ok to snow. This last week, Dan rebuilt the transom and cleaned the blue glass, and it was replaced a top it’s new partner. It looks gorgeous.

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So, on this dreary, cold and rainy Sunday, I sit in my my 1908 A&C home in Nebraska, missing the sunshine and happiness of my folk Victorian, basking in her new, beautiful glory of our version of what she should be restored to look like. Dan took a minute to stand back and click the picture to send me. He enjoyed the compliments of at least three passers-by who agree that Charles looks pretty fantastic. He assured one that he’s just the “do-er”. I am the “decider”. And while that may be true, and I can see just how I want Charles to look… it takes a very special man to take the time to listen and pay attention, and in the end NAIL IT perfectly, both in execution and in installation. Kudos to our contractor- partner. Thank you for the happy tears. Charles and I are so grateful on this Sunday.

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