Small Built-in Doors
With the remaining bathroom tasks, first up is more wood work to keep finishing up the door and built-in. The hardware for the entry door is all wood and it was only coated with boiled linseed oil. The problem is that it didn’t get dark enough to match the look of the door that was stained and glazed so now I want to apply some glaze to the pieces to make them blend in a little more. After the glaze dries, I go with some shellac coats rather than Waterlox and then I’ll finish with wax. I still need to acquire some screws but that will wait till next week as the shellac cures.
About to apply some brown glaze.
The other issue with the door was flipping the lock around because I had installed the latch in the wrong direction. I also got some period appropriate slotted brass screws to replace the Phillips head screws.
The latch now faces the correct way.
Then it’s on to more work on the built-in doors. Still stripping the large door which is slow and steady. I got about 90% of it cleaned off and hopefully will get it all completed next weekend so I can start applying BLO to it before staining. The two small doors get their last coat of Waterlox and they’re ready to be hung in the built-in. The replacement hinges I bought are a little tight so I have to use a file to sand down the hinge cutouts to make sure the hinges sit flat.
Doors installed.
The finishing touch is to install a toilet paper holder. For this I bought a reproduction because antique bathroom hardware is surprisingly expensive. Also it’s usually in pretty rough shape. My guess is that not a lot of these antiques survived so they are pretty scarce which causes the prices to be high.
Reproduction toilet paper holder but the toilet paper is actually from the 1920s.
In between work, I make my way down to Cape May to check out an estate sale. The home is of similar vintage of my place in Wildwood, but unlike Wildwood, the house in Cape May will not be demolished showing the value of a strong historic preservation commission. I like checking out these estate sales mostly to see the similar workmanship and compare notes on how to decorate and set up rooms. The bathroom is very similar to the one I just finished with a narrow layout, clawfoot tub, and wooden doorknobs. I’m also pleased to see the floor tilted after years of supporting the heavy tub - see nothing has to be completely plumb.
Similar feel to bathroom I just finished in Wildwood.
Folk Victorian in Cape May - where they don’t tear down old homes.
As to the sale, I pick up a rocking chair that would work for the cottage. Right now there are 2 huge wicker chairs. Even though wicker is historically accurate I also think it can have an 80s or modern vibe to it. Especially since these chairs are painted blue. The Cape May rocking chair is more compact, looks older and is only 25 bucks so I snag that and replace 1 of the large chairs with it.
Compact rocker next to the blue behemoth.
Outside of getting the cottage cleaned for rentals, I start back up on stripping the paint in the bedrooms. These will need to have all of the latex paint removed and then some scrubbing of the calcimine before I start tackling plaster repair.
This is where I left off before starting on the bathroom work.
Didn’t even get to touch this wall.
