Tuesday 9 November 2010

Modern Country Doors



Disclaimer: When we were renovating our Master bedroom I was heavily pregnant with twins (heavy being the operative word!! I was HUUUUGE!). Not ideal timing, I admit, but we needed to crack on with getting the building work done and dusted before we had two little babies to look after. So the blame for any melodrama that occurs in this post can be firmly placed at the feet of that particular chapter of my life.

 
Getting the doors right was the hardest part of creating a Modern Country interior in this room. Possibly because I thought it would be a breeze.

Expectations SOOOO wrong...


Have you been to architectural salvage yards?


This was our first experience.

I was a naive Reclaiming Rookie.

We were looking to replace not just the door to our bedroom but all the doors on the middle floor too so we knew we wanted a matching set. Or as close a match as possible.


I had an image in my mind that they'd have a neat row of beautiful doors to choose from that I could take away that day.

Errr....no.


There were long stacks of them that were REALLY heavy to move to even start to see if the doors were good in enough. Let alone get doors out to examine them in detail.


Everything was grubby. And I had white jeans on.

White jeans. Pregnant with twins. I know....What was I thinking?

Step in Mr Modern Country. Salvage Superhero...


After lots of trips to lots of different yards, looking through lots and lots of hideous doors, we finally came to Farringdon Architectural Antiques in Oxfordshire.

Bingo.


This yard was different to the others. The man was really helpful....or was I more exacting?

Time was ticking on, my friend...and those twins were coming out....doors or no doors.....I may or may not have had a wild look in my eyes.

He seemed to know exactly what we were after and produced, as if by magic, the number of doors we needed, that had...wait for it....been part of one of the Oxford Colleges until a recent refurb meant they were removed. Wahey!


Will I be taking them? Errrr.....yes pleeeeease!

We had them stripped and waxed by the yard and they were delivered and fitted in the twinkling of an eye.

I find all's well that ends well when you're pregnant with twins and have a wild look in your eye. You should try it some time when you next need to buy doors from an architectural salvage yard.

Have you checked out The Adventures of Stig and Lolo? She's having a very cool French Larkspur giveaway. You can see it over here.


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79 comments :

Natasha in Oz said...

I just hope that your white jeans weren't hurt in any way! You and Mr Modern Country are truly the most fabulous Salvage Superheroes! Bravo!

Best wishes always,
Natasha.

Unknown said...

Absolutely love the doors, my favourite type, old mellow wood, bevelled panelling and gorgeous heavy old locks/doorhandles. You couldn't have found better! xx

Erin said...

That is too funny Sarah!!! I do love your doors and the history is terrific too! Great job Wild Eyed Woman!

Anonymous said...

Dear Sarah, The natural stripped and waxed look for your doors looks absolutely perfect in the context of your overall style. The search may well have been problematic, but it was certainly well worth persevering in order to get the perfect choice.

It does seem rather extreme to me that you went to the length of waiting almost to the minute that you were to give birth to twins before securing the doors of your dreams....and in white jeans too!!

Anonymous said...

The doors are gorgeous! Just fantastic. I love your beautiful home.

Kathy

michelle said...

Oh you poor thing having to walk around all those yards pregnant! I would have been a nightmare, I was not a happy pregnant lady! :) But you guys did great! I love the door and bonus that they were from the college! SO glad that everything worked out!! Love it!!!

Doda said...

Love the door! And the wall...what's the lovely grey colour called?

High Street Cottage said...

Sarah, what a beautiful door. I dread replacing ours, even though I know it can be installed. It's just last on my list. I love your style, and even more so your humorous posts.

Danielle Oakey Interiors said...

the doors are stunning, well worth the trouble!

Jenny @ Simcoe Street said...

Beautiful door!!

Holly said...

Oh my goodness, I'm totally jealous of your architectural salvage yard! And your fabulous doors from Oxford! Nothing like that around here...

Courtney ~ French Country Cottage said...

Love your door-it goes so perfectly in your room and brings in loads of character and charm! You were obviously meant to have them in your house! Sounds like an amazing salvage yard you have there! :)

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing that lovely give away! I may have to take a little trip to Oxford! x

Courtenay@Signal Hill Interiors said...

Crazy! And here I was thinking you just moved into the house with the doors looking like that. We have ugly doors, but for now we just put up some box trim and called it a day. Maybe the salvage yard will be step number 2.

LindyLouMac said...

Good afternoon, the rain is lashing down here in Italy and I am catching up on blogging! I am here as you very kindly left a comment on my Book Review blog so I popped by to say thankyou. Beautiful doors and a lovely blog, how on earth do you find time with twins to look after?
I will be back as signing up as your latest follower :)

Olive said...

Fabulous that you found matching doors and they prepared and fit them for you. That never happens in my world! ♥O

p.s. it was pregnancy charm squared

chris said...

What a find! Worth all the fuss and bother, for sure. The door looks fabulous in it's new abode.

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Yeah for your super sweet hubby! LOVE your doors!! They are just gorgeous!!

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

I'm drooling over your door pictures (is that wrong?). That sort of door is my very favourite, in fact in our old house all our doors were like that! Yes, Sarah ALL our doors!! How I miss them!

Jacqueline said...

Wow, these doors are absolutely gorgeous and I think I know some people who are really blessed to find that many doors that match, unbelievable. Love your story about the white jeans and pregnant with twins. That sounds like me - I always seem to garden in white jeans or shorts. When will I learn?

Amanda Lee said...

How lucky that you found enough doors! And they have a "story" behind them, which is even cooler. Love how they turned out.

Unknown said...

