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Old House Journal
Something to Come Home To
Tweaks that up your curb appeal and make you smile. By Mary Ellen Polson
2 min |
May - June 2025
Old House Journal
OUR RENAISSANCE FOURSQUARE
We were happy to finally get the chance to restore this unique home.
1 min |
May - June 2025
Old House Journal
Carpenter's Friends
For the skilled and discerning woodworker.
1 min |
May - June 2025
Old House Journal
NEWEL RENEWEL
To bring back a longneglected staircase, the owner resorted to gently stripping, cleaning, and refinishing the newel posts and balustrade.
2 min |
May - June 2025
Old House Journal
uncovering the charm
An eye-popping restoration followed when the owners removed faceless aluminum siding to find a handsome brick exterior with original details intact.
5 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
A Touchup for Knotty Pine
More than a simple cleaning, this process removes grime and a tired finish while preserving the mellow quality of vintage knotty pine.
3 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
Quick Fixes
Do it fast but do it well.
1 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
the KITCHEN UPFRONT
When this 1880s Philadelphia house was built, the kitchen was undoubtedly in a different location.
3 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
MORE THAN A HOUSE MOVING
even good smells can be too much Homeowner Jeremy Stock insisted that he and Danielle not only needed a stove vent but that they'd need a very efficient one that would vent steam, smoke, and smells to the outside.
2 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
A Pattern Match
The discovery of a patch of historic linoleum led to the re-creation of an 1890s-style floor, using paint and vinyl.
5 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
the door IN ITS FRAME
The frame is often overlooked as a key component to a properly operating entry door.
10 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
bathroom inspirations TIPS, TRICKS, HACKS FOR ROOMS OF REASONABLE SIZE & BUDGET
Even considering the usually small square footage, the bathroom in an older house is often the most challenging design conundrum during renovations.
5 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
Sunshine in a Cottage Kitchen
A happy room demonstrates that simplicity often underlies good design.
2 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
A REWARDING EXPERIENCE!
We revitalized a long-forgotten building on a prominent corner and would do it again.
2 min |
March - April 2025
Old House Journal
faded luxe IN A RETURN TO SAVANNAH
Residents of the Blue Ridge Mountains find their city home in a converted commercial building in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.
2 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
a hudson valley VERNACULAR
When Harlan Bratcher started looking for a country house in New York, in 1990, he knew what he wanted-something peaceful and serene, an escape from the hectic lifestyle of Manhattan.
3 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
the Dr. Mills house RESTORED
In rural Washington State, a dedicated couple bring back a 1912 bungalow that once had been the town's hospital.
3 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
The Right Masonry Tool for Repointing
The mortar between individual bricks or stones begins to erode after many years. That might be attributed to rain and wind, leaky gutters, building settlement, or such chemical agents as de-icing salts.
1 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
How To Remove Wallpaper
There's more than one way to do it; try them all until you find what works for your situation.
5 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
living with PLASTICS anxiety
Plastics are ubiquitous in modern life. Even houses built long before vinyl caught on are now full of polymer-based products, from the hoses in pull-down faucets to plastic light switches. Now that we know exposure to certain plastics can be hazardous to human health, we need guidance on how to evaluate building products for potential impacts.
3 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
homey Craftsman Textiles today
For bungalows, Craftsman houses, and Tudors that might have rather severe woodwork and furniture, textiles are a critical part of the decorative scheme.
2 min |
January - February 2025
Old House Journal
Navigating the Lumberyard - Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard.
Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard. Almost everyone fixing an old house will end up at a lumberyard-whether it's a local supplier or the organized aisles of a big-box home-improvement store.
5 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
a farmhouse renewed
Sensitive renovations and restoration work preserved a house that dates to 1799.
3 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
AN OVERVIEW OF METAL ROOFING
METAL ROOFS ARE RESURGENT, FOR GOOD REASONS.
1 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
ENDURING BEAUTY IN WALLS of STONE
Now back in the family who had been here since 1830, the old farmhouse is again ready for generations to come. Additions dating to 1840 and the 1950s were preserved.
3 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS COME TO LIFE
Owners and their designer celebrate the unique features of a 1912 Arts & Crafts Tudor.
2 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
For a Wet Basement Wall
If there's problem common to old houses, it's a wet basement. I'm not talking about occasional flooding, but rather a basement that apparently seeps or leaks after even a rain shower or during snowmelt. Several approaches are available; sustainable solutions will get to the root of the problem.
1 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
Patching a Plaster Wall
Fix a hole in the wall with a few common tools and some drywall supplies. Practice your technique!
4 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
Roofing & Siding
Make note of these historical and unusual materials for the building envelope.
1 min |
September - October 2024
Old House Journal
The Riddle of the water
When water incursion happens, the roof isn't necessarily the culprit. Maybe snaking a drain line, or clearing debris from a clogged gutter, temporarily will stem a leak. But a recurring problem usually means other forces are at work. It takes persistence-and a team with the right skills and patience—to identify the source and apply a solution.
4 min |