Home
Old House Journal
designing built-in living spaces
I want an alcove just for me. Kind of like a hideout separate from the commotion in the rest of the house from which to read, write, nap, or just daydream. I want to be aware of the action in the house but be able to turn my shoulder politely and be by myself. So goes the design brief from one of our clients. She's not alone in her desire for personal scale and place-making in home design; this is a common human need.
1 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
ASK OHJ
For the past year or so, the brick surround of my fireplace (below the opening, underneath a stone hearth) has been producing a white-ish dust.
4 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
a bungalow Out West
A restoration prodigy restores a 1915 Arts & Crafts bungalow in Sheridan, Wyoming, and that leads to a successful career.
2 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
Just the way it was
Original elements remain in this 1914 Prairie-influenced house: handsome wood and leaded windows, the brick fire-place, wainscot and trim, and even kitchen cabinets. Deftly added upgrades in period mode enhance the exemplary restoration.
2 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
Matching Old Mouldings
There comes a time in the life of every old-house owner when we need to match a section of existing wood moulding.
4 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
Victorian Update
A sophisticated kitchen renovation corrects anachronisms in an 1891 house undergoing restoration.
2 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
NEW INSULATION FOR OLD WALLS
If after insulating the attic, weather-stripping windows, and addressing infiltration, an energy audit recommends upgrading wall insulation, the first step is to find out what's already in there, if anything.
1 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
Finishing Secrets FOR FURNITURE-GRADE TRIM
Whether you're staining a door, built-in cabinetry, or any of the millwork in between, follow these steps for a flawless finish.
5 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
art deco BATHS IN BLACK & WHITE
OWNERS OF A 1926 HOUSE DECIDE TO LOOK BACK TO THE ERA WHEN IT WAS BUILT, EMBRACING BOLD LUXURY.
2 min |
January - February 2026
Old House Journal
English Garden Inspiration
In what was an old Columbus schoolyard, Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects introduce a profusion of color and pattern.
2 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
SHIFTING SANDS
Architectural precision and unbridled imagination join forces in this globally inspired Florida beach home.
3 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
the main event
Imagined history and contemporary comforts come together in a renovated compound on Nantucket.
2 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
pastoral symphony
An unassuming compound of vernacular structures is at one with this tranquil spot in New England.
3 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
Classic Transformation
As a team, an architect and an interior designer take a blank canvas and create an elegant, traditional living space.
3 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
REVOLUTIONARY LANDSCAPE
Dan Gordon Landscape Architects creates historical gardens in Concord, Massachusetts.
3 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
Carolina CHARM
Traditional details and enthusiastic collections, well curated, lend interest and personality to a beachside retreat damaged by a hurricane and reimagined by architect J. E. Schram.
2 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
ISLAND inspired
Having bought a small cottage near the marina in Lyford Cay, in The Bahamas, the new owners came to the architecture team with a singular driving vision for its redesign.
1 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
view finder
Turning a dated Cape Cod Home into the ultimate summer getaway-complete with a classic kitchen.
2 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
calming shades
design accents
1 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
TO THE HAMPTONS, with love
THIS SHINGLE STYLE BEAUTY CELEBRATES THE ART OF SUMMERING IN SOUTHAMPTON.
3 min |
Winter 2026
Old House Journal
AVOID 10 ENERGY RETROFIT MISTAKES
Ventilate right. Installing a stylish and powerful range hood fan often means installing makeup air, too. In a tight house, makeup air allows the hood to do its job without causing unintended issues.
1 min |
November - December 2025
Old House Journal
Mid-Century Rising
Boasting architectural integrity and solid construction, these modernist houses of the 1950s are coveted.
1 min |
November - December 2025
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 |