When restoring a historic property, few elements communicate authenticity as powerfully as the hardware. Period appropriate hinges, handles, locks, and window mechanisms provide tactile proof that a renovation respects its heritage. The 2019 This Old House Idea House in New Canaan, Connecticut, demonstrated this principle beautifully by pairing meticulous restoration work with carefully selected reproduction […]
The concept of a home with two kitchens has moved beyond luxury estates into practical residential design. The This Old House 2019 Idea House in New Canaan, Connecticut, demonstrated this trend beautifully by pairing a refined formal kitchen with a highly functional working kitchen. Homeowners who love to cook and entertain benefit enormously from this
Expanding a historic home presents one of the most rewarding challenges in residential construction. A growing family needs more room, but the existing structure carries decades of character that cannot be replicated. The solution often lies in a carefully planned rear addition, one that tucks new square footage behind the original facade while respecting what
When a family grows faster than the house they live in, the natural instinct is to move to a larger home. But for one resourceful couple in Savannah, Georgia, the answer was to transform their tiny 750-square-foot 1940s cottage into a warm, functional home that grows with them. Their story offers practical lessons for anyone
Renovating a historic home is a balancing act between preserving the past and making a property livable for modern family life. Few projects illustrate this challenge better than the 18th-century saltbox remodel undertaken by DIYer Jaime Costiglio and her family in Port Chester, New York. When the Costiglios purchased the Samuel Brown saltbox in 2013,
For many period-house enthusiasts, the mid-century modern aesthetic conjures images of sharp angles, unadorned windows, and chrome furniture that prioritizes form over comfort. Yet the 1959 Wilmington, Delaware, home of George Marrone and Michael Nocera proves that mid-century architecture can be warm, inviting, and deeply livable. Restored with painstaking attention to detail, this post-and-beam gem
In Prospect, Kentucky, a 1,750-square-foot Italianate farmhouse built in 1871 sits waiting for a buyer with vision, patience, and a willingness to move it. The Hoke House, named after its original builder Peter Fredrick Hoke, is listed at just $9,900 through the Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation, but the purchase price is only the beginning.
Taking on a full home renovation as a family is a rewarding but demanding undertaking. When a couple discovered a dilapidated 1927 house in Charlotte, North Carolina, they saw past the nicotine-stained walls and piled garbage to envision a restored period home for their family of four. Their journey offers practical knowledge for anyone considering
During the early twentieth century, Sears, Roebuck and Company sold more than 70,000 kit houses through its mail-order catalog, shipping entire homes by rail to towns across America. The Argyle model, a Craftsman bungalow with tapered porch columns and quarter-sawn oak millwork, was among the most popular. When homeowners Sam and Kathleen purchased a neglected
When Susan and Bob Fisher decided to move from a sprawling five-bedroom house on the outskirts of Sag Harbor, New York, into the village proper, they found exactly what they were looking for: a two-story shingled house on a quiet street that allowed them to walk to restaurants, shops, and their business, Fishers Home Furnishings.
