u/ThousandsDoors

This is the first door made by our workshop outside Odesa. The architects designed the entrance for TONY restaurant in the historic center of Dnipro, and we adapted the concept into a functional double-leaf door during fabrication.

The frame and leaves are made from ash. The active leaf closes with a door closer and locks with a mechanical lock. Built-in flush bolts keep the inactive leaf firmly fixed. We used tempered glass and added brass plates at the bottom to protect the wood from moisture, kicks, and occasional cat attention.

The surface was finished with deep green Italian wood glaze and Danish oil, leaving the ash grain visible. The brass continues in the handle, monograms, threshold lettering, and protective fittings.

>Our main work at Thousands of Doors is restoring historic joinery in wartime Odesa. We occasionally take commercial commissions like this one to support our nonprofit organization and continue preserving the city’s architectural heritage during the war.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine, a nationally significant architectural monument.

The entrance consists of exterior oak doors and an inner larch vestibule faced with thin Brazilian rosewood lamellas. The comprehensive restoration was carried out from October 2025 to June 19, 2026.

The condition was difficult before the nearby missile strike. Earlier aggressive wire-brushing had removed much of the softer oak grain, carved details were loose or missing, joints had weakened, and the surfaces carried the traces of several previous interventions. The blast then disturbed the geometry of the leaves and frame and added structural damage.

We dismantled the entrance where necessary, corrected the geometry, repaired the joinery, consolidated weakened areas, and retained as much historic material as possible. The surviving carved ornament of the oak astragal was conserved and used as the main reference. Most of the missing decoration was recreated by hand from original fragments, repeated motifs, surviving proportions, and archival photographs.

The original metalwork was also returned to service: hinges, four mortised espagnolette bolts, latches, two door closers, and the stop for the active vestibule leaf. The mechanisms were dismantled, cleaned, adjusted, and fitted back after the timber geometry had been corrected. Period-appropriate handles were sourced, and restrained brass kick plates were added to protect the lower decorative plinths.

The decorative metal columns supporting the canopy were cleaned by hand and coated for protection. The canopy shields the entrance from rain and direct sunlight, so its supports were treated as part of the same preservation system.

A discreet electric bolt lock with physical and remote control was integrated into the restored construction without dominating the historic design.

Inside the doors we found an inscription naming the designer, E. Küner, and the maker, Kuzmin. A newspaper placed inside dated an earlier repair to 1974. We left a note from the current craftspeople and a 2026 newspaper for those who may work on the doors again many decades from now.

One original glass panel bearing the initials “ET” of Countess Elena Tolstaya survived. It was removed and conserved until the end of hostilities, while the monogram was documented for the future reproduction of the lost glazing.

The work was carried out during the war by Thousands of Doors, our nonprofit public organization preserving Odesa’s historic doors and architectural woodwork. We would be glad to have your support.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine. A nearby missile strike disturbed the geometry of the entrance and damaged parts of the historic construction.

The metalwork included four mortised espagnolette bolts, hinges, latches, two original door closers, and a stop for the active vestibule leaf. Most of these mechanisms had accumulated wear, corrosion, dirt, and layers of old coating. Some parts no longer moved through their full range, while misaligned door leaves placed additional stress on the hardware.

The fittings were dismantled, cleaned, inspected, adjusted, and returned to operation. The espagnolette bolts required particular attention: their long internal mechanisms had to move freely inside the restored timber without binding, and the rods had to meet their sockets accurately after the door geometry was corrected.

The two original door closers were retained and repaired rather than replaced. The hinges and latches were also reused wherever their condition allowed it. Period-appropriate handles were sourced to replace the missing ones.

The decorative metal columns supporting the canopy above the doors were also cleaned by hand and given a protective coating. The canopy shields the entrance group from rain and direct sunlight, so preserving its supports was part of keeping the whole assembly functional.

New brass kick plates were made for the lower sections of the doors. They protect the decorative timber plinths from shoes, paws, and the common habit of holding a heavy leaf open with a foot. Their proportions were kept restrained so the new metal would sit naturally within the historic composition.

A discreet electric bolt lock with physical and remote control was also integrated into the entrance. The challenge was adding a modern security system without turning the historic door into a visible piece of access-control equipment.

>The restoration was carried out during the war by Thousands of Doors, our nonprofit public organization dedicated to preserving Odesa’s historic doors and architectural woodwork. We would be glad to have your support.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine — a nationally significant architectural monument that has housed a museum for many years.

