Eastlake Front Door turns One Hundred Four
It is true...I confessed it...we purchased the Eastlake Front Door with twist doorbell...and a precious little cottage was attached...
There you have it...I love old doors...all kinds...and I have photographed them for years, whenever we travel to historic towns. If only they could talk....
On Wednesday...an awfully spring-like day, I decided it was the perfect day to begin the project of painting the front door. I had decided on the color while painting the teeny tiny Pie and the Patty Pan book ...
Duchess is standing at Ribby's door ...her soft blue-green door...that's it! I knew what color I would use to turn our Eastlake Front Door into a precious cottage door...
Off to fetch paint...with tiny book in hand (Not the teeny tiny book..the original tiny book:)
I searched the paint chip/cards and came upon the exact shade, and what a name it had...Topiary Tint. Could it be any more perfect?
Wednesday morning was a bit chilly, so while I was waiting for the temperatures to climb, I set to the enjoyable task of bringing spring into the cottage. We had recently acquired the solid maple love seats from my parents, and the fabric was worn from years of enjoyment. The reupholstery project is on the back burner so I came upon a way to improvise. The flea market find of vintage damask table cloths and our 2 feather down comforters were laundered, fluffed, and spritzed with a wrinkle release product. After much tucking and retucking, and spritzing, and smoothing...this was the result...
I pulled out the sweet pillow covers that I had purchased last summer, to slip over wintery fabric. I also brought in my oversized pillow for added comfort. The soft vintage chenille spread acquired last fall is a perfect throw on these chilly mornings. Scout loves our knitting time and the soft chenille...
I was so tickled to receive 3 sets of knitting needles from my Aunt Lea ...who purchased them in 1966 upon our return from Africa. My parents served as missionaries there, for two years, and Mother learned to knit, while there. She taught my aunt to knit, once we were home and settled. Mother had given me her collection of needles years and years ago...somewhere along the way though, and much to my dismay, I lost track of them..gave them away...I'm not even sure, now, for at the time, I had no interest in knitting... So, thankfully, I now at least have the same type of needles that she had used. Here, I am using one of the sets to work a dishcloth...
Here are the three sets...
Last night, I completed another dishcloth, using the size 8 red needles, which is really the perfect size for the cloth. The silver needles are a size 5, and that cloth seems just the right size for holding the handle of the tea kettle once it begins to sing...from happiness..
and it hangs from the perfect spot, close by...
(Yes, I left the clothespins holding up the crocheted pillow case curtains...when you reside in a cottage...things like this look so charming)
The time was now perfect to open the front door and commence preparations. As there were many bubbles in the existing paint, I "popped" them...here is what I found....
....just hang on...it gets worse...
....my sweet Eastlake Front Door, turning one hundred four, was talking to me...
"Oh, I am so embarrassed...do you see what my former owners did to me...it is truly a travesty, don't you think?"
I answered, by proceeding with the heartsickening task...
"Oh, my good gracious, sweet door!" I was gasping at each pull of paint revealing the garish blue paint. No wonder the neighbors had been pulling in the drive over the past several months, thanking us for all we were doing for the little cottage, formerly referred to as "the sad little cottage" in dire need of TLC.
As I had no idea what a mess this would be...and lacking the time and energy and resources for a full renovation...
I covered the entire mess with a coat of Kilz ... and then added a bit extra, over the worst parts.
It was a lovely breezy day, which contributed to the quick drying. It was time to apply the Topiary Tint.
The door was restored to storybook cottage sweetness (a great name for a paint color, I think:) and a few things arranged on the front porch, completes the project...
I slipped out this morning to catch a photo in the morning sunshine...
And then had to show you how exciting it is to watch things sprout in our kitchen garden window 'garden'....
I had buried little holly hock seeds into the potting soil, a 1/2 inch into the soil, several days ago. Yesterday, they made their appearance and today, I could see the seed cover being pushed up by a couple of the sprouts. No matter how many times I have viewed this miracle, from kindergarten paper cup projects to witnessing outdoor flower pot sprouts each spring ...it never ceases to amaze me. Heaven help us to never lose that child-like wonder....
