Vision for an Old House

This hands-on couple have been reading OHJ since its newsletter days. Their forever project is an exemplary unmuddling that took them 22 years. Now the 1880s Queen Anne house is a showpiece in their New Jersey neighborhood.

unmuddling well done : the PROCESS

The biggest project in our 1790 farmhouse would be the kitchen, located in a narrow extension between the original house and the barn (now a garage and bedrooms). The connector, which was there by 1830, probably held a woodshed and summer kitchen. The 1970s owners added a bump-out; another renovation came in the 1990s. By now, the remodeled extension detracted from the integrity of the historic house.

Cottage Style for a Kitchen

Nostalgic details belie the room’s efficiency and storage capacity.

A REMARKABLE COMEBACK FOR A BEAUX ARTS BEAUTY IN ST. LOUIS

Built in 1896, the brick and terra-cotta Beaux Arts mansion needed new systems and repairs. Most remarkable is the addition of period murals and stenciling by the current owner, herself a fi ne artist and accomplished seamstress— who’s worked on the house since its centennial in 1996. Almost everything in the house had survived, or is antique.

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 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.

Small Treasures

Stylish, tactile, and colorful Arts & Crafts tile.

Framing a Pocket Door

For rooms where space is at a premium, pocket doors neatly slide in and out of a wall cavity.

Clean Living

It’s never been more important than now.

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 CHINABERRY KITCHEN

Strong color unifies a revival kitchen in a 1910 Seattle house. A NOT-TOO-BIG HOUSE WITH CURB APPEAL WAS WHAT MARISA MUNOZ WAS LOOKING FOR WHEN SHE CAME UPON THIS ONE ON QUEEN ANNE HILL IN SEATTLE. THE 1910 HOUSE, A TRANSITIONAL FUSION OF LATE-VICTORIAN AND CRAFTSMAN ELEMENTS, HAD JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING SHE WANTED: STEEP GABLES AND PRETTY WINDOWS; ORIGINAL MOULDINGS, HARDWOOD FLOORS, AND A ROMANTIC WINDING STAIRCASE. WELL MAINTAINED, THE HOUSE GENERALLY WAS IN MOVE-IN CONDITION . . . EXCEPT FOR THE KITCHEN.

An ARTIST'S HOUSE

ULTIMATE SALVAGING IN PROVINCETOWN

Brrrringing It Back

A phone niche is useful today for keys, tablet—or telephone.

A STAY OF DEMOLITION

Neglected and then damaged by fire, a historic Queen Anne house is rescued by Indiana Landmarks.

A Principled Synthesis

The new design for a kitchen follows Prairie School doctrine.

Walls & Ceilings

DISCOVER DECORATION you could never dream up! Even early on: It turns out that the murky “colonial” palette of the 1950s–1970s was based on paint samples embedded with dirt and altered by time.

Kitchens & revival baths

As we all know, kitchens have rarely escaped remodeling. Oddly enough, a period-inspired kitchen is less likely to look “dated” because it’s timeless, and takes cues from the rest of the house. Rely on classic, natural materials like wood and stone. For cabinets and millwork, mimic woodwork in the dining room or pantry, but make it simpler rather than grand.

CIRCA 1930 KITCHEN REDO

Functionally modern but thoroughly vintage, this Depression-era kitchen adds character to a Colonial Revival mid-1920s house in Connecticut.

GARDENS FOR A MANSARD

Despite its imposing Second Empire façade, the 1855 Victorian was a farmhouse at heart.

AN ARTS AND CRAFTS BUNGALOW

Inside and out, this 1916 house in Spokane, Washington, retained all of the original detailing. The owners brought out its inherent charm.

Curtains to Carpets

Textiles do not have to be excessive to be effective. The homespun, damasks, and quilts of early American interiors added color and comfort without fussiness.

GARAGES worth a tour

Here’s a look at recent garages, inspired by period houses, which make the most of new space.

Wood Working

Useful items for building, cutting, sanding, or repairing.

OUTDOOR LIGHTS

For the entry and landscape.

The Case for Repairing Wood Windows

Jimmy Carter was President the first time I wrote an article like this one. I have no problem saying it all again.

Revival Kitchen in a Queen Anne

With the look of a butler’s pantry full of built-ins, it’s family-friendly.

THE FOREVER HOUSE

A DIY couple help an already intact house embrace its age—and the new-old kitchen is an achievement!

Furniture Rescues

A self-taught artist transforms old furniture into unique, practical art.

ADDING A CONSERVATORY

Opening up a small, enclosed room with a bank of Queen Anne windows created a sunny retreat that’s perfect for the 1888 house.

Prepping for Exterior Painting

DIY, or hire a pro? Review these stages, all of which are crucial to a lasting paint job, and then decide.

DESIGNING for outdoor spaces SITE PLANNING AND THE ARCHITECTURE

Site planning and a consistent architectural vision made sense of this unique double lot near the sea in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Architect Frank Shirley “integrated two properties and made this a special place to be,” the homeowner says. Outbuildings, two of them newly designed and built, are critical to the overall design, providing not only additional space but also protection from the street. New porches, formal elements of hardscape, and plantings tie it together.