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.

The house in winter

SIDE NOTES

Old House Journal

Arts & Crafts Revival • New introductions—and some recent classics.

Rooms Top to Bottom • Refined relief and pretty patterns for walls and ceilings.

Houses for a Song • These sizeable, impressive beauties each can be yours for $250,000 or less.

FROM BLAND TO GRACIOUS • Bold, well-proportioned design moves made this 1927 Dutch Colonial look more historic—while adding needed space.

CREATING VIGNETTES • Sometimes the way to get started with furnishing is to pick a wall, a corner, an alcove, or a landing. + Picture-hanging approaches for all eras, with rules of thumb tried and true.

Start with a VIGNETTE • FURNISHING A WHOLE ROOM, LET ALONE A WHOLE HOUSE, CAN BE DAUNTING. HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO EASE IN.

VICTORIAN GAS FIREPLACES

A Color Scheme for Every Room, 1928 • Illustration from a customer paint brochure by E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co.

Craftsman Details in a Kitchen • An excellent layout and period motifs distinguish this midsized kitchen in a bungalowera house.

PLASTER IN DEPTH • A FINISHING SCHOOL for historic plaster, with expert instruction. Patching, specialty techniques, and unusual treatments.

HISTORIC & ARCANE plaster repairs

Energy Savings • Efficiency improvements are top of mind, come winter.

Restoring a Vintage Sconce • A few new parts, a simple refinishing technique, plus vision and elbow grease bring old light fixtures back to life.

Historical lighting at Authentic Designs • The founder began making period lighting fixtures for his own restoration of a Long Island farmhouse.

New Lamps from Old Parts • When antique parts from different objects are put together, it’s called a marriage. These examples sing!

LAYING LINO TILES • Parallel or on the diagonal, one color or a checkerboard: real linoleum is practical and lends period appeal. Precut tiles make it a DIY job.

Drilling Holes in Tight Places • Ample space usually exists between floor joists or studs to allow drilling holes for plumbing or wiring. Eventually, however, you will encounter a space that cannot accommodate the drill and the bit. When this happens, consider buying or renting one of these items. First, a short drill bit: Spade bits come in short lengths, or you might simply cut a regular bit to a shorter length. Second, attachments designed to fit into a drill chuck: These hold the bit at a right angle to the drill body. Third, drills designed for just this situation: The chuck is positioned at a 90º angle to the drill body. It’s a more expensive solution, so look to borrow or rent a drill like this unless you do a lot of drilling in tight spaces.

ASK OLD HOUSE JOURNAL

MANTEL & FIREPLACE • IN BRICK, TILE, MARBLE, OR METAL: historic treatments that steal the show offer precedent for design today. page 76

AN Artistic House EVERY INCH BELOVED

TOMORROW’S COLLECTIBLES • CONTEMPORARY MAKERS OF ARTS & CRAFTS POTTERY.

mid CENTURY • A TIRED, POSTWAR BUILDER’S BUNGALOW IS UPGRADED WITH MID-CENTURY MODERN DISCIPLINE IN A CINDERELLA STORY FROM ENCINO, CALIFORNIA.

A GOOD GRAVEL PATH • Landscape contractor Marilee Kuhlmann and landscape architect Tom Rao, of Urban Water Group, designed and built the gravel paths for water-wise drainage. Here is their procedure.

A Q&A WITH EXPERTS WHOSE BEAUTIFUL DESIGNS ARE ECOLOGICALLY...