The entrance consists of exterior oak doors and an inner vestibule made from larch, faced with Brazilian rosewood lamellas. The comprehensive restoration ran from October 2025 to June 19, 2026.

The doors were already in poor condition before the strike. Earlier aggressive wire-brushing had destroyed much of the softer oak grain, carved elements were loose or missing, and the blast added structural damage and disturbed the geometry.

The surviving ornament of the oak astragal was conserved. Most of the missing carved details were recreated by hand using original fragments, surviving proportions, repeated motifs, and archival material.

Inside the construction we found an inscription naming the designer, E. Küner, and the maker, Kuzmin. A hidden newspaper dated an earlier repair to 1974. We continued this record by leaving a note from the current craftspeople and a 2026 newspaper for whoever may work on the doors again many decades from now.

The original hardware was repaired and returned to use: hinges, four mortised espagnolette bolts, latches, two door closers, and the vestibule leaf stop. Period-appropriate handles were sourced, brass kick plates were added, and an electric bolt lock with physical and remote control was installed.

One original glass panel bearing the initials “ET” of Countess Elena Tolstaya survived. It was removed and conserved until the end of hostilities. The monogram was documented for the future reproduction of the lost glazing.

The work was carried out in wartime Odesa by the nonprofit workshop Thousands of Doors.

A missile can break the frame and scatter the carving. It does not get the final word.

More about Thousands of Doors and our current work in Odesa can be found in our profile.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine.

The composition is built in two layers. The exterior doors are oak, with a tall vertical rhythm, carved ornament, and a strongly articulated astragal. Behind them is an inner vestibule made from larch and faced with thin lamellas of Brazilian rosewood. The contrast between the carved oak exterior and the darker, smoother interior gives the entrance much of its character.

The doors were already badly worn before a nearby missile strike damaged the entrance further. Earlier aggressive wire-brushing had destroyed much of the softer oak grain, while decorative elements had loosened or disappeared.

During the comprehensive restoration, carried out from October 2025 to June 19, 2026, the surviving ornament of the oak astragal was conserved. Most of the missing carved decoration was recreated by hand from surviving fragments, repeated motifs, proportions, and archival material.

The original hardware was repaired and returned to use, including the hinges, four mortised espagnolette bolts, latches, two door closers, and the vestibule leaf stop. Period-appropriate handles and brass kick plates were added, while a discreet electric bolt lock allowed the historic entrance to meet current security needs.

One original glass panel bearing the initials “ET” of Countess Elena Tolstaya survived and was conserved until the end of hostilities. The monogram was documented for the future reproduction of the lost glazing.

>The work was carried out in wartime Odesa by the nonprofit workshop Thousands of Doors. Those who would like to help us keep preserving historic doors can find the support link in our profile.

Це парадний вхід Палацу Толстих — пам’ятки архітектури та містобудування національного значення. Комплексна реставрація тривала з жовтня 2025 року до 19 червня 2026 року.

Вхід складається із зовнішніх дубових дверей та внутрішнього тамбура з модрини, облицьованого ламелями бразильського палісандра. Ще до ракетного удару деревина була виснажена попередніми втручаннями, декор осипався, частина різьблених елементів зникла. Після ударної хвилі додалися пошкодження конструкції та порушення геометрії.

З оригінального декору повноцінно зберегли й відновили різьблення притворної планки. Решту втрачених деталей майстри відтворили вручну за фрагментами, пропорціями та архівними матеріалами.

Усередині конструкції знайшли напис з іменами автора проєкту Є. Кюнера та майстра Кузьміна. Газета, захована всередині, допомогла датувати попередній ремонт 1974 роком. Для майстрів, які, можливо, працюватимуть із цими дверима через багато десятиліть, залишили записку та газету 2026 року.

Відремонтували автентичну фурнітуру: петлі, чотири врізні шпінгалети, засуви, два доводчики та стопор стулки тамбура. Підібрали автентичні ручки, встановили латунні накладки й електроригельний замок із фізичним та дистанційним керуванням.

Одне оригінальне скло з ініціалами графині Олени Толстої «ЕТ» збереглося. Його законсервували до припинення бойових дій, а монограму відтворили в графіці для майбутнього виготовлення реплік втраченого скління.

>Роботу виконала під час війни неприбуткова майстерня «Тисячі дверей».
Підтримати подальше збереження історичної столярки Одеси можна за посиланням у профілі.

