The new doors are done, and they are in! When I decided to change this to a bedroom and move the doorway, the biggest challenge was figuring out the doors to the room and the closet. While I had the doors on hand, I wasn’t worried about getting them refinished (I’ve refinished every door in our basement.), I was concerned about how door swings would project into a small bedroom.
With these two doors swinging into the room, the light switch would be behind the bedroom door, or the door would swing awkwardly into the middle of the room -an issue remedied last year in the upstairs bedroom. I wanted to make sure how we installed the door really worked for what we needed in the room. So, I decided to hang these as pocket doors!
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After having our new-old front door for over a year, we finally have it installed! I worked on stripping and refinishing last year, and with the burnout and restart of projects... I finally doubled-back to this one.
We've made a lot of door moves this summer, and even have a few more coming down the line, so getting this one moving was a really big step. With it being an exterior door, it was also a tricky one. Getting this door to fit in our slightly crooked original jamb was not as simple as swapping hinges and putting it in. Surprise! Other than a quick front closet storage revamp and tool storage makeover, I have barely touched a tool in my house since finishing the garage. Last year, we did SO much, that I just needed a little break from all the planning, working, and cleaning that came with the near-constant renovation over the last six years. I took a break! And we're all better for it.
So, where have I been? There has definitely still been planning, data collecting for long-term follow ups, and designing some smaller projects (among these a bathroom in another house... details coming!) while I figure out the best way to handle the attic. I did come to the conclusion that adding soffits to my original eaves is going to be the best course, and I'm a little sad about it. So, I'm working out how to make that happen without compromising the original look of the rafter tails even though those are already covered by the fascia and gutters. Happy New Year! I'm back with a big old house science topic: thermal bridging. With all the changes we made last year, heat loss became a big issue, and even just a quick drive around the neighborhood showed me that it isn't just me with this problem... Big gains have been made in the past century, and I hope to be able to integrate some of that here.
Working on old houses, and particularly planning around my own, the structural differences between old and new are consistently apparent in how systems are integrated. This is especially true with how houses are insulated and sealed for cold -and hot- months. Managing insulation becomes just as much about managing moisture as it does about managing temperature. Thermal bridging is one of the biggest energy losses in homes, and there are a few schools-of-thought for how to manage it! No matter what, understanding a little bit about what is happening can help make the best choices for each situation. There are a lot of benefits to maintainable systems too. I promise, even through fixing deferred maintenance, there is a lot of good to be had (though it has been our biggest year of fixes!). The soul of a maintainable item contributes to the character of the home, and it helps create an environment that is sustainable.
Maintaining and preserving our built environment is a huge key to keeping the embodied energy in the materials from becoming another hole in a landfill. Items that can be maintained instead of replaced are often much less expensive to maintain than their replacement counter-parts. Good sealing for winter and using time-tested systems can definitely create spaces that don't need the maintenance of replacement. |
Katie SwansonI am a parent, creative spirit, and old house lover. My big passions are sustainable design and preservation. Bringing these together is key to moving existing homes into the future. * By subscribing to the monthly newsletter, you consent to receive links this month's blog posts and other relevant blog updates, a round up of things I love, and as a throwback to my DIY days, I may toss in an exclusive knit or crochet pattern of mine. Archives
May 2024
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