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.

Playing in the dirt

SIDE NOTES

Old House Journal • VOLUME LI, ISSUE 4

For Gracious Outdoor Living • An eclectic pick of enhancements for your home and garden this summer.

Romantic Revivals • Add elegance to a room, Italianate to Tudor, with luxurious finds.

The Rusticators • Back to nature in timeless old places: by the sea, in the mountains, in forest or countryside.

OUR DYNAMIC MID-CENTURY RANCH • The 1952 house was cookie-cutter and tired. Now it show-cases the best of MCM design.

DESIGN

window PROBLEM SOLVERS FOR OLD-HOUSE RETROFITS & ADD-ONS • Good windows, well designed, can solve problems with function, proportion, letting in the light, and ventilation. Manufacturers are stepping up.

Talk to Me of Windows … a glossary

ARMILLARY SPHERES

A Nautical Cottage Bath • A tranquil new bathroom uses color and texture for seaside appeal.

RESTORE

the case for SHUTTERS • Shutters may look relatively fragile but older wood shutters were built to withstand decades of weather, bearing up through hurricanes and hail, intense heat and piercing cold.

Workhorse Tools • Essentials for projects in and out of the house.

Solving the Roof • After much research by the owners, a century-old Storybook home gets a 21st-century roof treatment.

A Pocket Door from a Transom • Installed vertically, a transom window glazes a door that slides into the wall.

Wetproof Building Basics • Standing water is the enemy, so design each element to shed precipitation, drain quickly, or ventilate.

For Windows that Rattle

INSPIRE

INHABITING a fantasy • A bland old house, once home to musicians who were month-to-month, slowly morphs into a Victorian showcase born of its owners’ imaginations.

WHEN ALL IS (GARDEN) FOLLY • A ROMANTIC STONE RUIN PROVIDES INTEREST IN THE SMALL YARD

reclaiming the Cloud Ship • Addressing structural issues and incompatible additions, two architects bring back a rare surviving coastal cottage that dates to 1910—with DIY help from the whole family.

WOOD ON THE WALLS • INTERIOR CLADDING FOR SERVICE ROOMS & COTTAGES

period living with an artistic eye • Owner Deb Richards, who is quite at home in the past, continues to steward the 1740 New England house and its traditional garden.

Resources

Remuddling!