Craftsman Style Door Revival

This authentic 1920s Craftsman bungalow door in Mandeville's historic residential district featured the characteristic Arts & Crafts design elements including beveled glass panels, quarter-sawn oak construction, and distinctive horizontal rail patterns that defined the American Craftsman movement.

The door had been painted over multiple times during seven decades of ownership changes, completely obscuring the beautiful quarter-sawn oak grain and original bronze hardware patina.

The current homeowners, committed to historic preservation, wanted to restore the door to its original Arts & Crafts aesthetic while maintaining its functionality for modern family life. Our Craftsman restoration required extensive research into period-appropriate materials and techniques to ensure historical accuracy.

Paint removal revealed exceptional quarter-sawn oak with the characteristic ray patterns prized by Craftsman builders for both beauty and stability. The restoration process included traditional wood preparation techniques used in the 1920s, including grain-raising and conditioning specific to quarter-sawn oak.

Stain selection involved recreating the rich, warm 'Mission Oak' finish popular during the Arts & Crafts period, achieved through multiple thin applications to build depth without obscuring the distinctive grain patterns. The bronze hardware required specialized restoration to achieve the authentic patina finish while ensuring smooth operation.

Our finishing system uses modern materials that provide superior protection while maintaining the period-appropriate appearance. The completed restoration perfectly captures the Craftsman aesthetic while providing decades of reliable protection.