The Lettered Cottage

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Old Closet Doors

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Remember when I surprised Kev with a freshly painted home office/guest room?

Well, since that day, I found a local carpenter named Brian to help us build some closets at the far end of the room, sort of like these…

Our closets won’t be as wide as the ones in the inspiration photo, (we only need one door per closet) so Kev and I cruised up to Southern Accents a few days ago to see if we could find a couple of them that measured under 16″ wide.

They have lots and lots of old doors…

They’ve got gobs of old knobs to outfit them with, too…


I could’ve browsed through them and all the antique backplates all day!

(I still regret not buying that baby blue one on the right!)

Here’s a quick, little video that shows we ended up purchasing while we were there that day…

I think the doors look great au natural, but we’re going to paint them a fun color at some point in the next day or two so they coordinate with the color scheme we’ve got planned for the room.

I’ve also got to peel the paint off one of the backplates we bought before Brian puts all the hardware on…

To save some moolah, we decided to use a couple of old freebie knobs and small, round backplates on the inside of the closets. We’ll use the big backplates, and porcelain knobs on the outside of each closet door.

So, we’re on our way- and I look forward to blogging about the project again later this week! Oh, and if you’re on the lookout for some great architectural salvage and you’ve got time to swing by Southern Accents– you’ll be happy to know…

PS- The winner of the Spring Fever book giveaway is:

Congratulations, Angie! I’ll be in touch with your shortly!

Wood Closets
Spring Fever Giveaway

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Comments

  2. Where is the Southern Accents warehouse located? I tried looking it up but seems each state has one but they are a lil different. We bought a Log Cabin home almost 2 years ago & I think some of this would look great!

    • Hey Beverly!
      Just click on the Southern Accents links in this post and they’ll take you right over to their website. Thanks for stopping by today! 😀

  3. I love Southern Accents! My husband said the sign was incorrect. He told me I could LOOK at anything, but not buy anything! I could just stand in that store and smell the antiques, even without looking and I would be happy.
    Doors and knobs you purchased will look great!

  6. You just made my day!! I was thinking…wow, I wish this was near me…until I realized it’s in Cullman which is just 20 minutes from us…YIPPIE!!! Thanks for posting!

  7. Those doors are awesome and I can’t wait to see how it turns out! It amazes me what kind of stuff you can find at Salvage places – it’s the best! Thanks for sharing, Layla and Kevin!

    • Thanks, Lindsay! I’m always in awe of those kinds of places too. So much goodness piled up everywhere! 😀

  8. Love the doors and especially love the hardware! Wow, I would have gotten in SO much trouble if I’d been near that place – what a huge selection of treasures! I’m in “closet door” mode at my house too – only couldn’t find the right old screen door, so have ordered a beautiful reproduction Victorian style one to have installed as a pocket door for our bedroom closet – excited! Looking forward to seeing pics of your finished project. 🙂

  10. Oh that store looks like a dream to walk through!! Love your new doors!! Can’t wait to see the finished closets – I’m sure they’ll be beautiful!

    Jen
    athomeinthenorthwestblog.com

    • Why thank you, Jennifer! We enjoy having fun with our house, and can’t wait to see how the closets turn out! 🙂

  13. I could spend hours in there too, Layla. Your finds looks very interesting and I look forward to seeing the progress. I love the closets in Sarah Richardson’s farmhouse foyer too.

  14. I love that big old door you were standing by! I love, love glass doorkknobs, too! I think I would buy a bagful of those doorknobs to put in my someday home.

  15. I love, and I mean LOVE, salvage and reuse in this way. When I saw your instagram photo of the door I knew you had scored a good set. They look like they are good and solid, still held together nicely, and aren’t significantly warped. I also like your Sarah Richardson inspiration photo. I know it well, I think my wife watched that season on repeat for a solid 6 months.

    We used salvaged side lites from an old front door for our entry French doors. If you’re interested in how our project turned out you can see the wrapup of the whole thing here: http://www.oldtownhome.com/2012/2/23/Vestibule-Project-Status-Complete/

    Can’t wait to see how your project comes together.

  16. I want want WANT that wonderful door and woodwork that Layla’s looking at — the very tall one! Wish I lived closer (and had a place to use it)!

  17. Ha! I laughed when I read that sign at the end of the post-I’ve seen that before and it always makes me smile! How stinkin’ cute are you, Layla! 🙂 The doors are great as is, but I can’t wait to see what you do to them! I SO wish I had a place like Southern Accents near me!

  18. You guys are soooo cute! I love your videos! I just can’t believe that HGTV didn’t pick both of you up for your own show. Loved the old doors and can’t wait to see them on your new closet.

  19. that is going to look great. Looking forward to seeing it finished. I really enjoy your video’s. You two are funny together. You tell Kevin that you need to do more of them and that he’s sure got a pretty wife. 🙂

  20. Love the closet idea and the doors…. just wondering why you need knobs on the inside of the closets?

    • Hi Mary Ann! I think it must be because the knobs wouldn’t work right if they were just sticking through, unfinished. ?

      • Oh OK, it must be an “old door hardware” method that is needed for the mortise thingee. Have fun, I’m sure your project will turn out as incredible as all your others. Your work is beautiful!