The birds are singing out my window...the cardinal redbirds are announcing their beauty..."Purty purty purty"... and all is right with the world...here in our little world at Grammy's House, the cottage attached to the door that turned one hundred four.
Have a wonderful weekend, kindreds,
Christie
There you have it...I love old doors...all kinds...and I have photographed them for years, whenever we travel to historic towns. If only they could talk....
On Wednesday...an awfully spring-like day, I decided it was the perfect day to begin the project of painting the front door. I had decided on the color while painting the teeny tiny Pie and the Patty Pan book ...
Duchess is standing at Ribby's door ...her soft blue-green door...that's it! I knew what color I would use to turn our Eastlake Front Door into a precious cottage door...
Off to fetch paint...with tiny book in hand (Not the teeny tiny book..the original tiny book:)
I searched the paint chip/cards and came upon the exact shade, and what a name it had...Topiary Tint. Could it be any more perfect?
Wednesday morning was a bit chilly, so while I was waiting for the temperatures to climb, I set to the enjoyable task of bringing spring into the cottage. We had recently acquired the solid maple love seats from my parents, and the fabric was worn from years of enjoyment. The reupholstery project is on the back burner so I came upon a way to improvise. The flea market find of vintage damask table cloths and our 2 feather down comforters were laundered, fluffed, and spritzed with a wrinkle release product. After much tucking and retucking, and spritzing, and smoothing...this was the result...
I pulled out the sweet pillow covers that I had purchased last summer, to slip over wintery fabric. I also brought in my oversized pillow for added comfort. The soft vintage chenille spread acquired last fall is a perfect throw on these chilly mornings. Scout loves our knitting time and the soft chenille...
I was so tickled to receive 3 sets of knitting needles from my Aunt Lea ...who purchased them in 1966 upon our return from Africa. My parents served as missionaries there, for two years, and Mother learned to knit, while there. She taught my aunt to knit, once we were home and settled. Mother had given me her collection of needles years and years ago...somewhere along the way though, and much to my dismay, I lost track of them..gave them away...I'm not even sure, now, for at the time, I had no interest in knitting... So, thankfully, I now at least have the same type of needles that she had used. Here, I am using one of the sets to work a dishcloth...
Last night, I completed another dishcloth, using the size 8 red needles, which is really the perfect size for the cloth. The silver needles are a size 5, and that cloth seems just the right size for holding the handle of the tea kettle once it begins to sing...from happiness..
and it hangs from the perfect spot, close by...
The time was now perfect to open the front door and commence preparations. As there were many bubbles in the existing paint, I "popped" them...here is what I found....
....just hang on...it gets worse...
....my sweet Eastlake Front Door, turning one hundred four, was talking to me...
"Oh, I am so embarrassed...do you see what my former owners did to me...it is truly a travesty, don't you think?"
I answered, by proceeding with the heartsickening task...
"Oh, my good gracious, sweet door!" I was gasping at each pull of paint revealing the garish blue paint. No wonder the neighbors had been pulling in the drive over the past several months, thanking us for all we were doing for the little cottage, formerly referred to as "the sad little cottage" in dire need of TLC.
As I had no idea what a mess this would be...and lacking the time and energy and resources for a full renovation...
I covered the entire mess with a coat of Kilz ... and then added a bit extra, over the worst parts.
It was a lovely breezy day, which contributed to the quick drying. It was time to apply the Topiary Tint.
The door was restored to storybook cottage sweetness (a great name for a paint color, I think:) and a few things arranged on the front porch, completes the project...
I slipped out this morning to catch a photo in the morning sunshine...
And then had to show you how exciting it is to watch things sprout in our kitchen garden window 'garden'....
I had buried little holly hock seeds into the potting soil, a 1/2 inch into the soil, several days ago. Yesterday, they made their appearance and today, I could see the seed cover being pushed up by a couple of the sprouts. No matter how many times I have viewed this miracle, from kindergarten paper cup projects to witnessing outdoor flower pot sprouts each spring ...it never ceases to amaze me. Heaven help us to never lose that child-like wonder....
The birds are singing out my window...the cardinal redbirds are announcing their beauty..."Purty purty purty"... and all is right with the world...here in our little world at Grammy's House, the cottage attached to the door that turned one hundred four.
Have a wonderful weekend, kindreds,
Christie