These oak entrance doors belong to the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine. Their comprehensive restoration ran from October 2025 to June 19, 2026.

The carving was already in poor condition before the missile strike. Earlier aggressive wire-brushing had removed much of the softer oak grain, while many ornamental elements had loosened, broken away, or disappeared completely.

The surviving carved ornament on the astragal was conserved and used as the main reference. Most of the remaining decoration had to be reconstructed by hand from original fragments, repeated motifs, surviving proportions, and archival photographs.

The difficult part was preserving the character of the original carving. Every new element had to follow the same depth, rhythm, transitions, and slight irregularities of hand work. A perfectly smooth or mechanically identical copy would have looked foreign on the historic doors.

Inside the construction we found an inscription naming the designer, E. Küner, and the maker, “Kuzminъ.” We also found a newspaper dating an earlier repair to 1974. A note from the current craftspeople and a 2026 newspaper were left inside for whoever may restore the doors again many decades from now.

The work was carried out during the war by the nonprofit workshop Thousands of Doors. Those who would like to help us continue preserving historic carving and joinery can find the support link in our profile.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine — a nationally significant architectural monument that has housed a museum for many years.

The entrance consists of exterior oak doors and an inner vestibule made from larch, faced with thin Brazilian rosewood lamellas. Its comprehensive restoration was carried out from October 2025 to June 19, 2026.

The condition was already poor before the missile strike. Earlier aggressive wire-brushing had destroyed much of the softer oak grain, while carved elements were loose or missing. The blast added structural damage and disturbed the geometry of the doors.

The surviving ornament on the oak astragal was conserved and restored. Missing carved details were recreated by hand using original fragments, surviving proportions, and archival evidence.

An inscription inside the construction identified the designer, E. Küner, and the maker, “Kuzminъ.” A newspaper found inside dated an earlier intervention to 1974. The workshop continued this record by leaving a note from the craftspeople and a 2026 newspaper for whoever may restore the doors again many decades from now.

The original hardware was repaired and returned to use: hinges, four mortised espagnolette bolts, latches, two door closers, and the vestibule leaf stop. Period-appropriate handles were sourced, while a discreet electric bolt lock was added to meet the building’s current security needs.

One original glass panel bearing the initials “ET” of Countess Elena Tolstaya survived. It was removed and conserved until the end of hostilities. The monogram was documented and redrawn so the lost glazing can later be reproduced.

>The work was carried out in wartime Odesa by the nonprofit workshop Thousands of Doors. Those who would like to help the workshop continue preserving historic joinery can find the support link in our profile.

These are the main entrance doors of the Tolstoy Palace in Odesa, Ukraine — a nationally significant architectural monument that has housed a museum for many years.

The entrance consists of two separate structures: exterior oak doors and an inner vestibule built from larch and faced with thin Brazilian rosewood lamellas.

The condition was already difficult before the missile strike. The oak had previously been heavily wire-brushed, destroying much of the softer grain. Decorative elements were loose or missing, and after the blast both the geometry and the joinery required repair.

Only the original ornament of the oak astragal could be fully restored. Most of the remaining carved decoration had to be recreated by hand using surviving fragments, proportions, and archival evidence.

Inside the construction we found an inscription naming the designer, E. Küner, and the maker, “Kuzminъ.” A newspaper hidden inside dated an earlier repair to 1974. We continued the tradition by leaving a note from the workshop team and a 2026 newspaper for the craftspeople who may dismantle and restore the doors again a century from now.

We also repaired and returned the original hardware to service: hinges, four mortised espagnolette bolts, latches, two original door closers, and the vestibule leaf stop. Period-correct handles were sourced, brass kick plates were added, and an electric bolt lock with physical and remote control was installed.

One original glass panel bearing the initials “ET” of Countess Elena Tolstaya survived. It has been removed and conserved until the end of hostilities. The initials were redrawn for the future reproduction of the lost glazing.

>The work was carried out in wartime Odesa by the nonprofit workshop Thousands of Doors. Support for the workshop helps preserve historic joinery damaged by time and war.

Working on a replacement section for a 19th-century door stop moulding from the Grinchak House in Odesa.

The original piece was lost, so we’re recreating it from measurements taken from the matching doorway on the other side of the same building, where more of the original woodwork survived.

The project is being carried out during wartime in Ukraine.

A block of wood, a lathe, dozens of measurements, and a doorway from 1899 helping us understand what used to be here.

This is the entrance door of the Karavodin house in Odesa, Ukraine.

