Office

And That’s Why We Had a Curtain for So Long

Four and a half years after we moved in, and nearly $400 later, we’re going to have a closet door in my office.

That’s Sean. He’s the contractor we worked with on the basement. We still have a lot of our tools in storage, so I called him to install the closet door for us.

Part of the high cost lies in trying to match the existing hardware of our hundred-year-old house. (101 years, actually.)

I’m going with this old-fashioned doorknob. It’s not a perfect match, but it’s pretty close. And speaking of matching: the doors don’t. I’ll be painting the closet door white though, and most likely the door to the office as well too, so that won’t be a problem.

No more makeshift curtain hung from a tension rod!

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  • Kathryn Humphreys
    July 21, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    I wondered what excitement you had going on this morning.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 21, 2011 at 6:34 pm

      Sorry I couldn’t stop and chat! I was on a conference call too.

      • Kathryn Humphreys
        July 21, 2011 at 6:54 pm

        I work from home with children too, I know how it goes. Hope the gate helps.

  • Diane_N
    July 21, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    How did the curtain as closet door work out for you all? And did you install a door more for looks or practical reasons?

    (I ask because we had to tear out the bi-fold closet doors in our bedroom, and we’re thinking of just installing a curtain rather than buying new doors. I’m curious how well it works from a practical standpoint, though.)

    • Making it Lovely
      July 21, 2011 at 6:35 pm

      The curtains were OK. The cats would go and hide out in the closet, and more recently Eleanor started going in there to hide. If that’s not an issue for you though you might be happy with curtains.

  • Funnelcloud Rachel
    July 21, 2011 at 3:28 pm

    I’m glad to see we’re not the only ones who let projects like this languish for years!

  • Elizabeth Larson
    July 21, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    I love love love the door, especially the door knob! I am a huge fan of your blog and LOVE all the unique ideas you have. Thanks for always posting and being true to yourself!

  • Heidi S.
    July 21, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    I’m curious, is this a door you had or did you have to find a salvaged one?

    I am always on the lookout for old door hardware for our house, partially due to the fact that the rosettes that hold the doorknobs are wood and falling apart and it seems like all of the hinges are on their last leg. I guess it is hard to ask something like that to last longer than 120 years. ;) I try to buy them off ebay when I find things, but it takes a lot of effort and patience to find the right thing at the right price. I just scored old wooden doorknobs to match some of the old ones. Of course they are curently sitting in the basement waiting to be installed (after I finally decide on some rosettes). hmmm….I should really pick some out already. I have decided though that new door hinges are in order since they are hard to get in good condition.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 23, 2011 at 10:25 pm

      We found a door! We had been looking on and off (not very seriously) for a few months, and then we lucked out and grabbed a solid wood door that someone was throwing out.

  • Naomi Bulger
    July 21, 2011 at 8:30 pm

    Congratulations on having a door! I feel your pain: as a student, I worked for years in a study where the door was a duvet cover nailed to the door frame. I bet it’ll feel like a real treat working from a room that has that cosy, ‘finished’ feel to it.

  • Jen
    July 22, 2011 at 9:12 am

    Looks great and is both a nudge as well as inspiration for our door issues. We have been working on our house for three years now and the doors keep taking a back seat, a nagging job always sort of lingering around every turn. I have managed to collect all the glass door knobs I need from various antique markets and yard sales. Baby steps right?

  • Kate
    July 22, 2011 at 10:35 am

    Our 100+ old Chicago condo has several “curtain doors” that we need to remedy. Where did you find the door? And how can we contact Sean? :)

  • amanda
    July 22, 2011 at 12:02 pm

    I think either way looks great.

    Off topic, but have you see the new HGTV show called Home by Novogratz? They did a house with this adorable pink stove and lots of other pink through the house; it made me think of you.

    • Making it Lovely
      July 23, 2011 at 10:23 pm

      I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s waiting for me in the DVR. I’ll have to check it out!

  • brooke
    July 22, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    I wish my bedroom had a door.

  • Heidi S.
    July 22, 2011 at 2:13 pm

    I forgot to mention a good source for door hardware. I have bought several parts from Charleston Hardware Co. They have a door knob/plate very similar to yours…

    http://www.charlestonhardwareco.com/cgi-bin/agoracart55/agora.cgi

    They have also been helpful when I have called them on the phone with questions and I find their prices to be quite good.