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Inspired by Thomas Jefferson

July 18th, 2013

You might have thought this post would be about something pertaining to the garden. While I do love Thomas Jefferson’s gardens (see my photos from my visit in these previous postsVisiting Monticello, The Vegetable Gardens of Monticello and The House and Ornamental Gardens of Monticello). This time it’s all about the pet door.
thomas jeffersons pet door 1 (1)
On the upper level of the house, there were round holes cut into the door for the cats to use for hunting mice.
thomas jeffersons pet door 2 (1)
When we decided we needed a pet door to the basement, we considered a few options. We had a conventional pet door back in Ohio, but didn’t want to put one where it would be visible. Then we thought about putting a hole through the floor in the office with a small ramp down to the basement. That seemed a little too involved.
thomas jeffersons pet door 1
Then we decided it was just more convenient to do what Thomas Jefferson did and cut a round hole in the door big enough for the cats. The cats too to it right away.
thomas jeffersons pet door 2
This door to the basement is in our dining room, clearly visible when you walk into the room. It will be a good conversation piece no doubt whenever we have someone over for dinner.
thomas jeffersons pet door 3
There were a few times each one ran into the door on the way through, but that only happened a few times in the beginning. I actually think the cats really love this door. It’s like their own little window, they love sitting on the basement steps peering up or sitting in the dining room peering down. The best part was that it was free!

Do you have anything quirky in your home that was inspired by seeing it elsewhere?

3 Comments to “Inspired by Thomas Jefferson”
  1. Annie on July 18, 2013 at 10:36 am

    Cool pet door! In my house, the design in the steel beam that holds up the main roof, was inspired by a contemporary stained glass window in the cathedral of St. John the Divine in Washington DC.

    Reply to Annie's comment

  2. amy on July 18, 2013 at 11:02 am

    I like that cat door! Very precise looking….far more dignified looking than the flappy cat door thingy….leave it to Jefferson…to do something well. In my home I have a few things that might be different….but the most unusual are the gothic windows, alter piece and ambo from a convent in France…..They are always a conversation starter;)

    Reply to amy's comment

  3. Janine @ RusticKitchen on July 18, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    We adopted a new cat, and her balance isn’t what you’d expect given that cats are so graceful. She has this funny, loppy run, and sometimes runs into walls when doing a quick turn. She’d love this door.

    Reply to Janine @ RusticKitchen's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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