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.

Salvage for Richer or Poorer

SIDE NOTES

Old House Journal • VOLUME XL VIII, ISSUE 7

Clean Living • It’s never been more important than now.

Small Treasures • Stylish, tactile, and colorful Arts & Crafts tile.

Arts & Crafts Houses • Houses from the era of the modest bungalow may be surprising, even grand—with elements of Shingle and Colonial Revival styles.

A STAY OF DEMOLITION • Neglected and then damaged by fire, a historic Queen Anne house is rescued by Indiana Landmarks.

DESIGN

the Art of Juxtaposition LIVING LIGHTLY IN A HISTORIC TOWNHOUSE • This Victorian-era brownstone is deeply appreciated by its owners for its fine craftsmanship and age. “My clients respect the house for the same reasons I do,” says interior designer Deborah Mariotti, a transplant to Brooklyn from Italy. “We were responsible for its continued preservation, wherever it remained authentic. In areas where it was not original, though, we had no doubt that we would design contemporary space. It wasn’t even a question.”

The historical thread • “History is not fixed,” says Brooklyn-based designer Deborah Mariotti. “If design is good, over time, it is possible for things added or replaced to join the historical layers of the house.” In this recent renovation, decorative and handmade finishes were chosen for such permanent additions as floor tile, as these were considered to be in keeping with the Victorian brownstone.

The Kitchen Hoosier, 1924 • From a period advertisement for Sellers Kitchen Cabinets.

A Principled Synthesis • The new design for a kitchen follows Prairie School doctrine.

PERIOD CEILING FANS

RESTORE

smart HOUSES WITH THROWBACK INTELLIGENCE • Some of the “smartest” features for managing heating, cooling, hot-water, and other household technologies make room for the best features of the past.

HOT WATER in small packages

leak detection

EVAPORATIVE COOLING

see-through WINDOWS

SHOPTOUR: INNERGLASS WINDOW SYSTEMS • After a frustrating experience with cold, leaky windows and plastic sheeting, David Degling wanted to build a better interior window insert. After the wind ripped out the plastic, David made his own magnetic windows … but “those popped out on my head.”

Gee-Whiz Upgrades • New products for keeping the house cleaner and tighter.

salvage & reuse

Brrrringing It Back • A phone niche is useful today for keys, tablet—or telephone.

about TELEPHONE cabinets

Repairing Pebble-Dash Stucco • Maybe your old house has stucco with the rough, pebbly finish that’s often referred to as “pebble-dash.” Or maybe it’s the variation accurately termed “roughcast.” The difference lies in the aggregate (pebbles) and the method of application. True pebble-dash requires that the wall be finish-coated with fresh stucco while pebbles are literally thrown (dashed) onto the wet surface, where, with any luck, they’ll stick. Most pebble-dash finishes use a sharper gravel to aid in the binding process. Roughcast, on the other hand, is a bit easier for the homeowner to achieve. Either sharp gravel or pebbles may be used, since the aggregate material is added to the wet stucco topcoat during the mixing. Once applied, the thin surface slurry can be removed with a soft sponge, or even by using a misting spray from a hose.

Framing a Pocket Door • For rooms where space is at a premium, pocket doors neatly slide in and out of a wall...