  22. That place looks fantastic! I could get lost for hours and hours in there. Looking forward to seeing the end project as always.

    Just an FYI, I follow you on Pinterest and between your pins and mine, I have a great house all planned out in my head! hahaha

  23. Cory read somewhere that you could plop old, painted hardware in a slow-cooker over night with water and a bit of dish soap. Turns out – it’s true! That’s our method, every single time. Smells kinda strange, but works like a charm!

    • Wow! Can’t believe I ran into your comment…we just bought an old house and all the hardware matched at one time, but is now a rainbow of colors. How long do you slow-cook it for?

      Thanks!

  24. Oooooh! I’d love to have a place like that near us! We’re in the market for a new front door, and I’m afraid a new one might not work quite right.

  25. Hi Layla,

    What a coincidence. My husband and I just bought a new-old house and our bedroom needs closets. We were talking about doing a project like this just yesterday, in fact! Do you happen to know what kind of lumber Brian will be using?

    Thanks!
    Ellie

  27. What a seriously awesome place! I think I might be a little bit dangerous in there though since it would make me want to change out all of the doors in my house. LOL! Can’t wait to see how yours turn out in the office. I know they will be incredible!
    Vanessa

  28. oh that place looks amazing! i love it when an entire store is dedicated to just one thing- you know you’ll find what you want there! excited to see how your project turns out!

  29. i cant wait to c the room when its finished. i love sarah richardson she is a wonderful designer and so r you. keep up the great work.

  30. So much fun, love the doors you chose and absolutely LOVE architectural salvage adventures!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • I was JUST thinking about you today, E! Wish we lived closer together so we could go junkin’ together!

  31. Looks like a cool place. I need to find one of those around here! Cute video 🙂

    • It’s such a treasure trove of goodies, Taylor. I wanted to take home so much more than those doors! 😀

  33. I love the place!!! I’ve only been once and I loved it!!! Could spend days there. 🙂

  34. Don’t you just love Sarah Richardson’s family farm home. That red is fantastic and when this show was first on I was glued to the TV. The whole home is fabulous. As a Canadian I follow her every move, okay not every move as that would be stoking….
    Best of luck with you latest improvement I am sure it will be beautiful.

  35. Layla:
    You know………………if you see it and it sings to you………………you should ALWAYS buy it.
    Otherwise, tomorrow, it will be gone.

  36. Layla,
    I love that you are incorporating old architectural pieces into your new closets! We have the original white enamel door knobs on all our interior doors.
    Your Friend,
    Deborah

  37. My husband and I turning our upstairs family room into a Master Suite and are planning a closet project as well! I LOVE the feel of old hardware on doors. Can’t wait to see how yours all comes together. Especially how the mortise lock works. I can’t tell you how much you two have encouraged my DIY attitude. Love all the beautiful things you two put together!

  38. Layla,
    Every time I look at buying old doors I get nervous because I’m afraid of the “will it fit in the frame & if not – what do I do” thing. Any advice on that or will you leave the heaving thinkin up to the carpenter? : )

  39. A friend is giving me an old door (complete with glass knobs! Yay!), and I’m hoping to make a headboard out of it. Never done anything like it before but… how hard can it be, right? 🙂

  41. This must be what heaven looks like. You made some brilliant choices in a sea of goodies. Looking forward to the reveal

  42. Soooooo, my sister’s name is Layla, she’s always been the only one I’ve ever known until I found your blog:) Annnnnnnd, don’t ya just love taking pictures of antiques??? Cause I do!! Love the inspiration photo, can’t wait to see more!
    xoxo
    April

  43. Hey, that’s from Sarah’s House, the little cupboard in between isn’t really old, just looks it. Who cares, right? Sometimes I look old even when I’m not….

  44. Oh, I can almost see it. That is going to be so good. That office is going to be a stunner. Can’t wait to see what that carpenter will do for you.
    And don’t tell him, but my love is about to go away for a few days too. I hope I can surprise him with a little makeover too.

  45. That store is amazing! I wish I lived closer to Alabama – I’m in Michigan:( boohoo. Can’t wait to see the finished product!!

  46. I just love the rustic feel of old doors! It brings a sense of history to a place and it’s like it got some story to tell. You must’ve went gaga over all these vintage knobs, windows, and other frames, right? I might have gone berserk being in that store too.

  47. Okay, THIS blog post pretty much rules my world! How awesome! I have a new retail store that I’m “tricking out” in a style similar to yours. We hung faux chippy wood wallpaper, which makes the naughty flat door on it look terrible. My goal is to replace it with something old on a barn track! FUN! Let me know if you want to visit Toronto with me and stalk Sarah and Tommy! Or I could just continue to do said-same, online!
    Sincerely,
    K A Y

  48. Hi Layla! I know you guys did some work outside of Atlanta, which is where we’re living. I can’t remember if you mentioned any places you guys went to around the area but would you happen to know of any architectural salvage places similar to this one in the area? I’ve tried looking online but I feel like the really good places are much more word-of-mouth.

    • Hmmm…We sure don’t, Cait. 🙁 I’m sorry! Queen of Hearts in Buford is a great flea market though! 🙂

  49. Love, love Southern Accents! I could spend a day in that place digging through all of their treasures!