Friday, January 7, 2011

A Screen Door and a Pantry






This is a little story about a screen door and how it came to my house. You've all heard me talk about things given to me by my son-in-law when he sold the building his family owned. It was a clothing store, in business for many years, and I've shown you the sewing machine he gave me from the alterations department, the ceiling tin (which I recently hung on the wall in my backyard studio), ledgers, a gorgeous green porcelain heater (which I will show you another day), a wonderful door I have in the living room, and two screen doors, amongst other, smaller things.

For this story, I am focusing on the screen doors. Well, one of them. I have plans for the other and you will see it sometime later. They are old...he doesn't remember why they were on the third floor of their downtown business, but I asked for them and Rick even helped me get them to my house. (He really IS dear!). Truthfully, though, he does think I'm kind of weird, I know he does, but he keeps it to himself.

So, I had this screen door, which I LOVED, and there was only one thing left to do....and that was to figure out what I was going to do with it. Somewhere along the way....I decided that the screen door should hang in my kitchen....in the doorway to my pantry. Now, let's remember, the door is pretty old and let's say...not in great shape. But, me being me, I think it is gorgeous and I like the idea of hanging it there. My brother-in-law, Rick (yes, another Rick) is a carpenter. He and my sister recently came to visit and I talked him into hanging this door for me. He just grinned and said, "Where do you want it?" (I actually have another screen door.....of all places - going into the garage. No way I'm showing that garage!!!! Maybe someday after it's been decluttered. Someday.) Oh, back to the pantry......So, Rick put the door up for me. Now, I KNEW I'd just love it....and my sister did too. Everyone else...well....let's say they didn't say much about it.

Here you are....the screen door into the pantry. My pantry is also my laundry room. I prefer to call it the Pantry....and leave off the laundry title. I don't think laundry is much fun, however, I do love to see things "in a row," so love the pantry part of this room. Last week I got in here and straightened it up, as over the holidays it had become one big mess and I like things sort of organized. Once straight...or as straightened as I intended to get it (without a major overhaul)....I figured you should see it. You know....as a homemaker, when we do some work we'd like people to acknowledge it....and the old navy man certainly wouldn't notice as he rarely goes in there! So....you're it!

You can see it going in...then, you see it on the way out.....that Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt is a vintage baby quilt....LOVE it! What you can't see is that the quilt hides our electric breaker box. Lots of flea market finds in this room....there are shelves all around the ceiling which I can't manage to show very well in a photo....it's a great room. Someone said I'd get really tired opening and shutting that door each time I needed something from the pantry or had to put another load in the washer. Maybe I really AM weird....as everytime I open it....it takes me back to years ago when I would go in and out of my grandmother's screen door, so I'm actually ENJOYING it!

What do you think? Do you love it too, or do you think I'm just one weird blogger? (I'm smiling!!!) take care out there, pat

19 comments:

Quiltgal said...

Oh I don't know about Laundry not being very "fun", I think you manage to make it look like it would be a lot of fun. I love this room, as I do all of the room you have showed on your blog. What a lovely home.

Sherry said...

Pat, I love seeing your pantry! My only problem is trying not to compare it to mine, which is tiny in comparison! And, of course, mine is far less organized. The screen door is a perfect addition and looks right at home with your quilts and other homey comforts.

Sherry in Little Rock

Patti said...

I love the screen door. I especially love the 'bang' of a wooden screen door, the sound reminds me of being at a lake cottage. There is a house in a neighboring town that has an old screen door (similar to yours) on the front porch. I enjoy looking at it when we drive by, and the owner hangs seasonal things on the screen such as tin stars.

Unknown said...

Pat...this is such a lovely post. I totally have a thing for old screen doors and if I had a real and proper pantry (or laundry room for that matter), I'd have a screen door on in. Instead, I have a basement and hubby says no screen door on there or we'll be heating the whole basement. Oh, and the reason I LOVE old wooden screen doors is because the one that you'd come in and out of my grandma's kitchen :)

Blessings!
Gail

Sharon Tomlinson said...

I think it's brilliant!

Erin in MI said...

I love the idea! If I could ever get the laundry machines out of my kitchen and onto the back porch, I might consider that idea myself :) And organizing the pantry must be in the air - I just organized all my kitchen cupboards yesterday, too :)

BrenWall61@gmail.com said...

Pat, wonderful idea. In the words of my mother "don't slam the door". How many times has that been said in our childhood. The door is a great memory boost and I love what you did.

Mad about Craft said...

Your pantry takes me back nearly 30 years when I was first married. I had one in my first house and I loved it. In the UK these days it is unusual to get a pantry in a house. I really miss one.

FredaB said...

Your pantry looks so organized and I do love the look of the old screen door. I think most of what we do men never "get". You have it decorated so tastefully. You just reminded me that I too have a grandmother's garden baby quilt upstairs in a spare room but it must have been for a baby girl because it is all pink and cream. I must get it out and use it.

Hugs

FredaB

Christine said...

Pat, I love your door. It reminds me of my grandmother's house in the northern suburbs of Sydney. Her house was turn of the 20th century and she had a goundfloor laundry with a door like this leading outside. Isn't it amazing that sounds can take you back immediately, much like certain smells? Showing my age now, LOL. Thanks for sharing your very organised pantry / laundry room.
Hooroo from Christine in Sydney Australia.

Christy said...

Pat ... it's a wonderful idea. I LOVE it! And you're sooooo organized! I'm envious of all that room!

Susan said...

I love it! And I hope it makes that "springy" sound when you open and close it!

Cindy P said...

I think it's brilliant. It looks like it was made for that purpose. And that light over the washer looks like sunlight coming in! I was trying to figure out where the window is.
What I wouldn't give for a pantry like that. I've got plenty of cabinets, but I don't know what I have in them, only what's in the front that I can see.

To be able to actually see how many cans of diced tomatoes you've got. I know I have cake mixes in there that are at least 10 years old.

I love it.

Vivian said...

I like your old screen door. In my previous house, I had Larry put a screen door on our sliding glass door when the sliding screen tore up. I loved it. I wish my utility room was as neat as your pantry.

Ivy said...

Pat,
What a beautiful pantry. I love the quilt, the organization and oh yes the screen door. I have a thing for old screen doors as well. What a creative idea and it works so well.
I am envious!!

Thearica said...

What do I think??? I WANT ONE TOO!!!

I have a photo of my great great grandmother on her porch about to go inside the house. She is suspended in time holding her old wood screen door half open... I LOVE the photo!!!

If I had one I would use it the same way you are!! hmmmm... I need to go a'lookin'!!

allie aller said...

Great story and photos! What an inviting room your Pantry is...

The screen door gives Eccentricity a very good name, I think! I just love that you did this.

Vicki Boster said...

Love that screen door- such a wonderful story. I am totally lusting after your beautiful pantry- so organized! The quilt is so beautiful- I could be so happy working in that beautiful laundry room/pantry! The photos are stunning--
Vicki

Jaybird said...

I love it too!! Y'all did good :^)
Rick the carpenter is an amazing fella'. He kind of gives some of my ideas an eye roll, but when he is finished things look wonderful!
I hope you are staying warm and cozy in your beautiful home!
J

A Bit of Heaven

A Bit of Heaven
An original designed wall quilt with my vision of heaven on earth.