The Blog
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 various rules and benefits that I look forward to exploring in future posts here and […]
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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 old or heritage properties. Evidence from the past 50 years or more since […]
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Choosing a color scheme for your historic home can be overwhelming. So many options with evocative names like “Jamestown Blue” and “Rookwood Red”… And painting an entire exterior – or even just the front porch – can be a significant investment. Is there even such a thing as “the right” colors for a specific architectural […]
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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 question is, where do you even start? The best beginner’s references for all things historic […]
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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 rather new to me. In short, I built a gingerbread house. Inspired by a townwide […]
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“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. Turned columns, spindled railings and fretwork, beadboard ceiling, a fan to encourage […]
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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 be incredibly beautiful, even delightful in their quirkiness, and the palette of materials can range […]
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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, I decided to make a little video about pruning tomatoes. Wait, isn’t this a […]
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Photo credit: Em McCann Zauder So…you might have heard of this website called CIRCA Old Houses. Yes? Then you must be among the 2 million page views they get every month. Pretty impressive, huh? Especially considering their SOLE FOCUS is old houses, and their primary audience is preservation nuts. Like us! That’s why I’m so […]
