easy wood projects - Tour of the Thorsen House Part 1

easy wood projects

Today I went on tour of the Thorsen House in Berkeley. I was impressed immediately from the front of the house. It stands out among all the rest of the homes in the area and it is over a 100 years old. You can find more information about the home at the following Wiki link (Thorsen House) but the real story you will only get if you go visit and experience it yourself. The tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful. The house was designed by Henry and Charles Greene but with direction from William and Caroline Thorsen. William was a Lumber Barron from Michigan who must have loved sailing. He infused his love of ships into the interior of the house and it blends well with the Greene and Greene Japanese style up lifting cloud accents and cherry blossom, bonsai tree grape vine motifs around the house. There are also other fine motifs that smile at you in the leaded glass lamps and tiled fire places. The brick work on the exterior is made of klinker brick bricks. The walk ways and walls take the chaos from the bricks themselves and paint a picture of waves from the sea. As if the house is a giant galleon sailing on a sea west to the Far East its destination, Japan.

Coming up to the house.

Klinker brick bricks.

Dining room from outside.

Numerous lanterns surround the house inside and out.

You will see this motif on the hilts of Samurai swords. Its called a Tsuba in Japanese. Here it is on the ceiling in place of a lantern.

Rear of the house. Fireplace off of the living room.

Back yard, this was the servants and chauffeurs quarters. Originally the chauffeur would work on the cars in the garage behind the servants quarters and an engine could be hoisted up into a shop to work on the motor.

Straight ahead there is scaffolding holding up the deck. The deck and some structures of the house are in need of repair. To find out how to help fix this and maybe donate to up keep this house (Thorsen House . Org)

Back yard oriental motif.

Next front walk way to the house.

Cedar shingle bungalow.

Recessed lighting leaded stained glass. There are little ports in the corners of the glass that lift up and that is where the light bulbs can be reached.

This exposed beam is of fine hardwood and fine decoration. It is supposed to represent the front of a ship, probably a sailing vessel. When the house was first built it must have had a view out into the bay maybe you could see out past the Golden Gate to the ocean. Currently buildings have sprung up around her and obstructed the view.

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