I have no idea how old my doors are, the house is 130 years old and while I don't think the doors are original they are certainly old.
I was all set to buy new ones but my partner suggested we could try and refurbish the originals. I wasn't convinced but the weather's been nasty all year so I have plenty of time.
I took the living room door off it's hinges (It was surprisingly heavy) and gave it a good clean and a going over with the orbit sander. I was using wood filler to fill in some of the gaps etc and I began to appreciate the work that went into making it. It's obvious it wasn't made to go in a stately home, everything about it is a bit wonky but it does give it a bit of charm and it is solid.
There's a series of small holes that go around the outer edge at regular intervals on both sides which confused me. My boyfriend said it's probably where they had sheets of hardboard nailed to each side to give them a "modern" clean look that was popular in the 1960's. You can even see where the original latch use to be and where it's been patched over. This door has been through a lot over the years!!
I think I'm forming an attachment to a bloody door!!! The thought of throwing away something that's been around for so long, that some long dead man made with his bare hands using real skills is making me feel a bit sad.
It's back on it's hinges now, It's been painted, it has new silver door knobs to replace the old brass ones. But it looks like what it is, an old door with a new coat of paint.
I'm torn between keeping and doing the same with all the other doors or buying the new ones I originally intended. My partner even said we can give them a Viking funeral in the back garden.
What do you guys think, original charm or modern perfection?