site by Stefan Hepner

 

 

 

Japanese Ambassador's Residence, Formerly Vanderbilt Residence, ca.1895-

Location: 11-13E. 62nd St., NYC
Completion Date: March, 2003
 

Scope of Work:
Fabricate and install doors and architectural millwork including paneling, wainscot, moldings, kitchen cabinetry, and replicate exotic hardware. Restoring existing architectural millwork including Dutchman inlays, refinishing, French polishing, and faux finishing. Restore all existing hardware to be relocated and reused, including custom solid nickel plumbing fixtures, locksets, ornate bronze, steel, and iron hinges. Most new millwork joined to existing millwork, reconfigured existing. Dozens of different millwork profiles surveyed and custom replicated.

Building is a French Louis XV style 50' wide townhouse with seven floors, designed by McKim, Mead, & White, ca. 1895. National Register of Historic Places.

Architect: Platt, Bayard, Dovell
Construction Mgr: R.C.Dolner, Chris Mesba

 

 Before condition looked like brown, rusted steel.

Solid nickel Tub Filler, ca. 1895 - all machined surfaces reground, washers & bushings replaced, ready for next century of service.
 

  Double-swinging bronze door hinges welded to repair cracked leaves.
Ornate bronze and steel pin hinges 10" high supporting massive bifold doors replicated, using horizontal milling machines, & lost wax casting.
 
Variety of solid nickel hardware after polishing.
 
 
Original nickel plumbing hardware before restoration.

After polishing.
 
    Extensive damage evident
 
     
 
   
Refurbished elevator cab.