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Meredith Roddy was One of "Erwin's Twelve"

When Mrs. Ted Roddy found out about David and Christiane Erwin's new business, she jumped in line to get one of the first products. Here she shares the story of her 1969 ranch redo.

meredith's living room meredith pasadena crestview doors nameplate meredith's kitchen george nelson lamp

Meredith and Ted Roddy met the Erwins through a friend in the spring of 2007, when they were in the middle of purchasing a 1969 ranch home from the second owners. After hearing about the new door business, Meredith knew right away that her renovation needed the "Pasadena A" as a finishing touch.

Still running Crestview Doors as a side business, David had purchased enough materials to build only 12 units, hoping to sell one door a month. David announced that he was taking orders on the ErwinHouse.com website, and the orders filled quickly. Within 6 short weeks, all twelve of the doors were called for. Lucky for Meredith, she was on the list. Meredith and Ted Roddy's Pasadena became lucky number 7.

Put your mouse over the thumbnails to see the original mockups.

Meredith's home lounges across a double lot in shady east Austin, Texas. "Windsor Park is a fabulous, centrally located neighborhood filled with 50's and 60's ranch homes," Meredith explains. "The fact that our ranch house was built in 1969 means we still have cool ranch style but with some of the more modern amenities, like walk in closets, which we're thrilled about."

After closing on the house, Meredith found the original architectural drawings in a drawer in the Master Bedroom built-in vanity. The house had been a model home for the neighborhood, and very little had been updated over the years. Meredith wanted to preserve the home's mid-century authenticity, including the wood paneling, glittered ceilings, and exposed beams in the den. The sisters that sold her the house even let her purchase some of their furniture from the 60's, including a snappy Zenith stereo console that plays Ted's vintage records and a matching coffee and end table set. Meredith prizes these possessions, calling them "a kind of karmic continuity."

meredith's living room angela adams rug tiki

Meredith scoured Craigslist and local vintage shops like Room Service to find furnishings that were period-appropriate. "We just like it straight up vintage!" She says. "I would describe our house as something along the lines of Graceland-meets-the-Jetsons." A recent purchase of a home decorating encyclopedia from 1970 helps bring perspective to her interior decorating as well. She admits that there is still a lot of work to do, but the addition of her new front door has improved the curb appeal of her home and invited light into the entryway. "It really makes a statement about our house and our style," she says. "It's very retro and traditional but looks modern, too."

Meredith admits that it took some time for her to install the door. Although it was delivered in June of 2007, she needed to decide on a paint color and wanted it to match the shutters and trim (she eventually went with sleek and classy black). Ultimately, she brought the door back to Crestview to have a black matte applied to the exterior; a clear finish coats the interior side and reveals striking detail in the grain.

meredith's front door pasadena

An atomic-age porch light and modern mailbox have rounded out the entry. Meredith hopes to add a retro house number plate to the mix, and some of the patterned panels in the entry to replace the scalloped rails.

Meredith explains, "I'm really glad I chose the Pasadena!" Her children run in and out of the house behind her, chasing the family dog. "We love it! When we first installed it we used to just circle the block a couple of extra times to admire it in all its glory. It is a great finishing touch that represents great design, excellent craftsmanship and a commitment to preserving the past."

Meredith's door is solid wood with a birch veneer and wide vertical-reeded, insulated windows. Featuring slightly wider trim than we now use and a unique numbering on the nameplate, Meredith Roddy and our other original customers are lovingly called "Erwin's Twelve."

The "Pasadena" (A) Kit

$147.26

1950 - 1969 Ranch, Rambler, Mid-century Modern

The Pasadena is our most adaptable design. It is grand enough for a large rambling ranch, and understated enough to add a modern touch to a small cottage.

With its formal simplicity it can replace a windowless flush door on a 1960s mid-century home without breaking the modern aesthetic.