Oh my, that door is beautiful. What a find. Thanks for sharing your salvaging experience......I really want to try it sometime. I can only imagine what hidden treasure or waiting in England.

Blondie's Journal said...

How lucky you were to find these doors. Perseverance led the way! And your tummy I expect. The one hanging in your bedroom is just gorgeous!!

XO,
Jane

Anonymous said...

Sarah, (that was my sweet gma's name btw) I love the fact that you were brave enough to battle the salvage yard, pregnant! Twins...oh my! Your doors are FABULOUS! Just the right choice. I love reclaimed wood! I like the wood door against the white trim and your choice of paint color. It just suits the room, nicely!

I haven't been on much, today. I have a sick hubby. He's a big baby when he's sick!

Glad I came by to see your post! Take care!
~Michelle

It's me said...

What a beautiful door !!! so nice !! happy evening......love Ria...

A Perfect Gray said...

so beautiful...

Deborah said...

Now thats one fine door!!
I love the natural look of it...
So pretty...

Deborah :)

Natalie @ Blossoming Visions said...

Oh I'm jealous of your fabulous doors! My doors are so drab. They are just one of many things on my list.

Raine and Sage said...

That is a great door. I like that it's not a traditonal door knob/handle. Tip for salvage yards #1 no white jeans. :) x

Tricia said...

That is a gorgeous door! Lucky you to find a whole bunch of them :)

Lindy said...

Sounds like an adventure but you lucked out. The door is beautiful!

Jill said...

The doors look great! Definitely worth it in the end!

Unknown said...

That door is beautiful! I can't imagine remodeling if I was pregnant with twins. YOu are superwoman!

Sixty-Fifth Avenue said...

Loved this story, so funny! Yes, I think someone with a wild look in their eye always gets what she wants. Beautiful door!

Londen

Erin said...

What lovely doors! And their natural woodiness looks perfect against the soft wall color. They are absolutely Modern Country. :)

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Oh, I sooo want doors like those! They would be absolutely wonderful in so many different decorating schemes. And they would be PERFECT in my cottage farmhouse.

I'd love to find some way to get several just like it. Wild-eyed, maybe. But...pregnant, not at my age!

Thanks for linking to my party. I look forward to seeing what you link up each week.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com

Debra@CommonGround said...

So nice to meet you, and glad you linked up with Vintage Inspiration Friday! Your doors are amazingly beautiful. Next time I need something done I'll have to remember your story. Maybe I can make it work for me! te he!
hugs,
Debra

Samantha said...

What an ordeal - but those doors are fabulous. And they came out of Oxford? Even better!

Tania Pelletier said...

LOL! You're so funny! I bet you DID have a wild look in your eyes!! LOL! I love the doors! I just bought a new house that has old painted doors... I wonder what it would look like to strip them... hmmm... my mind is working now!

Tania

Katie Olthoff said...

haha. I had a similar experience shopping for appliances when I was 8 months pregnant with my son. I brought my cute little sister along, and we sweet talked the salesman at Lowes. They were on sale, but the salesman screwed up the discount and gave it to us twice, and told us to just take them. I've found that big bellies can really help you get what you need! :)

Your doors are gorgeous!

Shaunna said...

SO beautiful! And this post cracked me up. LOL :) shaunna

Connie in Hartwood said...

I must confess, when I got to the 'white jeans' part of your story, I laughed. Apologies are in order, because one is not supposed to laugh at frustrated pregnant women. My conscience wouldn't allow me to continue without 'fessing up.

Lovely doors. Well done!
Connie

beth said...

Oh. My. GOODNESS!! I love that door!!!! I am so very jealous, I'm turning green. Well worth the effort of searching for them. GORGEOUS!! :)

An Oasis in the Desert said...

I'd say you hit the Mother-Lode, no pun intended! What beautiful doors & how wonderful to get so many alike.
CAS

The Tablescaper said...

Beautiful doors, well worth the melodrama to obtain them. Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

Brenda Pruitt said...

Like a typical man, he was probably scared to death you'd "plop" the twins right in the yard! (An aside: a neighbor's niece had a baby the other day. A first baby. Labor: 20 minutes. TWENTY MINUTES!) Anyway, beautiful doors. So sorry I digress. You can probably blame that on men-o-pause. You don't know about that common female malady yet.
Brenda

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

"I guess it's our NATURAL NESTING INSTINCT"! I LOVE what you did. Those doors are wonderful! I too have so many similar experiences. When something has to be done, do it now "OR"... I have a feeling your babies will inherit this from you(It sure beats craving ice cream&pickles(does anyone do that anymore?)...
Hugs to you, Donna

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Just beautiful results! Love not only the doors but the room! Jacqueline

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

The doors came out beautiful. what a great look in your bedroom!

Custom Comforts said...

Love your doors! They had to be worth all the effort ~ they look stunning. I know how much work it is because I have been to an architectural salvage place and it's dirty.
Love your blog ~ I'm your newest follower.
Cindy

Kitty Deschanel said...

What a cute story! I'm relieved to read that everything worked out for you ;)

Ali @ Honey and Maple Syrup said...

That door is gorgeous! Love the color!

Deborah@Green Willow Pond said...

Stunning door! I too keep my eye out for wood paneled doors. I've got a couple with windows in the barn, but can't seem to find windowless ones.

We have one left that previous owners didn't strip out of this house. Other than that, there was nothing architectural left in this house.

Your's looks fantastic...I love the natural waxed finish!

Lori said...

Two of the most beautiful words in the English language: architectual salvage. Well done!

Sonya Badgley said...

Those are fantastic doors! I am coveting really bad!! Lucky you! They're definitely worth getting your white pants dirty!
Blessings~
Sonya

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