Parlor Floor Woodwork

Parlor Floor Woodwork

I have tried to incorporate actual features from the house I live in and from the one my sister lives in, a block away. It is amazing that any of the original details have survived more than 100 years. These houses were originally built as single family homes but were divided up into smaller and smaller apartments and bed-sit rooms. Fortunately, much of the original woodwork remains.

The first part of the parlor floor that I worked on was the hall sine once the room walls were attached it would be difficult to get to. It is a replica of the hall in my house including the mahogany paneling and the little seat part way up the stairs. I obsessed about accuracy and detailing even though when the house is done the hall will only be visible by peering through the doors.

First I assembled the staircase:

Then worked on the wainscotting. The panels are discontinued mahogany from Northeast Lumber. My brother lent me use of his shop and scrap mahogany to make the rest of the pieces.

I assembled the wainscotting on the wall that would be installed later to create the back wall of the rooms and the inner of the two front doors.

These houses had two sets of front doors creating a small vestibule between them.  In my house this has been removed, but at my sister's it is still intact.

Here's the real thing:

And here's the mini version:

The hall worked out so well that when I showed a picture to a friend they thought it was my hall and that we had hung wallpaper.