Delete Charm

As I strip wallpaper, I'm finding molding on the corners of the walls under the wall paper. This appears to be another instance of what the Spouse refers to as the "surgical removal of charm" from this nice 1914 house. For instance: the original doors had inset panels; someone went through and either replaced the doors with standard hollow-core doors, or covered the doors with 1/8 inch veneer to change the look to something more moderne. In the same way, there's evidence that there was once crown molding in the master bedroom (so called only because that's where the Spouse and I sleep) but it was removed. Granted, my tastes run to pre-war charm, as opposed to blonde Scandinavian charm, but really. It makes me feel sad for our little house, unloved for itself, forced to be something it isn't. Well, we'll see what we can do about that.

Meanwhile: in the back yard there's this silly, sturdy little house. It looks like a clapboard barn, and has a weather vane on the roof. YG has had it as her playhouse for the last three years, and it looks it (kids have written their names on the inside walls, and there are always weird things sprouting everywhere. But I'm thinking of throwing on a coat of paint (on the interior walls) and taking it over as my office. I'm going to spend the next week sitting in there, seeing if it's too claustrophobic to work in. I am moved to improve, it seems.