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.

Where has all the clutter gone?

SIDE NOTES

18th Century Colorways • Pastel to vibrant, Georgian and Federal period colors remain current.

The Sixties • Designs from a tumultuous decade resonate today.

The Modern Ranch • Early Ranch-house style drew on the Spanish Colonial past. The one-storey form has flourished across the American landscape since the 1940s.

A HOUSE BUILT ON SENTIMENT • Only the stone walls (and family) are original.

DESIGN

MODERN OUTDOOR SPACES FOR YARD & PATIO • The family backyard was born in mid-century suburbia. Play areas, patios, barbeques, and pools took the place of work areas and detached garages. At the same time, California architects were creating a new vocabulary of landscape design around modernist Contemporary houses. Some materials and motifs—raised planters, concrete-block screens, varied paving, strong geometry—were picked up nationwide, and something like a style emerged.

An Iconic LANDSCAPE • MODERNIST DESIGN IS EVIDENT IN FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S EARLY GARDEN PLANS.

STEP CLASS

AN EMPHASIS ON BACKYARD LIVING

Denver REBIRTH

SEAMLESS OUTDOOR ROOMS

STILL MADE

Colonial Revival, 1894 • From the chapter “Practical House Furnishing” in The Woman’s Book.

Surprise Floor in a Kitchen • An otherwise all-white room gets boundless energy grounded by color.

INLAY-PATTERN LINOLEUM FLOORS

RESTORE

FINE FLOORS IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WOOD • Flooring has become subject to the whims of fashion. But traditional wood floors were meant to last, and to age gracefully.

For Your Floors • Refresh what’s underfoot (and more) with these specialty products.

Screening (not sanding) Old Floors • Less involved than floor sanding, screening is a process often undertaken by do-it-yourselfers.

Cleaning All Floors • Removing dust and grit daily is always a good idea. Otherwise, be gentle, as strong chemical solutions and abrasion will harm many surfaces.

STUFF GRAVITY SCREWED UP

A Wall Reclaimed • Bungalows and ranches—not to mention any later additions to older houses—may have rooms that are bland boxes of drywall. Wood adds character.

Fastening Shoe Moulding • Old-house owners have the opportunity to cut and install many types of mouldings around doors and windows, at the crown of walls, to cap a wainscot, etc. Historically, mouldings were a key to house style and even signaled the wealth of the owners. Mouldings also have a purpose, both functional and aesthetic. In the case of the simple shoe moulding, the purpose is to cover the gap between baseboard and flooring, which tends to move and open up over time. The shoe moulding is relatively thin and flexible. Although there are other variants, shoe moulding is often milled with a quarter-round profile, perhaps a bit taller than its depth.

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INSPIRE

channeling ROBERT RUMMER In oregon

sensitive KITCHEN DESIGN

THE EICHLER EFFECT & LEGACY • TRACING THE CALIFORNIA ROOTS OF MODERN CONTEMPORARY STYLE.

recommended reading

Polishing an Old Gem

INSTANT DESIGN FROM THE PAST • ORIGINAL SOURCES ARE CREDIBLE—AND CHARMING.

Playful Romp ART DECO STYLE • The couple started with two tiny apartments in the 1910 building, once a residence hotel, eventually acquiring more space on the level below and, finally, the rooftop terrace.

THE ABCS OF ART DECO STYLE...