A ballistic missile struck behind the building, and the blast wave slightly distorted the frame and leaves. The door stopped closing properly, but the wood, proportions, and character were still there.

At the Thousands of Doors workshop, the paint layers were removed, the geometry was corrected, the structure was strengthened, and missing details were brought back.

The carved capital on the meeting stile was recreated. The brass handle was selected to match the period. The lower brass plates are fixed with brass screws.

Now it closes again, serves the residents every day, and still looks like a door that belongs to an old Odesa entrance.

"Thousands of Doors**"** restores historic doors in Odesa during the war. Support for the workshop helps keep this work going.

This is an entrance door from the Karavodin house in Odesa, Ukraine. A ballistic missile struck behind the building, and the blast wave slightly distorted the frame and both leaves.

The damage did not look dramatic, but for old joinery a few millimeters are enough. The door stopped closing properly, the joints were under stress, and the hardware no longer sat where it should.

At the Thousands of Doors workshop, we stripped the paint layers, repaired the timber, reinforced the structure, and corrected the geometry so the leaves could move properly again.

The capital on the meeting stile had been lost before the restoration. We recreated it so the vertical composition of the door made sense again. The brass handle was selected to match the period, and the lower brass plates were fixed with brass screws.

The door also had to remain practical for daily use. We added a modern closer, installed a narrow electric bolt lock as discreetly as possible, and restored the traditional flush bolts on the inactive leaf.

This is the kind of restoration work we deal with in wartime Odesa: damaged geometry, old paint, weakened joints, missing details, and a door that still has to serve residents every day.

>Thousands of Doors restores historic doors in Odesa during the war. Support for the workshop helps keep this work going.

Двері будинку Караводіна в Одесі потрапили до майстерні «Тисячі дверей» після ударної хвилі. За будинком прилетіла балістична ракета, і вибух трохи повів коробку та полотна.

Зовні це не виглядало як велика руйнація. Але для старої столярки достатньо кількох міліметрів: двері вже не зачиняються нормально, з’єднання працюють із напругою, фурнітура збивається зі свого місця.

У майстерні зняли шари фарби, відремонтували деревину, укріпили конструкцію й повернули полотнам правильний хід.

Капітель на притворній планці була втрачена ще до початку роботи. Її вирізали заново, щоб вона знову тримала композицію дверей. Латунну ручку підібрали під епоху, нижні латунні пластини закріпили латунними шурупами.

Двері залишилися робочими. Додано доводчик, акуратно врізано вузький електроригельний замок, повернуто до роботи традиційні шпінгалети на неактивній стулці. Мешканці користуються цими дверима щодня.

Під час війни збереження міста часто виглядає саме так: без гучних жестів, через коробку, яка знову стоїть рівно, і двері, які знову зачиняються.

>«Тисячі дверей» відновлюють історичні двері Одеси під час війни. Підтримка майстерні допомагає тримати цю роботу в русі.

This is the entrance door of the Karavodin house in Odesa, Ukraine. A ballistic missile struck just behind the building; the blast wave slightly distorted the frame and door leaves.

The damage was not spectacular. No dramatic ruins here. Just an old entrance door that stopped closing properly, with weakened geometry, tired joints, layers of paint, and missing details.

We took it to the workshop, stripped the paint, repaired the timber, strengthened the structure, corrected the geometry, and returned the wood grain to view.

Some parts had to be recreated. The capital on the meeting stile was already lost, so we carved a new one. The brass handle was selected to match the period. The lower brass plates are fixed with brass screws.

It is still a working door. It has a modern closer, a discreet electric bolt lock, and traditional flush bolts on the inactive leaf. People use it every day.

This is what preservation often looks like during the war in Ukraine: not a grand gesture, but a repaired frame, a door that closes again, a fragment of Odesa that did not disappear.

>"Thousands of Doors" restores Odesa’s historic doors during the war. Support for the workshop helps keep this work going.

This is the entrance door of the Karavodin house in Odesa, Ukraine. A ballistic missile struck just behind this building; the blast wave slightly distorted the frame and door leaves, adding another problem to old paint layers, tired joints, and missing hardware.

We stripped the paint, repaired the timber, corrected the geometry, strengthened the structure, and brought the wood grain back into view.

The capital on the meeting stile was already lost, so we recreated it. The brass handle was selected to match the period and style. The lower brass plates are fixed with brass screws.

