In this project, we'll be helping to restore the interior of a grand old Victorian home. As you can see, we begin with an in-wall hutch. Thing is, this wasn't always a hutch. Originally, this frame housed a set of French-style entry doors leading from the foyer space into the Victorian home's living room. The owners would like to have this space restored to its original function.

Given that this is a Victorian home, we can't use standard hardware for our new installations. One challenge we'll face is trying to match the original vintage hardware as closely as possible. We also have to match the original custom woodwork. This will involve crafting each piece of new trim by hand when the time comes so that our new door doesn't seem out of place next to the vintage one across the hall.

Our first step is to remove the in-wall hutch from the existing frame, opening up the space between the foyer and the living room so we can get to work on the new door. Next, we construct an additional, decorative frame within the already existing frame. We are using an I-beam style design both for structural strength and to allow for the installation of appropriate trim inside the recesses later on. The portions of our "frame within the frame" that face the home's interior are dressed in oak to match the rest of the building's woodwork. Once this frame is completed, we'll be ready to hang the new door.

The new door is a solid panel unit with a single decorative glass lite. Similar in style and characterstics to the home's vintage, this heavy door will require four hinges to hold it in place, and when finished, will blend with the original woodwork very well indeed. Prior to finishing, some of the custom woodwork we've been crafting will be set into the recesses of our new frame prior to assure a good fit and a pleasing aesthetic match.

Once a good fit and match have been assured, the custom trim pieces are finished independently of the door and frame prior to final installation. We have custom mixed a stain that closely blends with the rest of the home's interior woodwork so that our new door looks as close to being an original part of the home as possible.

And now, the completed project. Our trim pieces have been carefully installed, and vintage style hardware selected to match that of the rest of the home has been added to the new door as a finishing touch. The cathedral point hinges also add an air of authenticity. Providing a much more pleasing aesthetic quality and far greater functionality than the hutch it replaced, the door is beautiful and new, and yet it perfectly compliments the home's Victorian era heritage.