As the owner of an architectural restoration business, Charles Nevinson travels the world looking for old doors, mantels, windows and chandeliers. He shows Chris Madden, host of HGTV's Interiors by Design, some of the work that goes into restoring an architectural piece. Restored architectural pieces can be used in new ways--for example, turning a door pediment into a mantelpiece (figure A) or old doors into wainscoting -- or as they were intended, to add charm to a new or restored home. Old doorknobs, layered with several coats of paint, can be restored and installed in a new home to add instant charm (figure B). The first step is to take the doorknob apart and put it in stripping solution. When the stripping is complete, the doorknob is removed from the solution and immersed in lacquer thinner to remove any residue left from the stripper. After drying, it's buffed on a buffing wheel, rouged and buffed again. Acetone is used to clean it, and a fresh coat of lacquer is applied to protect the shiny new surface. Two antique French urns in different stages of disrepair are remade -- one with a new finial and the other with a new base -- then aged in a solution of horse manure and water. When the urns are removed from the solution after a few weeks, there's a bit of growth on the surface that gives an aged look (figure C).
GUESTS :
Charles Nevinson
2711 Piedmont Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30305
Phone: 404-266-8700
Fax: 404-266-0074
Architectural Accents
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