Rehabbing a CA Crafstman

[Spencer Wardwell]

Hi all,

I'm currently in the process of rehabbing a California Craftsman Bungalow built in 1908 in the Los Angeles area.

It's in a Historic Preservation area, and I need to create an entrance to the backyard (the current entrance to the backyard is going to be walled off).

I need some help in choosing a style of door. I would love to put a sliding glass door in, as it lets in more natural light, which would greatly improve the space.
Someone suggested French Doors, however, I'm not sure how well that would mesh with the Crafstman style.

The city won't let me do anything that contradicts with the style anyway, so I guess I can't shoot myself in the foot too badly. However, I obviously only want to go to the city once, and I want to choose a door that's perfect for the style.

Please let me know any suggestions you have! Photos and links to some information and recourses would be greatly appreciated.


Cheers!

[Drew Nagda]

Spencer,

I'm in the process of rehabbing a historic home in Upland, California and it's been a positive experience.

I'd recommend checking out open houses of other historic homes in that area to get a sense of the style - but for us, we just had to get certain permits for any changes that weren't original to the home.
From my experience so far, I didn't mind going to the city a couple of times as it was a chance to build a relationship with the staff. I believe I've gone 3-4 times so far to get permits for additions, paint colors, and electrical/plumbing.

Personally, I think the French doors look elegant and would be a nice touch if your area allows for door changes. I wasn't able to change out my windows, so I'm in the process of refurbishing them to bring the originals back to life.

All the best, hope that helped.

Drew