Door bore
Why is it that whenever I get obsessed with even the simplest thing for my home, it turns out to be a can-of-worms, hard to get hold of, very expensive, or all three? In the house in Margate there is so much to do – fixing damp, repairing the windows, sanding the floors and more. Amongst this you wouldn’t think that the interior doors were that important. But they are bugging me. They presumably date to the terrible 1980s conversion – they are dirty gloss white, featureless, heavy and slam shut if you don’t wedge them open with a paint pot/cat basket/stack of books. I really hate them and can’t wait to change them. And so it begins…
As you can see from the shot above, the house has had most of its features stripped out, but the panels around the windows indicate a decorative style that is very simple and unfussy. Early Victorian, I suppose, as it was built just after the period where ‘Georgian’ ends, but not the ornate twiddly cornicing of later Victorian houses. Now all I want is some doors to go with. This image – from Farrow & Ball’s book Living With Colour – has been taped to the wall in the house, serving as a sort of idea of the feel I’d like to create.
Innit lovely. This, I am told, is a Georgian door, as it has 6 panels. But it’s not what I’m after. All I want is 4 panels, with no beading round the panels. And I’m obsessed. Like a dog with a bone. Any other style of door will, I know it, offend my eyes for ever more if I give in. This – a picture of Keats’ House in London (aim high) is the closest I can find to a picture of the door I want. Obviously I’m not expecting the stained glass bits at the top – just the plainness of the construction. No beading! Not to much to ask… from Wickes, Homesbase or other high street door pedlar?
It doesn’t help that I don’t know what this sort of door is called, making Google useless for my search. Does anyone have any ideas? Please? before I burst a gasket? I have been to a salvage yard, which of course has some examples, but the whole random size business of buying secondhand is just too stressful. Any advice on finding doors appreciated. And if you thought this was boring… I just spent 15 minutes on the phone to a bloke who is going to sand the floor, discussing width of floorboards as a clue to their age, wax vs oil plus much, much more. Look out for me being a #FloorBore soon.
Finally I’ve found someone else with a passion for doors! Or similar anyway! My dedication is actually the finishing touches for doors – think bevelled edge mirror fingerplates resplendent with vintage starburst design! And prop open your doors with a reclaimed oak dock block rather than a paint pot! They genuinely make your internal doors into statement pieces worthy of conversation! Good luck!
How about these?
http://www.earlydoorsltd.com/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwgoKqBRDt_IfLr8y1iMUBEiQA8Ua7XfUeqRP4Rmk1rH3Up1IX-KuLrh4E9Tf0vvNN5RWlKbsaAlpo8P8HAQ#!/Victorian-Pine-Shaker-Door/p/29502687/category=1162660
brilliant suggestion – love the company name too!
It will be worth it in the end! These are simple country doors: they are simply flat panelled doors, and can be made up by your carpenter. The simple ones you like don’t have any mouldings on the panels, which distinguishes them from the more ornate ones later in the Victorian era, and I agree will complement the simple panels around your windows: you and the joiner can use those as a proportion pattern / template from which to design a very simple door, or with luck you’ll be able to buy off the shelf. Good luck – do contact me if you need further advice! Sarah
I think the door you’re looking for is Victorian and I would call it a plain four panel Victorian door (does what it’s says on the tin ha). I think eBay is the way to go for what you really want (new off the shelf doors tend to have moldings unless you go high end) so measure the doors you have presently (if they fit of course) and keep a note on both metric and imperial. Note the door width too just in case. Good luck!
Have you had a snout around Scott’s (scottsmargate.co.uk/)?
yes – I’m never out of the place! It was they who told me a Georgian door has 6 panels. But sadly all of their doors in this style were too small x
Doors are such an easy way to personalize any home. I love the ones you’re after and I really hope your find what you’re looking for!
How about this one from Howden’s? I’m not sure if the company is trade only so you might have to order through a contractor/decorator. (I’m an architect so this is how I know of them). I think they are mid range, so reasonably good quality and not too expensive. Different dims are available.
https://www.howdens.com/doors-joinery-collection/internal-doors/internal-moulded-panel-doors/burford-4-panel/
They also have one with glazed top panels, if that’s what you’re after:
https://www.howdens.com/doors-joinery-collection/internal-doors/internal-moulded-panel-doors/burford-4-panel-2-light-glazed/
They also do oak doors in the same styles, if you want a hardwood finish. But I would say it is really not worth paying for this if you intend to paint the doors (which would work best with your painted wall panels / tall skirting / architraves, in my opinion – but each to their own). The previous 2 are as good as you need for painting. But here is the oak, just in case that’s what you want:
https://www.howdens.com/doors-joinery-collection/internal-doors/internal-hardwood-doors/burford-4-panel-oak/
Thanks Imogen – these are in fact just what I’m after. I think for Howdens you have to go through a builder so as soon as I get one I’ll get them to have a look.
I too was a door bore for a while. Finally found some very plain but lovely 4–panel oak doors for our Victorian flat. They’re by the brand ‘Deanta’ and can be trimmed by a reasonable amount to fit (didn’t realise how hard it was to find doors that you can trim!). I’m planning on treating them with liming wax to retain some of the oak finish. Here’s them: http://www.builderdepot.co.uk/internal-eton-oak-veneer-4-panel-shaker-door-1981-x-610-x-35mm.html
thanks for this – good link. Just had a look and the primed version of that door might be just what I’m looking for. Will keep everyone posted!