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Old House Journal
a farmhouse called HANFORD CASTLE
Back in 1890, clean air and simple living were the goals of Edwin and Carrie Hanford and their five children, who'd left crowded Chicago for Oakesdale, a small farming community in the heart of eastern Washington's Palouse countryside. Here amidst softly rolling hills covered by wheat fields, they created a 230-acre farm to grow apples, pears, and plums. In 1896, they built a Victorian “castle” on a promontory overlooking the property. The Hanford family descendants continued to live here for the next century. Terri Gravelle and Paul Matthews purchased it in 1989.
2 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
STATELY CHEER
Festive yet admirably curated, this room in a historic New York City apartment is set for celebration of the winter holidays.
2 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
RESTORING the grandeur
A PEDESTRIAN RENOVATION IN THE 1990S OBSCURED THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF THIS 1912 COLONIAL REVIVAL HOUSE. USING AN APPROPRIATE CLASSICAL VOCABULARY, ARCHITECT FRANK SHIRLEY MADE IT STATELY AND LIVABLE.
2 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
Twelve Restoration Blunders to Avoid
Don't let poor planning and unrealistic expectations destroy a great old house.
10+ min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
Routing a Door for Hinges
Here's a simple way to create an inexpensive jig that lets you cut hinge mortises for multiple doors.
3 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
Character with Modesty
With remarkable attention to detail, the owner created a period kitchen that's both functional and perfect for the 1925 house.
2 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
how to choose COLORS
There are no rules, but a bit of color theory and some expert tips will make your decisions easier.
5 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
Tiled with Personality ARTISANAL BEAUTY
Handmade architectural tile has unmistakable characteristics that can’t be captured by manufactured tile.
5 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
ON A Victorian High
Inspired by their penchant for touring 19th-century house museums, a couple went looking for a spectacular mansion.
5 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
BEST BATH FOR A FLAPPER GIRL
Our bathroom was a glimpse into the more glamorous past of our old house. Though leaks had damaged it, restoration clues were abundant.
2 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Gothic Overtones
Decorative bargeboards, crenellation, roof cresting, and steep verticals: clues to Gothic Revival style.
1 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Maine Addition
Elegant in its simplicity, the kitchen occupies an addition to a 1760s Cape.
1 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
RESTORE A WOOD WINDOW SASH
When repairs are in order, a steam box, an easel, and two-part epoxy are your best friends. The work is simple, if tedious, but your reward is original window sash that works the way it was designed to and that will last for decades to come.
9 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Fabulous Finish for an Exterior Door
Beautify a wood door with dye, stain, varnish, and a commitment to doing the process right.
9 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Bright and Early
From the earliest days of America, these designs remain fresh.
3 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Brookside evolved
A Colonial-era house expanded in the 1830s was restored by the removal of boxy 20th-century add-ons. The old dairy barn became a complementary living space.
4 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Make a Statement
We found some signature pieces that offer style with history.
3 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
Mortar for Old Masonry
There’s no one-size-fits- all mix. Choosing the right mortar depends on the age, material, and condition of the masonry.
5 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
mastery of RESTRAINT
A CHARMING DWELLING, ONE OF THREE ROW HOUSES BUILT IN 1790, IS BROUGHT BACK TO LIGHT AND LIFE. BY PETER B. THOMSEN / PHOTOS BY ANICE HOACHLANDER
3 min |
October 2025
Old House Journal
natural simplicity
A FEW ELEMENTS OF DESIGN, DEFTLY HANDLED, BROUGHT A MID-CENTURY GLASS HOUSE BACK TO ITS BETTER SELF.
2 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
INVISIBLE REPAIRS for a Hardwood Floor
The key to restoring flooring is finding boards that match and then installing them with care.
3 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
With Swedish Arts & Crafts Precedent
The spirit of Swedish artists Carl and Karin Larsson comes through in a colorful, light-filled new kitchen.
1 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
PRESERVATION AND RENEWAL FOR ACLASSIC
As Seattle's population burgeoned, a local developer hired the Olmsted Brothers firm, in 1905, to design a park-like neighborhood, with curving, tree-lined boulevards, on what had been the site of logging activity and sawmills, southeast of downtown.
2 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
Seven Ways to Remove Paint
Depending on the job, any paint-stripping option may be best—or a failure. Consider cost, effort, health risks, and potential damage to the wood.
5 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
A Grand Rescue on the Coast
This 1892 Queen Anne house, never remodeled but long neglected, gets upgrades from new foundation drainage to picture rails reinstalled. Antiques and fine finishes dress every room.
3 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
designing the perfect Garden Gate
Tucked into a fence, an arbor, a hedge, or a wall, the gate beckons us toward the entry or into garden rooms beyond. It may be purely decorative, or a discreet property marker-or it might provide privacy and even security.
2 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
air-sealing BASICS
Look high and low to find and plug air leaks that cost you money and comfort.
5 min |
July - August 2025
Old House Journal
FROM CARRIAGE HOUSE TO A RESIDENCE
On Boston's North Shore, a historic estate building becomes a home.
2 min |
Renovation Lookbook 2025
Old House Journal
lighting+ hardware
ELECTRIC-ERA lighting comes in all styles, from traditional reproductions of antique fixtures to whimsical new forms and space-age interpretations.
2 min |
Renovation Lookbook 2025
Old House Journal
wall & floor tiles
TILE IS, OF COURSE, found throughout the house, not just in the kitchen and bath.
1 min |