Laurel Home is in the New York Times! + Vestibule Cabinet Design! (2024)

• March 7, 2024
• 21 Comments
• Posted in:Laurel's Renovation

Oh my! I innocently checked my admin email this afternoon when I saw a note from my website.

Your Message:


Hi. I’m a reporter who writes for the NYT and I just wanted you to know that I linked to your blog post in a story I did on hidden doors and secret rooms. Cheers, Jane

In case you don’t know, NYT stands for NEW YORK TIMES.

Holy freaking crap! I don’t believe that’s ever happened before.

But, is it legit?

Spoiler.

It is!

My response:

Hi Jane,

Oh wow! I looked you up, because 95% of the email I get from my website is spam. It’s endless requests for link insertions and guest posts which it says on my contact page I don’t do. However, it’s unlikely to be a real person writing me, as I’m usually addressed as:

“Hey there,”

(Insert crying laughter)

Anyway, this is fantastic news! When will it be published?

Thank you so much,

Laurel

[So, guys, this is a legit columnist from the Times linking to my post about secret doors!]

Jane responded:

Just went online today.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/realestate/design-trend-secret-doors.html

Will be in print Sunday.

Best,
Jane

My response:

Hi Jane,

I’m massively grateful.

Terrific article, too.

I don’t know if you read my blog, and it’s totally fine if you don’t. However, I’m 2/3 done with a major
renovation of my 1215 sq foot duplex in Back Bay, Boston. (I did live in New York for 42 years!)

There are going to be a plethora of hidden doors in the kitchen (already built), entry, downstairs hallway, under the new staircase (that replaced a hideous 1970s spiral), and three in the primary bathroom.

The reno was supposed to be finished by now, but it should be done sometime in June, one year after it began.

I’m putting out a post tonight and, of course, I’ll link back to the article.

Any time you need material for an article, or a quote, I’m ever at the ready.

Best,

Laurel

Here’s the link to the article in the New York Times. You can find the link to my post in the paragraph right before the tall, reeded, hidden doors. Look for the words “blog posts.”

Laurel, that’s fantastic news, but didn’t you say you were 2/3 done six weeks ago?

Let me see. I just did a search in my nifty search box. First, I put in two-thirds, then 2/3. That did the trick.

Geez, you’re good! It was exactly six weeks ago on January 25th, after the guys ripped down the wainscoting. (The date is at the end of part 2 of the post.)

It isn’t easy to put a percentage in. For example, the kitchen cabinets and hardware took three days. I went from no kitchen to kitchen in no time. The drywall downstairs went up in one day. 

However, aside from the basic structure, wiring, and moving the toilet plumbing, nothing in the bathroom is finished.

There is a lot of carpentry that needs to be finished. 

And the carpenters haven’t been here for a full week now. 

The painter has done about 18 hours of work this week.




In the meantime, I’m busier than ever with the designs.

In addition to the vestibule cabinet design there’s the finalization of the stair railing and guardrail. There are so many tiny details to work out. 

However, the design is looking fantastic. And, I’m 99% sure we can do the havelock Greek Key pattern that I really want, and I’m super excited about it. There’s more to it than that, but I’m saving it because I need to research it a little further.

The only thing is, I’m positive the steel guy thinks I need to be institutionalized. 

How lucky am I? There’s a place for me only 1.6 miles away. 



Okay, enough of this silliness!

As promised, I’m sharing my final concept for the vestibule cabinet design. However, this is the second part of the post in my renovation diary, dated Tuesday, March 5th, 2024.

So, if you missed part 1, or wish to review to see what it is that I’m changing, please click on the link. Right now, on March 7th, 2024, it’s at the top of the page.

I just had a thought about how I’m getting through all of this. I’m so enjoying the process of designing each element. There are so many things I’ve never done before or done for a client.

First, I’ll show you the rejects for the vestibule cabinet design.

This plan has four doors, but when I walked away, I felt it was a bit busy.

Laurel, what’s that texture on the doors?

Oh, great question. It’s caning, ala Lotte Meister. (below)

You can see more pics I took of Lotte’s beautiful Rye, NY, home here.

Let’s look at option 2.

Option two has six doors.

I like this one a lot. However, it’s more work for the guys. So, I think we better stick with four doors.

This is option 1a with four doors.

That’s better!

There’s only one problem.

I forgot about the door casing at the top of the entrance to the living room and entrance to the den. Therefore, I need to allow about the same amount of space for the header before the top doors start.

Oops. It still says 1a. But, this is the final version.

While the vestibule cabinet design is not a major element, it’s not going to detract from the beautiful stair railing as the eyesore it currently is.

For more information about the many doors I’m installing, please refer to this post about doors in my remodeled home.

There will be more about the stair railing very soon.

We are also going to start a new series that discusses the entire home palette and paint colors that we’ll be using, plus finishes, and more.

I have some surprises in store for you.

Please stay tuned!

xo,

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