The Grove Gate: New Craftsmanship with an Old Soul
My client in Richmond, Virginia, had a clear vision for their historic property. The home, built in 1923, sits in a neighborhood defined by its architecture, and they needed a high-end patio gate to match the gravity of the residence.
While I am usually energized by the future of furniture design, I was excited to nerd out on period craftsmanship for this build. The goal wasn’t just to fill an opening; it was to create a piece that felt native to the neighborhood — something that looked like it had been there since the beginning but functioned with modern precision.
Material Selection: If Clint Eastwood Were Wood
For an outdoor project in the humid South, material selection is the first line of defense. We chose White Oak, sourced from Gutchess Lumber.
If White Oak had a personality, it would be Clint Eastwood: tough, stoic, and quietly confident. White oak contains tyloses — natural substances that fill its pores — making it highly resistant to moisture and rot. It is dense enough to anchor heavy hand-forged hardware and stable enough to stand tall for years.
The Future of Paint is Found in the Past
When it came time to finish the gate, I found that the most “advanced” solution was actually an old one. We used Linseed Oil Paint (specifically Allbäck from Sage Restoration), a finish that dates back to the colonial era.
Modern latex paint acts like a plastic glove: it is waterproof until it cracks, at which point it traps moisture inside and accelerates rot. Linseed oil paint, however, penetrates deep into the wood fibers. It doesn’t peel; it fades slowly over time, signaling when maintenance is needed rather than failing catastrophically. To help it survive the Virginia humidity, we even mixed in a zinc oxide additive to naturally inhibit mildew.
The Challenge: The Arch
The most technically demanding part of this project wasn’t the gate itself — it was the door jamb. The gate needed to hang inside a 12-inch-deep brick archway that was 10 feet in the air.
The problem? 100-year-old masonry is rarely perfect. The opening wasn't level, flat, or square.
To solve this, I used a technique borrowed from Japanese door builders. We laminated 24 individual pieces of wood, interlocking them in layers to form the curved arch. This method allowed us to create a structure that matched the irregular exterior brick profile while maintaining a perfect, pleasing radius on the interior edge.
Forged in Fire
A gate of this caliber requires hardware with a soul. I collaborated with Durham blacksmith Bradley Schwarz to create custom hinges.
We have a bit of a “yin and yang” dynamic — I love the future, and he loves the past. Watching him work is like stepping into another era. He took raw steel and transformed it using fire and borax (to prevent oxidation), forge-welding the components into a single, solid “pintle and strap” system.
The result is hardware that isn’t just functional; it creates a visual anchor that contrasts beautifully with the white oak.
The Result
After a nerve-wracking installation involving laser levels and hidden bolts, the gate swung perfectly into place.
The Grove Gate is more than just an entry point. By combining the “Clint Eastwood” durability of White Oak, the historic wisdom of linseed oil paint, and the structural art of blacksmithing, we created a piece that feels like it has always belonged there. It respects the history of the neighborhood while utilizing the best of modern craftsmanship to ensure it lasts for years.
