Old houses are full of surprises.
You never know what you’ll find behind wall paneling, under carpets, or in the basement after a hard rain. I always encourage owners to take their time in the planning stages and try to anticipate as many decisions as possible
Can My Old Windows Be Rescued?
There are many features that sing to me when I’m exploring an old house as a potential historic rehabilitation project. To my eyes (and ears), none sing more emphatically than windows. No matter how incredible, a house with vinyl replacement
What’s Important About Historic Windows?
From Preservation Briefs 9: The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows The word “window” conjures so many different ideas. Your eyes are windows into your soul. We have a window of opportunity to take a fabulous vacation this summer. When the universe
Talking Trades: How to Find and Hire the Right Contractors for Your Historic Rehab Project
For straight talk about buildings old and new, there’s no better resource than Desiree Lawlor, CEO of Hart Water Conditioning. Poking around in people’s pipes and basements, she sees it all (including snakes!). She knows how houses work, and she
What are Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits?
If you haven’t heard about historic rehabilitation tax credits, you’re in for a treat. In a nutshell, it’s a big way the government incentivizes the preservation and adaptive reuse of old buildings. This topic fits in with other posts I’ve written
How to Research Your Old House
Old buildings tell stories…we just need to understand how to read them. How many times have you scratched your head, wondering where the original fireplace was, why a previous owner sealed up that door, or how a pair of men’s
Is Your Old House on the National Register of Historic Places?
Over at CIRCA Old Houses, I just posted a blog answering the question, what is the National Register of Historic Places? In a nutshell, the National Register is the official inventory of historic properties in the United States. It carries
What’s the Right Paint for Historic Exteriors?
Friend and colleague Tina Reichenbach of Richbrook Conservation offers the following advice about choosing the right paint for historic exteriors: Far more important than paint color is the type of paint used for painting exterior woodwork, especially for the preservation of
Experimenting with Historic Color Schemes
Choosing a color scheme for your historic home can be overwhelming. So many options with evocative names like “Jamestown Blue” and “Rookwood Red”
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