QWe have wallpaper in a stencil pattern in our foyer, up the stairs, at the top landing and down the bedroom hallway. We have had it for more than 25 years, and I still love it. But it is shabby in places and needs to be replaced.
I would love to pick a similar wallpaper pattern, but I imagine that removing the existing paper and starting fresh would be expensive. The existing wallpaper is a flat pattern and the seams line up perfectly. Can we wallpaper over our existing paper, as they did in the old houses?
Ellicott City, Md.
AIt is sometimes possible to paper over old wallpaper, but you risk having some areas come loose. And because your whole goal is to freshen up walls that mostly look fine but are a bit shabby in places, you could wind up spending a lot of money and still having a somewhat shabby look.
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So if you can afford it, it’s worth stripping the old wallpaper and starting over. Unfortunately, given that re-papering an entry and stairway usually involves considerable work on ladders, it’s not really possible to get cost estimates without having someone take a look at your home.
Your situation does seem to meet two of the tests of whether it's even possible to cover existing wallpaper: The existing paper is flat, not embossed, and the seams butt together, not overlap. So that's good. As a third test, Adriana Martinez at Gemini Wallcovering & Renovations in Alexandria (571-501-1405; www.geminiwallcovering.com) suggests painting with a wallcovering primer. If nothing bubbles up, it's probably safe to proceed. If you spot any problems, take that as a sign that you need to start over.
I have an old steel apothecary cabinet with eight hinged drop doors, each of which has a lock. Some of the drawers can be opened with one key, while others require individual keys. One of the keys was damaged and melted when I tried to have it repaired. Where can I get additional keys copied?
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If you can find the name of the lock manufacturer and the model number, the easiest solution is to check the list of antique keys available at www.antiquekeys.net. This Maine-based retailer has a huge collection indexed by make and model of locks.
If that approach doesn’t work, you have a couple of options. As you’ve probably discovered, many locksmiths are happy to replace door locks that use skeleton keys. But they aren’t so keen on duplicating the keys — just too old-school and insecure from a locksmith’s perspective. However, it is possible to get replacement skeleton keys made by going to some locksmiths with storefront offices.
Because you live in New York, you might want to visit Fifth Ave Key Shop in Brooklyn (718-768-8643). Larry Cosares, a locksmith there, was featured in an article by This Old House on how to make a replacement skeleton key. The price typically ranges from $15 to $40, depending on features of the lock and key.
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In the Washington area, one company that makes skeleton keys is Baldino's Lock and Key (703-550-0770; www.baldinos.com), which has 15 storefronts in the region. Jason McMasters, manager of the Arlington shop, said that copying a key usually costs about $25; making one to fit an existing lock that doesn't have a key might run $80, depending on how tricky it is to fit. To fit a key, the locksmith obviously needs to have the lock. People typically bring in the whole piece of furniture, he said, adding that for bulky pieces Baldino's usually suggests going to the company's shop in Lorton, which has more space. Sometimes, it's easier to remove the lock and just take that to a shop, McMasters said. "We had a customer with locking doors on an organ," he said. "Obviously, you can't bring in an organ. So the customer took out the lock and brought that in and we were able to make a key in time to meet his deadline."
If you're handy, another option is to try to make the replacement key yourself. Even opening up a lock and figuring out dimensions of a key that will work isn't as complicated as you might think, according to a story posted on the Web site of This Old House.
The Antiquekeys.net Web site sells blanks; other sources include Van Dyke's Restorers in Louisiana, Mo., (800-237-8833; www.vandykes.com) and Mink's Emporium in Pasadena, Tex. (281-216-0529; www.minksemporium.com). From a functional standpoint, the shape of the handle and finish on the metal don't matter. The critical details are the shaft length and style (solid or hollow, designed to fit over a pin inside the lock) and the size of the flag-shape foot, or bit. With a small file, you can customize the notches in the bit to work with your lock. Most skeleton-key blanks cost only a few dollars, so if you go the DIY route, you might want to buy a couple in case the notches don't work out correctly on your first try.
Have a problem in your home? Send questions to localliving@washpost.com . Put "How To" in the subject line, tell us where you live and try to include a photo.
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