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.

Agony and Ecstasy

SIDE NOTES

Old House Journal • VOLUME XLX, ISSUE 4

Desert Colors • Earthy, dusty, misty, ever-popular hues.

Outdoor Accents • Garden, porch, and patio focal points for a comfortable summer at home.

Quirky at the Top • Rooflines on these five historic houses really stand out. In a good way!

WE FINALLY GOT OUR OLD FARMHOUSE! • Tired of renting, longing for a house to make our own, we waited until this old stone house presented itself.

DESIGN

Garages & outbuildings • A well-designed garage does more than stable automobiles. It may by its placement create a private courtyard. It can block noise or a neighbor, or add balance if it’s part of the house. Today’s garages are also storage units and potting sheds; they may accommodate a home office or guest suite. Because a garage is new construction requiring everything from permits to utilities, it’s worth taking time to design one that works now and for the future—say, when electric-vehicle charging stations are a common requirement.

DOOR DESIGN OPTIONS

Separate & Attached

A LOOK INSIDE

GAZEBOS

On the Porch, 1914 • From the General Millwork Catalog of Curtis Lumber.

Black & White, Neat as a Pin • A welcome simplicity with rigorous attention to detail.

BE INSPIRED…

RESTORE

RESTORING casement WINDOWS • Lately, casement windows have been on my mind. No surprise: my 1913 Adirondack-style cottage has a dozen wood casements—and they all need work. Unlike double-hung sash windows that move up and down, casement windows swing outward, inward, or occasionally upward, turning on hinges attached to one edge of the frame. Dating from the Middle Ages, casements are the earliest type of movable windows. More recently, they appear in revivals of English and European styles including Gothic, Norman, chalet, Tudor, and Elizabethan. They also show up in Prairie houses, Arts & Crafts bungalows, and modern 20th-century homes.

kits for CASEMENTS

CLOSING FOR THE SEASON

SHOP TOUR: SEEKIRCHER STEEL WINDOW • Mention steel-window restoration and the name John Seekircher invariably comes up. Since 2017, however, the company John founded in 1977 has been owned and managed by his son Todd, who gives the same careful attention to the repair and restoration of historic steel windows whether the house is Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater or a suburban Tudor cottage.

STEEL WINDOWS ARISE

THE PRO TIP

Casements freed of dim

Open & Shut • Great additions for seasonal window and door projects.

Wallpapering 101 • A project summary with tips on stripping old paper and using specialty wallpapers.

TYPES OF WALLPAPER PASTE • If you use the wrong type of paste or adhesive for your type of wallpaper, you may get pattern bleeding or poor adherence. These are five common types of adhesive, but always follow the paper manufacturer’s recommendation.

REMOVING old wallpaper

three common errors

materials at hand

specialty papers

A Crested Greenhouse • … constructed from salvaged doors and windows, salvaged bed knobs, and homemade wood cresting.

Porch Column Repair Hints • Sprung staves, large cracks, and areas of rotted wood are obvious clues that columns need repair. Paint peeling may indicate excess moisture.

column removal

Proper Siding Orientation

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