Vintage Life: Windows & Doors

We've changed the flow in our 1920s bungalow renovation, and now we're changing the doors and windows too.  Greg and I love pocket doors, and even though they aren't original to the house, we've decided to add them everywhere.  Below is the pocket door that will slide open and closed between the master bedroom and the master bathroom.

We are re-using as many of the original doors in the house as we can.  The one above still needs to be sanded and repainted, but we used it as a sample to make sure we were putting in the frames correctly.  Below is the installed pocket door frame between the laundry room and the master bathroom.

The former owner had already replaced most of the original windows in the house.  However, he had purchased the absolute cheapest ones available, and they really didn't open and close very easily at all.

You know how sometimes you mean to just pick up the house a bit, and then end up, hours later, having cleaned the whole house from top to bottom?  Okay, maybe that doesn't happen to you, but because I am obsessive/compulsive, it does happen to me.  If I've done this, then I might as well do this too.  And then I might as well do that too, and then...

That is how we ended up replacing all of the windows in our little bungalow.  We'd come too far to put up with mediocre windows.  So even though it wasn't in our original budget, we now have nice windows that slide up and down and open and close smoothly and easily.  I also took the opportunity to make the kitchen window much bigger - it is now 4 feet wide by 4 feet high.

Take a look back at the original dark, ugly family room with paneling, yellow and green patterned linoleum, and old windows.

And now check out the sliding glass doors in our sun room - so much more light!  There will be a deck off the doors to the left where Greg will grill up delicious food while enjoying a beer.  The doors to the right will open onto a screened porch, which I know my cats will enjoy.

I'm really looking forward to growing orchids, African violets, and all sorts of houseplants in my sun room!