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.
A wee bit of renovation
Old House Journal
Early & Enduring • From our oldest houses, these are classic statements in any period.
Silvery • Add a glow, in soft goods or metal.
Five Hip Houses • Hipped and pyramidal roofs—where four roof planes meet near or at the peak—span house styles and eras.
SCHOOLED IN A NEW CAREER • As I returned to fine-art painting, restoring an old schoolhouse was an aid to creativity.
VICTORIAN WONDER • A spectacular 1880s house offers visual lessons for those enamored of Aesthetic Movement design, materials, and motifs.
Art for Art’s Sake • AESTHETIC MOVEMENT ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN at the Winchester Mystery House
The Aesthetic Movement & Queen Anne Style
Stained & Leaded GLASS
EMBOSSED Wallcoverings
Colonial Decorating in 1905 • From the booklet “Radiation and Decoration,” American Radiator Company.
A Cozy Kitchen with Elegant Patina • A designer steeped in the classics pairs salvaged wood and antiques with contemporary materials.
SHELL CABINETS
ENERGY-SAVING RETROFITS • RECENT INNOVATIONS IN TECHNOLOGY MAKE IT EASIER TO FIND BETTER COMFORT AND ENERGY SAVINGS IN OLD HOUSES. PLUS: ON-SITE VISITS.
INVISIBLE ENERGY SAVINGS
MY EXPERIENCE WITH A Mini Duct Installation
Around the House • Five very specific fixes can make life more comfortable this winter.
Pressure Treated Wood: It’s Even Safer Now • PT lumber, now arsenic-free, remains a good choice for exposed elements.
STUFF OUR WRITER SCREWED UP
Window Sash to Mirror • Copper-clad wood window sashes from an iconic building find new uses.
Quick-patching a Shingle Roof
Repairing a Torn Seat of Pressed Cane • Not all cane seats were woven in place. Since the 1890s, a machine-made material has been used.
ASK OLD HOUSE JOURNAL
SURVIVOR • BEHIND A PICKET FENCE, AN 1840 FARMHOUSE exhibits the vernacular Greek Revival style of the Hudson Valley.
a visit to the PIGEON Inn • Owners steeped in Colonial-period history finish the restoration of a 1760 house that served as an inn during the Revolutionary War.
TRADE AND TAVERN SIGNS • BOTH ADVERTISEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE, THEY ARE A SIGNIFICANT FOLK-ART FORM.
resources
History Retraced at CHITTENDEN HOUSE • A couple planning to downsize instead took on the restoration of a large, important house built in 1796: “We’d done a series of renovations, but nothing could prepare us for this project.”
PATTERNED BRICKWORK • DECORATIVE MASONRY IN EARLY HOUSES ON THE EASTERN SEABOARD.
brick GLOSSARY
Fundamental FARMHOUSE WITH 19th CENTURY CHARM • Come into this old house in New York’s Hudson Valley to find rooms inspired by those described in 19th-century novels. Owner James Coviello is a reader, a traveler, a collector of curiosities, and an appreciator of times past. He’s also a talented fashion designer whose work, like his house, is vintage-inspired and detail-oriented.
WHAT IS TRAMP ART? • UNIQUE OBJECTS REPRESENT AN UNUSUAL TYPE OF FOLK ART.
ENERGY SAVINGS, HEATING & COOLING
PRODUCT SHOWCASE
Resources
Remuddling