Before and after reveal – Northwest Second Floor bedroom
This space was originally two separate bedrooms that were combined in the 1920s or 30s. The built-in bookshelves and window seat were likely concurrent with that renovation. All of the bedrooms on the second floor originally were connected to each other, emulating the circular flow of the main level floor plan. The casings were always painted and are simple paint grade pine (as opposed to the rift sawn douglas fir of the first floor) and the doors are also pine and have a beveled five panel construction.
In restoring this space, the owner stripped many layers of paint off of the douglas fir floors and refinished them, repainted the casings in an off-white suitable for the era, stripped paint off of and restored the japanned/copper flashed finish of the hardware, sourced appropriate antique hardware where needed, assembled the mission style ceiling fixture out of parts from other lighting, restored all of the windows, repaired the plaster walls and ceiling, and added restored push button light switches.
The most intriguing and challenging element of this room was custom building and installing the slag glass window overlooking the stairwell to add light and visual interest. The sash was milled from scratch and the jamb/casings were made from salvaged wood. The slag glass was made by the Kokomo Glass Foundry in Kokomo, IN (which has been operating for over a century) and is practically identical to the glass of the early 20th century. The room is intended to have a slightly masculine feel to it which is in contrast with the more feminine decor of the other bedroom on the second floor.
Furnishings of this space include a brass bed that once belonged to a notable house of ill repute in Sheridan, arts and crafts oak chairs and side tables, vintage sportsmen themed artwork, a 1910s chip edged mirror coat rack, a vast library of books including a few home building volumes from the early 1900s, mission reverse painted and slag glass lamps, a restored 1929 Philco 86 lowboy radio, and hand knotted antique persian carpets.
