When it comes to your old home’s exterior nothing is as important as the details. Fish-scale shingles, jigsaw cut balustrades, creative cornices. There are so many things that make your old house unique. And saving them or replicating the missing pieces distinguishes your historic home from its neighbors. If you own a crumbling Victorian or [...] Read on →
Your historic home’s proportions were carefully thought out. They were planned by a designer or architect to work together and complement the overall style of the house. An out of scale addition like an oversized dormer or an undersized porch will only serve to confuse the look of your house. If you’re planning a renovation [...] Read on →
Whether you home is Victorian or Craftsman, Greek or Colonial, plain or elaborate you should respect Its vintage. It is what it is and trying to change it will only lead to trouble. There’s something incredibly jarring about one type of home masquerading as another. Your home has a vintage that is completely unique unto [...] Read on →
The Folk Victorian style is one of the most often found styles of historic homes in America. Folk Victorians can be found in almost every state and chances are you’ll find an example somewhere in your own town. Next to the Craftsman Bungalow this is the style most often associated today with being a “historic home.” [...] Read on →
Recently I had the opportunity to visit Martha’s Vineyard. For those of you unfamiliar with the name, it’s an island off the southern coast of Massachusetts that has a rich history dating all the way back to 1602. Full of colonial era and mid 19th century buildings built by the captains of the then booming [...] Read on →
The trim installed in your home has gone through a lot of changes over the last couple centuries. On the simple frontier homes of early colonial America there wasn’t much need for the fanciful trim and moldings present in European homes at the time. It was a wild country and the focus was on survival. [...] Read on →
So, you’ve decided to buy a historic house. Congratulations! Purchasing a historic house is more than just owning a beautiful piece of history. It’s a labor of love that can require a lot of work and an extra serving of patience. Historic homes line the streets of almost every town from Maine to California, and [...] Read on →
A historic home is more than just a place to live; it’s a living history that you’re a part of. While the trials of owning a historic home can be daunting at times, the benefits are unrivaled. Financial benefits, architectural designs and quality of work that is unmatched by today’s standards are just a few [...] Read on →
Whether your historic home is still in its infancy or whether your historic structure is hundreds of years old, preserving the original architecture and design elements are crucial to keeping your historic home historic. Keeping the siding, roofing materials and other architectural features in their original state can be tough, but well worth the effort. [...] Read on →
Restoring a historic structure can be expensive. We should know, it’s our business! From searching for suitable replacements for long forgotten items to custom millwork, the bill for period appropriate restoration and preservation can really discourage the average old house enthusiast. But there is help. There are tons of programs at the Federal, State, and [...] Read on →
Common architectural design features Steeply pitched roof of irregular shape Usually with a dominate front-facing gable Patterned shingles Cutaway bay windows and other devices to avoid a smooth-walled look Asymmetrical facade with partial or full-width porch Ornate detailing and spindle work Usually 2 1/2 stories tall 1880-1910 This was the dominate style of domestic building [...] Read on →