New Door!

This past week, the exterior doors, front and back, were installed, including all new casing. When we, originally, ordered the doors, I wasn't certain what paint or stain color we'd use.  All it took was the initial glance of the doors as they were unloaded from the truck to realize the obvious choice: stained.  The doors and casings are 100% Douglas Fir.  It would have been sacrilege to cover that beautiful, straight, tight, grain with paint.

Lucky for us, our Contractor's Sub for painting is a craftsman in his own right and seems to know everything about paint.  He's been at his craft for 30 years. Although the Sub has several employees, he stained the doors, himself.  He still has one more coat of varnish to apply, after a light sanding, but they're a timeless addition to our home.

We selected, what would have been the same style, original to the house.  Even though we have no proof there was ever a 3-light door on our house, there are plenty of original examples throughout the neighborhood, specific to Arts & Crafts Bungalows. One thing I'm certain of, however, the door would have been made of solid Fir.

The selection of the handleset was a compromise between 1920's and modern day style.  The sectional style (i.e. deadbolt and handle being separate) was a standard configuration sans a mortise vs. tubular (today's standard) lock and latch assembly.  The Colonial style was, also, the standard for entry sectional handlesets. Coincidentally, the new exterior locks are manufactured locally!

I have been dead set on installing a full view (all glass w/ the ability to change out the insert with a full screen) storm door, but, after seeing the door installed and stained, I'm having second thoughts...

It's a Kohler!

In a previous post, I mentioned how I thought the tub in our bathroom was made by Kohler, specifically, a "Cardinal" corner rolled-lip tub.  The problem was, I had no verifiable proof, since I could not find any markings on the side of the tub.  But, it did match the exact dimensions I had seen in a 1925 hardware catalog. Well, that assumption is now a fact and the markings were not on the side of the tub.  Very early this morning (6am), I was cleaning some of the old mortar and glue off the lip of the tub where a previous homeowner decided to try and convert the space into a traditional apron-style tub alcove.  I was cleaning the tub because the plumber is supposed to be here today to install the tub faucet, supply lines, and waste line; I wanted the mounting surfaces to be squeaky clean.

Kohler U.S.A.

As I was making my way around the top of the tub edge, there it was, "plain" as day. Well, ok, fairly faded, but still legible in blue--"Kohler U.S.A.".  To say I was a little excited is an understatement!  Now, I can justify to my Wife the cost of putting a high-end Kohler toilet and sink in the bathroom. Things have to match, right?  Below is a page copy from an original 1925 hardware catalog showing the tub.

Top tub is the correct model

The bathroom is moving along and, now, is nearing completion--fingers crossed. Here is a pic of the tub ready for the faucet installation.

Kohler stamp was in the top right portion of this pic on the top of the tub