Each spring the City of Edmonton holds a series of educational workshops that are designed to help owners of heritage properties learn how to restore and preserve their heritage homes.

Last night we discussed floors and mill work. Both of these are extremely important aspects of the charm of a heritage home interior. Mill work especially is what links one room to another and it’s important to ensure that their visual treatment is consistent.

Many old houses also have beautiful exterior doors but often they are hidden behind ugly aluminum screen doors.

Now I understand the need for protection from insects but luckily today there is another option – the retractable screen. This allows your front door to be displayed in all its glory and you simply use the retractable screen when you want air flow.The screen is hidden in a track on one side of the door – you can do this on the inside of the room as well if you have an outward opening door. When we did our kitchen renovation a few months ago we purchased a very nice Arts and Crafts door – I didn’t want it hidden but I loved the fresh air that came from having the door open. (This is not something you want to do too long however because of the insects.) So yesterday we had one of these screens installed. We chose a Mirage Screen.

It looks great because you really don’t even notice it. It’s the same colour as the mill work around the door. It even comes in wood grain colours.

Of course full screen doors are not too secure but I figure if anyone really wants to get in they can. I’ve decided to use a small diameter tension rod across the screen midway to make it just a bit more difficult to come in. But now I’m looking forward to having this door wide open for fresh air come spring!