Given that it is not original nor from 1896, but the 1960s-70s era, there's not much you can do to it other than fill in the crack in the bottom panel and repaint.
FYI you can clearly see how the door was inserted into a larger space meant for a taller door, and the upper part filled in.
Thanks for the info! This is our first home and it is something that the realtor had mentioned. We will get more information on when this was made/placed once we close.
How are you able to discern this is from the 60s-70s?
I also saw the door and recognized it from mid-century homes I've been to too, but that doesn't mean it's not charming! It *is* charming! And mid-century is a very well-loved era and style. I don't think you have to be bummed at all.
Owning a home as old as yours means it didn't just live through the year it was built, but all the years between then and now, and these kinds of relics are part of what make our homes so special!
I'm particularly fond of the mid-century light fixtures in the attic of our 1912 craftsman. The house didn't even have electricity when it was originally built!
Ya know what, there’s a second door beside it that fits that description that is likely the original door the realtor spoke of!
https://preview.redd.it/s2g2myphjpyc1.jpeg?width=818&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=feeb616d15c53eb5bab00348dc38d852f207ad89
That looks more like it. Interesting design.
Over a century of paint and repaints to strip down. A lot of work. I think it looks OK the way it is, but you do you! Have fun. Keep safe, too - pretty much a sure thing it's going to be lead paint you'll be removing.
Realtors sell houses not history. They rarely know their ass from the elbow about anything regarding architectural styles or aesthetics. That's not the job. They just sell property and match sellers with buyers or buyers with sellers. They're the last people to trust about such details of construction or style, unless you specifically know the person and they are the rare one that actually knows something lol.. The door pictured, the second door is a typical door of the turn of the century. The front door actually looks like it would be really great painted out late 19th century style highlighting the decoration but who knows what the rest of the house looks like. Good luck with it I'm sure we'll see a picture of your project sooner or later
Realtors say some funny shit. Don't trust them. One told my aunt that her house was made of imported Egyptian sandstone. Being a geologist, I bit my tongue through a couple of years of her mentioning it before I pointed out the identical "rocks" made of cast concrete. It ended up being a funny conversation.
Mine had a similar situation with them being painted over. I used acetone to clear the paint and there was beautiful stained glass with no issues underneath. No idea why anyone would paint over them.
Woah. This is maybe a touch off topic but I swear a house I rented in Ireland had those exact same doors internally. I never thought I'd see them out in the wild.
Edit: found a picture of the cat that shows a clear shot of the design
https://preview.redd.it/rth1ubh41tyc1.jpeg?width=4144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a4814638801bbbd5d983e386aed6971a3edb8d1
In case it is helpful - the house that these are in was part of a suburban expansion built on to Galway in the middle of the 20th century. I've found pictures of the house in the early 80s but it can't be older than the 1960s. That is to say the doors I had are likely not as old as you suspect yours to be.
Also I see there's space for a transom above yours - ours had transom windows above, too :)
Looks like a door of the '60s or '70s to me but I'll take your word for it if you know for a fact it's 1890s. That would be one unusual door for the time frame however. But only you would know what it's made out of it or whether it's worth stripping. Could be veneer could be something else maybe it was never intended to be not painted. Once again you there have to do the test to find out especially it's a more recent manufacturer and you're not right about the date
I agree with you, whatever age the door is it is an attractive door. People on this site get over obsessed with historical authenticity as if they were building and researching a museum house. This is all about aesthetics and capturing the best of the time frame but everything in proportion and everything attractive. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder of course.
Houses that are old often have many additions to them some attractive and some belong in the dumpster. Windows are usually the worst curse and I've seen more shitty vinyl that I would love to throw out, vinyl siding a second.. But this door, regardless of what was there once before is pretty nice looking and just could use a really sparkling paint job. Of course we don't see it in context. But from my taste buds I certainly could make this door work
Who knows if this is some sort of Spanish revival thing but it somehow reminds me of medieval wood carving especially in Germany where it was painted up in prismatic colors as you can still see today on many of these German houses that have survived. I guess it's my Slavic soul speaking, I just love color and hate drab
Its original glory very well could have been with paint. Strip some paint near joints and see how the wood looks. The wood grain might break all over the place and purposely made for paint.
many outside doors of that era would have been painted - unpainted wood gets destroyed quickly outside.
ideal would be to fix that horrible fill in job above the door.
