As you may know we’ve just had our porch removed for reconstruction. As for the old porch it’s sitting in a huge pile on our drive awaiting a trip to tip. We have kept all the fancy bits such as the acorns, cornices, arches, pillars and some of the main heavy beams, the rest wasn’t worth saving.
The last few weekends we’ve been taking it to the dump and it was when we were going through the pile that I noticed a hidden arch. I had previously noticed a curved relief on the inside of the porch (see photos below) but always thought it was an odd, but nice bit of detail.
As you can see in the picture below the arch pieces just came apart when I was moving them. I think they’re original to the house as we’ve seen the green paint everywhere. I do like this old arch, seems grander that what they replaced it with but I think we’re stuck with the current design. Maybe I’ll re-add the arch trim inside the porch.
One day I hope to find some old, old photos of the house. I think the oldest we have are probably from the 50’s or 60’s.
On a different topic, we’ve been granted permission by the City of Kingston, Building Department to install traditional sash windows with period wavy glass (we have a lot of this glass), combined with winter storm panels for additional insulation. Now we just have to start making them. That’s nice windows so better get cracking.
For the last coupe of years the rough openings for windows have been boarded up so it will be lovely to see what it’s like with a bit of natural light.
The old arch may have been modified because it was weak, or to keep sunlight out of the house.
I hope you find someone to make the windows. Please don’t do it yourself.
Can you use the arch in the house or failing that in garden on a arbour or similar. I thought you had made some windows 🤔
Good idea but too big to reuse within the house, plus it got chopped in half during the demo
I was thinking the same about the sunlight!!! We will make some but not all. We did get a quote for a single window and that was about $4,000 which didn’t include paint, glass or installation. Obviously if this person were to make a lot then the price would drop a lot.
This is my Dad’s childhood home. My Grandmother had 9 children there
Wow, that’s amazing and you’ll have to visit sometime. Does you Dad know Matt from the street behind as we did meet a couple who spent a lot of their childhood there. Please share as much as you can about the house. I would love to see some early photos of the house!!! Thank you for getting in touch.