Faux Bois Front Door

What a great article! This is an incredible transformation of material, and something I can't wait to try out. Thanks for the step by step info. and pictures.

That door is beautiful!!!

Beautiful work! It is amazing just how real this looks. A remarkable skill. Love your show!

David Zoellner is indeed a brilliant and talented young man. To see another wonderful example of his work is to view the 'huge marble ' columns in the federal pension building in Washington D.C. that he "restored" several years ago. What a magnificent undertaking. I had the pleasure of meeting him at that time; his uncle Alan Zoellner is also a very versatile person who lives in Alexander.

I enjoyed the slide show, however I think the painters name is David Zoellner not Zellner.

When we built our new home I checked through local magazines that featured the work of skilled people and kept a file. Always insist on seeing one or two of their last jobs - if they are as good as you hope they are, their clients will be more than happy to show off the work they had done. DO NOT be afraid to fire someone mid-job if you find that the work is not what was promised. With the building boom, many sub-contractors in northern NJ were picking up unskilled labor at the local train stations and hiring them to do jobs like finishing wood flooring, a job that does require skill and experience. Good luck with your renovation - I've been there and have listened horrified as a contractor suggested that I just glue carpet over the mid-19th century old growth pine stairtreads instead of refinishing them by hand! Or suggest that we slap vinyl siding over 150-yr-old brick instead of having it professionally cleaned and restored!

Your front door is gorgeous! What an amazing technique! BTW - who imports or manufactures the wonderful wire urns you have flanking your front porch? And are you currently working on a book on the building of your Garden Home Retreat?

I find it interesting than in more than one occasion I have posted a comment, but I have never seen a response. Why?

It is very nice. How wide is the door? I was surprised to see what it appears to be a narrow door for such a big home. Thank you.

Absolutely beautiful!

This looks great. Years ago, we had such craftsmen in New Orleans, but now they are very hard to find.Lucky you, Allen. Happy February!

the door looks great - I also like the wire containers. Photo too small to tell what you have in the wire. Are those ornaments?

Gorgeous job! Very convincing.

David is very skilled. I have seen many fau wood grain items including antique pieces and he did an excellent job. You also are extremely skiled at finding the right people for the work. You always seem to get incredibly knowlegable people. that do your job correctly. Do you do think it is thatyou always hire the most expensive labor as the old adage is that it's obvious you get what you pay for /or do you think because they know your requirments they do a better job for you , as well being on tv? or because of the time you have spent in the field it is being well connected and meeting so many people? You should actuallly talk about that on a segment of your show. Finding skilled labor is an art form. I find so many companies show great work in photos or the owners say they can do the work if shown plans or concepts but the labor force is less than expected. Or they do not understand the requirement or taste. I can think of the two buildings you limed and how they came out looking perfect. Not so easy if one lives in a place where they have not seen that kind of work before. I find it so frustrating . Are you given names of people from friends or have you seen the work in other states and then you ask them to come in from all over the country or are the people you use mostly local? Did you bid out all phases of the work with different people before you started or did you know mosty who you would use and then stayed with them? Did all work out ok or did you have pockets of trouble ? I"m curious as I have been involved in renovation of an 18th c house and addition over the coarse of a few years and it's only now after about four or five that I am finding some people with better skills but still not the complete idea of the final finishing themselves. thanks, Linda