Original Intent ~ Poplar Forest Door Surrounds.
If restoration is your goal, an important aspect of it is understanding the original design intent and prioritizing the objectives of the original designer/owner over modern tastes and preferences.
These door surrounds are located at Poplar Forest, Thomas Jefferson’s retreat house in Forest, Virginia. The house experienced a significant fire after Jefferson’s lifetime and the restoration of the house to its original appearance over the past several decades has been a master class in state-of-the-art restoration philosophy and practices.
Recently, the interior wood trim that replicates the burned original trim has been primed, preparing it for painting later this year. Painted trim was the norm in the early 19th century. Stained and varnished hardwoods did not become popular until later in the century. In fact, the “mahogany” doors on the right are poplar (like the trim), faux grained with paint to resemble the more expensive hardwood.
Interior finishes are covered in Chapter 18 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available directly from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select restoration and preservation titles by other authors.
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