The door on the right isn’t really paneled, it is completely flat. Trompe l’oeil (fool the eye) paint effects were used in many 19th century interiors. When a new lavatory was installed next to this small nineteenth-century entryway, there was only room for a flush pocket door. To make the door compatible with the space, decorative painter Tony Castro reproduced the appearance of the historic doors elsewhere in the house with trompe l’oeil on the door and wood-grained treatment on the trim.
Where these historic finishes survive, their preservation and conservation should be a high priority. Where evidence exists to show they once existed, a decorative painter experienced in restoration work can recreate them. The technique can also be used to “restore” lost three dimensional features that cannot be replicated, or to make a modern alteration compatible with the historic context as shown here.
This topic is explored further in Chapter 18 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
The 720-page award-winning and best-selling hardcover book is available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author in our shop, https://yourhistorichouse.com/shop/.
Your local bookstore can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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