A Jewel in need of a Buffing

We've seen one of these many times before...a door that could use a bit of love. It wouldn't take much to put this pretty door back into shape...a window, a bit of cleaning and maybe some paint...most of all, a bit of love. Et VOILA!!

This beautiful door frame is a wonderful, yet simple example of the Art Nouveau period with it's delicate repeating stylised flowers hugging the entire frame.

The ironwork here is subtle yet charming. It not only repeats the stylised mistletoe that is found in the door's frame, but it contains gentle, flowing swirls and coils in just the right places to make the door what it is meant to be...a barrier. There are lots of tiny details as well such as the coil effect on the frames around the door's windows, the tiny repeating design up the center of the door (see below) and, of course, the lions that are there looking sweet and gentle even if their presence is meant to ward off harm.

The door's handles with their regal looking lions are serious handles made in a way that you feel like the person that created them really knew what he was doing and gave them not only a strong sense of style, but made them perfectly functional - which is not always the case with door handles despite their necessity to be so!!

Thanks to the broken window, I was able to photograph what is behind this door. Isn't that a fabulous mosaic floor!? Wow. Personally, I think it is gorgeous....I just regret that there is a row of unsightly garbage bins covering up so much of it and ruining the effect of this wonderful floor. The rest of the entryway (foyer) is just as handsome because the Art Nouveau designs are repeated in the arches and ceiling areas.

I love the door. I love the frame. And I love the two together!

It's pretty clear why I love the door and frame - it's Art Nouveau!!

But even if this wasn't Art Nouveau, I would still like it. Definitely!

Simple, but Fresh

As you might imagine, I've become somewhat addicted to looking at and for doors. I see a door and my eyes wander over the whole thing then I ask myself how my heart feels about the door. If my heart likes it, I photograph it. All of the doors I have posted have gone through this routine. Sometimes the doors are fabulous; others are sad; others are unusual; while others are simple, but charming or lovely or any of a myriad of adjectives that could describe them. This is another of what I call 'Simple, but...' doors. I suppose I could also call them 'Simple and ....' doors.

I find the wood to be fresh and warm and inviting. The woodwork is well done without being overly complicated and the frame is also simple, but it, too has some character to it.

Finally, the door handle completes the picture with its delicate design that isn't too rich and in a material that a door handle should be made of - bronze (not aluminium!!).