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Old House Journal
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.
3 min |
October - November 2020
Old House Journal
An ARTIST'S HOUSE
ULTIMATE SALVAGING IN PROVINCETOWN
3 min |
October - November 2020
Old House Journal
Brrrringing It Back
A phone niche is useful today for keys, tablet—or telephone.
2 min |
October - November 2020
Old House Journal
A STAY OF DEMOLITION
Neglected and then damaged by fire, a historic Queen Anne house is rescued by Indiana Landmarks.
2 min |
October - November 2020
Old House Journal
A Principled Synthesis
The new design for a kitchen follows Prairie School doctrine.
2 min |
October - November 2020
Old House Journal
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.
5 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
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.
1 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
CIRCA 1930 KITCHEN REDO
Functionally modern but thoroughly vintage, this Depression-era kitchen adds character to a Colonial Revival mid-1920s house in Connecticut.
7 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
GARDENS FOR A MANSARD
Despite its imposing Second Empire façade, the 1855 Victorian was a farmhouse at heart.
2 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
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.
3 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
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.
3 min |
September 2020
Old House Journal
GARAGES worth a tour
Here’s a look at recent garages, inspired by period houses, which make the most of new space.
4 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
Wood Working
Useful items for building, cutting, sanding, or repairing.
1 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
OUTDOOR LIGHTS
For the entry and landscape.
1 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
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.
2 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
Revival Kitchen in a Queen Anne
With the look of a butler’s pantry full of built-ins, it’s family-friendly.
2 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
THE FOREVER HOUSE
A DIY couple help an already intact house embrace its age—and the new-old kitchen is an achievement!
4 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
Furniture Rescues
A self-taught artist transforms old furniture into unique, practical art.
2 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
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.
2 min |
July - August 2020
Old House Journal
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.
3 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
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.
3 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
Reproducing HISTORIC Wallpapers
Wallpaper remains the quintessential room decoration. If you’re looking for a historic or specific pattern, be encouraged.
10+ min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
Exotic Comforts in a Master Suite
If the bedroom in your 1882 Queen Anne Victorian has a gilded ceiling, what is the bathroom like?
2 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
The Siding Question
To refresh siding on your house, look for materials close to the original in cut, grain, dimension, and appearance.
3 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
Collecting Enchantment
What if you bought a Victorian farmhouse and, endeavoring to learn about the period, became entranced? You might design Aesthetic and Rococo parlors, a Sheraton Revivaldining room, and a kitchen with Anglo–Japanese notes.
5 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
Avondale Farm AN IMAGINATIVE REBIRTH
The ca. 1735 house was disassembled and rebuilt on a new foundation, a rescued 1742 banquet hall appended to it, an addition in Greek Revival style built for the kitchen, and a Maine barn added to the property.
2 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
Chairs Become Dog Beds
A dog-loving couple create unique pet furniture.
2 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
An Artful Approach FOR A 1755 COLONIAL
Attracting the right owners through subsequent generations, this Connecticut house remains true to its period.
4 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
A UNIQUE RESCUE
This couple refurbished an “obsolete” duplex dwelling, built-in 1899 as factory-worker housing.
1 min |
June 2020
Old House Journal
REMEDIES FOR STAINLESS STEEL
The best approach to refreshing a scratched stainless steel surface is to clean and polish the entire sink, using the least abrasive methods possible, plus a lot of elbow grease.
3 min |