Daisy Allandale

Prior to renovating our home, we assessed its many problems. For example: “Situated below street level, the house is all curb and no appeal.”

Viewing our home from the street in 2006,
as we begin seriously planning our renovation.

Visitors to Casa de Roo deserve a proper welcome. Once you bravely traverse the steep hill from the parking area, turn, take the steps, turn, go down the ramp, turn, take more steps, turn, walk and turn again, it seems fitting you should feel as though you’ve arrived.

As these pre-renovation shots show,
it is quite a journey to our front door.

The October 2006 “as built” drawings (the only
appropriate set of plans provided by our first architect).

The original entryway is dreary,
dark, depressing and dysfunctional.

So I began searching for the perfect front door. Again and again, the hunt leads me to Europe. (One e-mail exchange even went something like this: Hey, great doors! Can I get one these in New Jersey? / No. Would you like to become our North American distributor? / Thanks for asking. No. Live long and prosper.)

Turning away from Google, I tackle my stack of shelter magazines and in Atomic Ranch find Crestview Doors, a U.S. company selling just what I want.

Picking from the variety of Modern, Post-war and Ranch styles, Matt and I decide on Allandale in a yellow called Daisy, with a sidelight. I work with a member of the Crestview team, Stephanie, and Daisy Allandale is conceived.

By this point, we had walked away from the excruciatingly impractical Dum(b)as(s) architecture firm and hired “The Todd” to execute drawings based on Matt’s vision of “roofing, windows, siding and deck.”

“The Todd” includes Daisy Allandale in
our April 2008 plans. The design calls for covering
a set of windows and moving the door to the left.

Daisy rests in Matt’s dressing room on
June 21, 2008 (left). Finally, in time for
Thanksgiving 2008, our builder puts her in her place.

To protect us from rain and snow, the design
includes a peak over the front door that balances the
larger one over the porch. Both feature “Splat” light
fixtures. The doorbell bling is “De-Light” by Sp0re.

Daisy even looks welcoming at 7:16 a.m. after
Matt does another round of shoveling
thanks to a February 26, 2010, blizzard.

Daisy is ready to receive guests
on Saturday, June 19, 2010.

First image: Henry, our gargoyle, protects the entrance
where Daisy holds court. Pax Drammen featuring Dioder
(left) and a pouf we call Oscar (right) flank the foyer.
Center image: A view of both the foyer and kitchen.
Third image: Looking through the “window”
from the kitchen to the foyer.

Looking through the door all the way into the back
yard (left). Looking out at the bunker-like exterior.

Having a friendly and functional foyer has improved our lives. Daisy Allandale, you had us at “Hello.”