Old House Journal

The Original Restoration Magazine for people who are passionate about old houses to repair, rehabilitate, update, and decorate their homes; covering all classic American architectural styles,—from the earliest Colonial-era buildings to grand Victorians of every variety to Arts & Crafts bungalows and mid-century ranches.

Sliding into emeritus

Old House Journal

Something to Come Home To • Tweaks that up your curb appeal and make you smile.

The Rose • Everyone’s favorite motif dates back to medieval times.

Pure In Style • Five houses, from Greek Revival through Mid-century Modern, exhibit architectural style hallmarks.

OUR RENAISSANCE FOURSQUARE • We were happy to finally get the chance to restore this unique home.

DESIGN

19th century millwork A RIOT OF ORNAMENT IN WOOD • Gingerbread meant overdone, at one point in time: a word for superfluous details on houses so over-embellished they resembled the decadent sweets of medieval royalty, or fictional fairytale cottages. More recently, the Victorian penchant for applied wood ornament has been celebrated. If the gingerbread is still there, it’s maintained or replicated. Trim long-missing is replaced, either in a dense wood species or a modern material or composite that looks authentic but won’t rot. Examples, both historic and newly installed, suggest placement and proportions for adding just the right amount of Victorian exuberance.

PUSHBUTTON SWITCHES

Victorian Ambiance • Salvaged parts and antiques mingle in two bathrooms that look original.

RESTORE

A NEW foundation Real-world scenarios and fixes from the field • No homeowner wants to replace an existing foundation unless it’s absolutely necessary. As houses age, however, houses settle, brick crumbles, and mortar deteriorates. Crucial elements such as the plate or mudsill that joins the foundation to the structure can be in such poor shape that the entire house is endangered. The only real way to know if the house is compromised is to have the foundation examined by an experienced building contractor or structural engineer. Then the real work begins.

Carpenter’s Friends • For the skilled and discerning woodworker.

Is Yours a MAIL-ORDER House? • Suspect your house is from Sears or another catalog company? Ready to do some research and forensic sleuthing?

NEWEL RENEWEL • To bring back a longneglected staircase, the owner resorted to gently stripping, cleaning, and refinishing the newel posts and balustrade.

When Planting Near the Foundation • Trapped water and even water vapor—any kind of moisture, from rain and snowmelt to high humidity—usually has a negative impact on materials, particularly wood. Trapped moisture may be a detriment to masonry and metal as well. Remember, anything outside will get wet, so the important consideration is that it be able to dry out quickly. Foundation plantings (dubbed “a skirt for the house” in an OHJ gardening article 25 years ago!) may be an aesthetic improvement but plants can cause trouble, especially when moisture-retaining mulch is added.

INSPIRE

restoring RESTMERE • A historic music festival provided clues as this Italianate villa, designed by Richard Upjohn, was brought back from the brink.

English Arts & Crafts sensibility at Rumford Hall

ENGLISH ARTS & CRAFTS GARDEN ROOMS • QUAINT GATES, COVERED WALKS, AND OLD-FASHIONED FLOWERS ADD MYSTIQUE.

outside IN • The Arndt family found the mid-century house of their dreams—and life immediately got brighter. The couple were intrigued by Mid-century Modern design, but the idea seemed remote in traditional New England. Dana and Joe Arndt had lived in a Colonial-period home, where they didn’t mind the small windows as much as the enclosed spaces. Then Dana noticed a for-sale...