Kurt, can you post some pics of your door and how it's attached? There are basically two ways to strip paint, heat or chemical strippers. Using heat, w/ a heat gun or a propane torch is less messy but needs to be done w/ care. Besides the obvious dangers of heat and flame, it will break glass if you accidentally get it hot by transfer. I use heat 98% of the time, but I know what I'm doing and don't use it around irreplaceable glass, for instance. If you use chem method, I recommend using the nasty stuff, like "Zip strip", not the newer "green" products. Just tape plastic underneath door on ground completely and make sure that kids and animals can't get in it.
Someone asked how business is, it's great right now. Not sure why, but I'm not going to argue considering that the first 6 months of the year was dead. I have a very small operation and this house alone could keep me employed for several months if I work alone and keep finding new projects to do. He is a dream client, as close to a "blank check" as they come. He's a buddy, trusts me, has the $$ and needs the house kept in good shape. Anything that I've suggested he do, the answer is either "go ahead", or, "whatever you think..." I have other, smaller jobs coming up that I will do, but I can come back to another phase of this house for a while. The motor court area alone is a major project that needs doing.
As for the house, I'll try to get some more shots of details up. The interior has amazing carvings, like the main stairway, and hand-painted, original wall paper. Here is an example of woodwork inside:
My own imaginary dream house would be a lot smaller, I get a lonely feeling in mansions. Smaller house, fewer constant workers around, (housekeepers, gardeners, etc.), but a killer garage and yard. The garages are amazing, fully finished in paneling and nice cement floors in mint condition. Three huge double garages, all empty. He's not a car guy, at all, he drives a Prius and parks in front. These houses usually have this carport that I love, you park your whip under this roof out of the sun or rain and pop in and out of the house through the pantry:
Pulling out of gate looks like this:
Looking back over shoulder:
Other side or approach:
