Final Countdown

 This past weekend, I reflected on race relations in this country and took a long walk in the woods. Also, finished the second to last project on the second floor, the last hallway closet door.

Let's jump in the way-back machine!

This is the original listing photo. Notice the use of light to gloss over the failing plaster, and the choice camera angles so you don't notice the badly rehung closet door to the right. Even here that door isn't closing though. Creative job, photographer.

 

This space saw pretty extensive plaster repair, water damage repair, all new paint, and all painted doors saw some form of attention. Hardware was stripped and added to where appropriate, with the right had closet door seeing the most extensive work.

Here we are now:

ta da. I don't have a wide-angle camera, so this is what we've got.

The grill has been added over the heat hole. The hardware is as match-y as I can reasonably afford. I left the pitched area white to reflect light instead of painting it blue like they had it. I'm much happier with the liftoff hinges replaced on the closet door, but sad that the modern replacement ones are so stinking deep. Because these panel doors are relatively thin, it means the hinge juts out into the space more than the originals you can see on the left. They are also substantially taller, but far less offensive than the surface mounted brass hinges that were here when I got here. I'm not thrilled with the weight or depth of screws that were supplied with these hinges, and I might replace them with something more robust in the future.

Door before:

Stanley surface hinges, Victorian catch, useless handset, all painted over

Door After:

Modern liftoff hinges, reversed handset (with cannibalize parts from elsewhere in the house)

I know it's no big thing, but it's a detail that feeds into the cohesive Whole Visual Story. Was what there worked? Sure. Sort of. But it wasn't consistent. It was a visual hodgepodge that didn't play well together. The more things I bring into alignment, the more details like this, if not addressed, stick out like a sore thumb.
It's now perfectly clear from the minute you go upstairs that one end of the hallway is Old, and the other end of the hallway is Not As Old. It's not a weird blend

The last major project of the upstairs is the chimney.

Here's looking at you, kid.
(Please ignore the extension cords, it's the only way to live in this room.)