DIY Network

Folk-Victorian Foyer Renovation: Introduction From "Restoration Realities" episode DRTR-111

Erik and Allison Lund (and friend) of Nashville, Tennessee.

In this episode, DIY's Restoration Realities travels to a historic neighborhood near downtown Nashville and the Folk Victorian home of Erik and Allison Lund.

The Lunds have already completed some restoration work on their new home, with a kitchen overhaul and some fresh paint, but now they want to take on their entryway and foyer. Visually, the foyer could stand some improvement, and the Lunds want to refurubish it in away that's in keeping with the period and style of the house and neighborhood. In this first segment, we are introduced to the Lunds and their project home.

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Erik and Allison Lund love old houses. Eric, an architect, and Allison, a designer, purchased their first home in 2003 and were looking for a place with a sense of history and character. "This is the first old house that we've lived in," says Allison. "I really like old houses. I like them a hundred times better than new construction. I just think they have more character and I think the workmanship and the craftsmanship is a lot better than what they build now."

Not exactly Victorian style -- this contemporary door and hardware will be replaced with a period-correct door with glass pane and suitable hardware.

The young couple purchased a one story brick turn-of-the-century Victorian in a historic Nashville neighborhood. Over the course of the past year they have been reclaiming the house as their own with a new kitchen addition and painting the house throughout. But their entry hall including front door have been altered. They noticed that in the front entry hall that the doors to the right and left have a painted surface resembling a transom over each door. They believe it may be painted wood and wonder if they removed the surface would they discover a transom light window which would allow more light into their entry hall. They also have a drop-ceiling that they would like to remove. They also are considering removing the existing painted-wood paneling to expose the original plaster. And finally they would like to replace their existing door. Ideally they'd like to locate a salvaged Victorian front door that has window glass to allow more light into their entry hall.

	The restoration project for this episode: refurbish the foyer of this turn-of-the-century Victorian in a historic part of Nashville.

Restoration Realities comes to the rescue to do the following:

• Help Erik and Allison through the discovery process of removing the surface above the two doors to the entry hall -- where it looks like there were once transoms.
  
  
• Based on what they discover with respect to the transom spaces, either re-make or salvage transom windows for these two doors.

• Make a trip to the local salvage yard to look for a Victorian-style door, hardware, and transom lights.

• Prime and install the transom windows.

• Assist in the removal of the drop ceiling and the reconstruction of an wall section made of drywall that will fill the gap created by removing the drop ceiling from the entry hall front wall.

• Show the Lunds how to remove the old wallpaper and to patch plaster.

• Help Erik and Allison remove a section of the paneling and see how much damage there is to the plaster wall behind the panel.

• Help them as they decide whether to remove all the paneling and patch the plaster or keep the paneling and place a decorative picture rail at the top of the paneling -- where the drop ceiling used to rest.

• Install, prime and paint the new trim.
  

  
  

  
  

  RESOURCES :
  

  Victorian: American Restoration Style
  Model: 0879058870
  Author: Joan M. Brierton
  Publisher: Gibbs Smith Publishers
  Order this title from Amazon.com.

  Renovating and Restyling Older Homes: The Professional's Guide to Maximum Value Remodeling
  Author: Lawrence Dworin
  Publisher: Craftsman Book Company
  ISBN: 1572180293
  Order this title from Amazon.com.
  

  Selecting and Renovating an Old House: A Complete Guide
  Author: United States Department of Agriculture
  July 2000
  Publisher: Dover Publications
  ISBN: 0486409562
  Order this title from Amazon.com.

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Folk-Victorian Foyer Renovation: Introduction
  	Folk-Victorian Foyer Renovation: Ceiling and Walls
  	Folk-Victorian Foyer Renovation: Transom and Door Replacement
  	Folk-Victorian Foyer Renovation: Recap