For daily use, we added a modern door closer and a narrow electric bolt lock, set into the leaf as discreetly as possible. The inactive leaf still works with traditional flush bolts.

The hardest part was keeping the door alive and practical. It has to close every day, survive weather, hands, keys, deliveries, and Odesa dust.

We restore Odesa’s historic doors during the war. Thank you for help that keeps the work going.

Only one original decorative applique from this doorway survived.

We first restored the original piece, then scanned it with a 3D scanner with an accuracy of 0.04 mm. Using that data, we prepared a blank and reproduced the missing element on a CNC machine.

That, however, is only part of the process.

The CNC provides the geometry. The final details still have to be refined by hand. Small transitions, edges, depths and subtle shapes are adjusted by a woodcarver to match the character of the original piece.

For us, digital tools are a way to preserve accuracy, not replace craftsmanship.

This element is being recreated for the restoration of the Grinchak House doors in Odesa, Ukraine.

If you’d like to support the preservation of historic woodwork during the war in our country, support link is available in our profile.

Це вхідні двері колишнього прибуткового будинку князя Урусова в Одесі.

Будинок реконструювали як прибутковий у 1897 році за проєктом архітектора Н. К. Толвінського. Самі двері майже п’ятиметрові: дубова конструкція, різьблені деталі, необарокова рама, гіпсовий орнамент навколо отвору, латунна фурнітура і поліхромний вітраж зі скла Тіффані.

Вітраж змінюється разом зі світлом.

Увечері кольорове скло працює на вулицю: фрамуга і скляні панелі світяться з боку фасаду. Удень ефект розкривається зсередини під’їзду. Коли виходиш назовні, денне світло проходить крізь скло з боку вулиці, і видно всю глибину кольору: червоні, зелені, сині відтінки, фактурне скло, рослинний рисунок, монограму з номером будинку над дверима.

Ми відновили дубову конструкцію, відремонтували різьблені деталі, відтворили втрачені елементи, повернули гіпсове обрамлення, встановили довговічний електроригельний замок і доводчик. Двері знову працюють щодня.

Є одна воєнна деталь, яку легко не помітити: перед вітражем встановлені прозорі захисні пластини. Вони захищають скло Тіффані від ударних хвиль.

Проєкт тривав три роки. Два з них пішли переважно на бюрократію і прибирання кабелів, які закривали отвір та заважали змонтувати двері. Це не найромантичніша частина роботи, але без неї двері не повернулися б на своє місце.

Бюджет склав близько €12 000. Роботу виконала неприбуткова громадська майстерня «Тисячі дверей» в Одесі.

>Дякуємо меценатам, завдяки яким це стало можливим. Така фотографія — результат багатьох окремих кроків: столярної роботи, різьблення, скла, фурнітури, перевезень, погоджень, прибирання кабелів, захисних рішень і впертої координації.

Підтримка допомагає нам повертати до життя історичні двері Одеси під час війни. Якщо хочете допомогти, посилання для підтримки є в нашому профілі.

This is the entrance door of the former apartment house of Prince Urusov in Odesa, Ukraine.

The door is almost five meters high: oak leaves and frame, carved neo-baroque details, a plaster surround, brass hardware, and polychrome Tiffany-style stained glass.

The restoration was not one task. It was a chain of small, stubborn problems.

We restored the oak structure, repaired damaged carved details, recreated missing elements, rebuilt the meeting stile with a capital, adjusted the geometry, restored the plaster ornament around the opening, installed a durable electric strike lock and a door closer, and made the door usable again for daily entrance traffic.

The stained glass was a separate part of the work. In daylight, the street lights the glass from behind, and the colors open from inside the entrance hall. In the evening, the stained glass glows toward the street. We also installed transparent protective sheets in front of the glass to help protect it from shockwaves.

That last detail is now part of restoration work in Odesa. The door has to look right, move properly, close reliably, and survive the reality around it.

The project took three years. Two of them were mostly bureaucracy and removing cables that covered the doorway and made installation impossible. Very unromantic, but without that work the restored door could not return to its place.

>The budget was about €12,000. This work was carried out by Thousands of Doors, a non-profit public restoration workshop in Odesa.

Huge thanks to the donors who made it possible. A result like this is built from many separate steps: documentation, woodworking, carving, glass, hardware, transport, permits, cable removal, protective solutions, and coordination that rarely appears in the final photo.

Support helps us keep restoring Odesa’s historic woodwork during the war. If you’d like to help, the support link is in our profile.