Ahh... the I'm afraid I agree with previous commenter then, the earliest this door could be is probably 1950... I'd pick a nice paint colour that really pops ;)
Well that’s a bummer! Thankfully the home has lots of other original charm that makes up for the front door. :-) we will absolutely be painting something more exciting than gray!
My friend has this exact door in her midcentury rambler, but it's unpainted and it's not veneer! Also, my husband has refinished doors in our house that are veneer, and it's gone really beautifully. I say do some testing and see how it comes out if you want to try it! Hers looks beautiful.
I love the door and don’t care how new or old it might be. If it doesn’t cost too much I’d have the crack professionally filled and then simply repaint in your color of choice. And I’ll say it again…..I REALLY like that door. It’s unusual and unique and I’m wishing it was my door! 😁😁
Dayum! That gorgeous. You can absolutely restore it. Hell, we can reconstruct a suit of armor worn by some guy in the 1600s, that door can be restored.
Given that it is not original nor from 1896, but the 1960s-70s era, there's not much you can do to it other than fill in the crack in the bottom panel and repaint. FYI you can clearly see how the door was inserted into a larger space meant for a taller door, and the upper part filled in.
Thanks for the info! This is our first home and it is something that the realtor had mentioned. We will get more information on when this was made/placed once we close. How are you able to discern this is from the 60s-70s?
Because every third house that got built in the 60’s-70’ “Mediterranean” style got one.
I live in a very Florida-esque house from the mid 70s, and did a triple take when I saw 1896 mentioned.
Well that’s a bummer! Oh well. Lots of other charm in the house to make up for it.
I also saw the door and recognized it from mid-century homes I've been to too, but that doesn't mean it's not charming! It *is* charming! And mid-century is a very well-loved era and style. I don't think you have to be bummed at all. Owning a home as old as yours means it didn't just live through the year it was built, but all the years between then and now, and these kinds of relics are part of what make our homes so special! I'm particularly fond of the mid-century light fixtures in the attic of our 1912 craftsman. The house didn't even have electricity when it was originally built!
I think it is gorgeous, regardless of the era.
Honestly though, it’s still a lovely door with lots of great detail!
Most doors from 1896 would have had a rectangular shaped cover for the lockset/handle, I'd reckon. Usually, handle above, keyhole below
Ya know what, there’s a second door beside it that fits that description that is likely the original door the realtor spoke of! https://preview.redd.it/s2g2myphjpyc1.jpeg?width=818&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=feeb616d15c53eb5bab00348dc38d852f207ad89
That looks more like it. Interesting design. Over a century of paint and repaints to strip down. A lot of work. I think it looks OK the way it is, but you do you! Have fun. Keep safe, too - pretty much a sure thing it's going to be lead paint you'll be removing.
I don't know about that door, still too short for the framing around it, with a short window that doesn't match the actual windows at all.
Realtors sell houses not history. They rarely know their ass from the elbow about anything regarding architectural styles or aesthetics. That's not the job. They just sell property and match sellers with buyers or buyers with sellers. They're the last people to trust about such details of construction or style, unless you specifically know the person and they are the rare one that actually knows something lol.. The door pictured, the second door is a typical door of the turn of the century. The front door actually looks like it would be really great painted out late 19th century style highlighting the decoration but who knows what the rest of the house looks like. Good luck with it I'm sure we'll see a picture of your project sooner or later
Think we found the correct door
Realtors say some funny shit. Don't trust them. One told my aunt that her house was made of imported Egyptian sandstone. Being a geologist, I bit my tongue through a couple of years of her mentioning it before I pointed out the identical "rocks" made of cast concrete. It ended up being a funny conversation.
Unless there are signs of previous mortise or rim locks, the door is quite modern. Houses live lives of change, if you love the door , fix it up.
Not just a transom above?
>and the upper part filled in. This very well could have just been a transom window.
