Hidden Treasures

When we moved in, we began to discover left behind items. First, we found two original interior doors, complete with the hardware. Knobs and hinges. One door had the same knobs on both sides of the door. The other had one knob that matched the other door with a glass knob. The doors looked pretty rough, chipping paint and possibly lifted veneer. We had a debate on whether or not they were part of the original house or if they were just miscellaneous doors.

Not sure where I would use them or if I would use them in the cottage, I began to strip them. I tried a heat gun at first. Not a good idea on old paint; I could taste paint for days. Using paint remover was a better solution. It worked great. After removing the paint, I sanded them down to see if a raw wood finish would work. At the same time I was doing this, Tony was moving the doorways into the kitchen and placing the two pantries side by side on the new wall he created where the hallway entrance had been. Looking at the pantry, it came to me that I believe the two doors I was working on could fit. I got my tape measure, and sure enough, they were an exact fit!

I determined that the raw wood on the doors would not work. I need to pick a paint color for them. Color is crucial to me, and choosing the right color is always challenging. We have been watching a show that is new to us on the Magnolia Network called Restored. The man on this show has a construction company in California, and his goal is to restore older homes to their original character. Many of the houses are the same year as our cottage. I love the color palate of the twenties; this is where I found the color for my doors. Then, I uncovered the same color when scraping some of the kitchen door trim. Tony cleaned up the door plates and knobs; I love them; the doors look perfect on our new pantry.

Two more finds, the radio flyer wagon and two cabinet doors. The cabinet doors found in our attic were used to hold Christmas decor. They will be used in the laundry room. Our cottage is stick framed and is one open space with at least twelve foot peeks with so many possibilities. And I’m sure our grandkids will find some use for the wagon.