How to Rehabilitate Your Old House
How do you rehabilitate an old house? That's a big topic. Every house is different; each has its own rules and, shall we say, quirks? In response to careful attention and patience, old houses reveal what they need. The real
Meditations on Gingerbread
In December 2023, I took on what was in some ways my most challenging Worth Preserving project to date. Challenging because, all at once, I played architect, engineer, construction manager, builder and client. And because the materials and technology were
On the Front Porch
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ~ Henry James, as quoted by Edith Wharton For Americans, the words “front porch” conjure a similar feeling of warmth, contentment, ease, nostalgia.
What Do You Do in the Bath?
Bathrooms are among my favorite parts of a house. So I was thrilled to write a couple of blog posts recently for CIRCA Old Houses about this most sacred room. Plumbing fixtures (clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, cross head taps) can
Hang On Little Tomato
I often get songs stuck in my head. You, too??? One day, while working in my garden, the song was Pink Martini's "Hang On Little Tomato." (If you don't know it, please look it up! It will make you smile.) So,
2022 KINGSTON DESIGN SHOWHOUSE
Photo By Phil Mansfield CLIENT: Since this project was a design showhouse and fundraiser for Ulster County Habitat for Humanity, we were encouraged to let our creativity run wild. BUT…we also kept in mind the fact that this ca-1901 Queen Anne
EARLY-1900S ARTS & CRAFTS HOME IN STAATSBURG, NY
CHALLENGES: Virtually untouched for decades, the house revealed its evolution from simple farmhouse to stately Arts-and-Crafts home, with many of its original features intact—two-over-two double-hung wood windows (behind shabby aluminum storm windows), wood clapboard siding, oak floors and staircase, delightful
CIRCA-1800 “NEW WORLD DUTCH VERNACULAR”
CLIENT: Our second project for my mother—together we saw the opportunity to rehabilitate another highly visible but sadly neglected historic house and defray the costs by making it an income-producing rental. ASSIGNMENT: We had all noticed this little gem right up
19TH-CENTURY FARMHOUSE GERMANTOWN, NEW YORK
With one rehabilitation project under our belts (see Our House), we were looking for a challenge. This house on Germantown’s Main Street, slightly outside of the hamlet center that was just beginning to crackle with new energy (thanks to Otto’s