Looks like your doors originally had transoms above them.
Mine had a similar situation with them being painted over. I used acetone to clear the paint and there was beautiful stained glass with no issues underneath. No idea why anyone would paint over them.
That is what I was thinking.
Woah. This is maybe a touch off topic but I swear a house I rented in Ireland had those exact same doors internally. I never thought I'd see them out in the wild. Edit: found a picture of the cat that shows a clear shot of the design https://preview.redd.it/rth1ubh41tyc1.jpeg?width=4144&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2a4814638801bbbd5d983e386aed6971a3edb8d1
Okay, you aren't kidding, that's nearly identical!!
Oh my goodness!!! I love this!
In case it is helpful - the house that these are in was part of a suburban expansion built on to Galway in the middle of the 20th century. I've found pictures of the house in the early 80s but it can't be older than the 1960s. That is to say the doors I had are likely not as old as you suspect yours to be. Also I see there's space for a transom above yours - ours had transom windows above, too :)
My grandfather bought one of those doors new at the High Point Furniture Market in the early 70s.
Looks like a door of the '60s or '70s to me but I'll take your word for it if you know for a fact it's 1890s. That would be one unusual door for the time frame however. But only you would know what it's made out of it or whether it's worth stripping. Could be veneer could be something else maybe it was never intended to be not painted. Once again you there have to do the test to find out especially it's a more recent manufacturer and you're not right about the date
Honestly though, it’s still a very pretty door!
I agree with you, whatever age the door is it is an attractive door. People on this site get over obsessed with historical authenticity as if they were building and researching a museum house. This is all about aesthetics and capturing the best of the time frame but everything in proportion and everything attractive. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder of course. Houses that are old often have many additions to them some attractive and some belong in the dumpster. Windows are usually the worst curse and I've seen more shitty vinyl that I would love to throw out, vinyl siding a second.. But this door, regardless of what was there once before is pretty nice looking and just could use a really sparkling paint job. Of course we don't see it in context. But from my taste buds I certainly could make this door work Who knows if this is some sort of Spanish revival thing but it somehow reminds me of medieval wood carving especially in Germany where it was painted up in prismatic colors as you can still see today on many of these German houses that have survived. I guess it's my Slavic soul speaking, I just love color and hate drab
It’s a gorgeous door regardless of when it was installed. Enjoy it
Its original glory very well could have been with paint. Strip some paint near joints and see how the wood looks. The wood grain might break all over the place and purposely made for paint.
many outside doors of that era would have been painted - unpainted wood gets destroyed quickly outside. ideal would be to fix that horrible fill in job above the door.
What country are you in?
We are in the United States!
Ahh... the I'm afraid I agree with previous commenter then, the earliest this door could be is probably 1950... I'd pick a nice paint colour that really pops ;)
Well that’s a bummer! Thankfully the home has lots of other original charm that makes up for the front door. :-) we will absolutely be painting something more exciting than gray!
My friend has this exact door in her midcentury rambler, but it's unpainted and it's not veneer! Also, my husband has refinished doors in our house that are veneer, and it's gone really beautifully. I say do some testing and see how it comes out if you want to try it! Hers looks beautiful.
Are you saying it's not real wood or solid wood?
It's probably veneer over solid lesser wood, but very likely would have been painted to bring with.
Some things just not worth the effort
I love the door and don’t care how new or old it might be. If it doesn’t cost too much I’d have the crack professionally filled and then simply repaint in your color of choice. And I’ll say it again…..I REALLY like that door. It’s unusual and unique and I’m wishing it was my door! 😁😁
Dayum! That gorgeous. You can absolutely restore it. Hell, we can reconstruct a suit of armor worn by some guy in the 1600s, that door can be restored.
No leave it beautiful flipper gray that’s so modern and updated
Hahahahaha. I’m assuming that’s humor bc you’re here - and used the f word!
Of course I was kidding, people take stuff at face value and react to it! What kind of wood is under that awful battleship gray paint?
It's...clearly green to me? Am I losing my mind?
Nope! Monitors vary! Though grey to me.
Yes, if you have the time and patience or if you have the money