Old House Journal

The Original Restoration Magazine for people who are passionate about old houses to repair, rehabilitate, update, and decorate their homes; covering all classic American architectural styles,—from the earliest Colonial-era buildings to grand Victorians of every variety to Arts & Crafts bungalows and mid-century ranches.

Everybody collects something.

SIDE NOTES

Old House Journal • volume xlx, issue 1

Bits of Arts & Crafts • Artful “smalls” in the spirit of the movement.

In the Shower • Hard-to-find elements for the vintage bath.

Bungalows Galore • Clad in shingles, clapboards, brick, or stucco, Arts & Crafts-era bungalows popped up ca. 1901–1930, some sold as pre-cut kit houses.

AND NOW, THE KITCHEN • Using original bits and vintage pieces, making the kitchen functional was a high priority.

DESIGN

displaying collections ARRANGE TO INSPIRE • People collect all kinds of things: pottery and silverware, sure, but also souvenir Statues of Liberty, vintage quilts, geodes, wind-up toy snails, manual typewriters, seascapes, wax fruit, and tiny succulent houseplants. Regardless of the value (or even the quality) of a collection, how it is displayed makes the difference between its being clutter and art. In a curated display, the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Separate objects become a unit that tells a story. This is true whether the collected objects are hung on a wall, placed on a narrow shelf, arranged in a cabinet—or occupy their own gallery wing.

displaying GLASS

mantel +PLATE RAIL

IN CABINETS

kitchen & pantry

THEY STILL MAKE…

Checklist for a Mid-20s Kitchen • From Gordon–Van Tine Home #602, published in 1926.

Earthy Colors, New Layout • Textured tile and quarter-sawn oak make it a handsome revival kitchen.

RESTORE

reclaiming the attic • Is your house bursting at the seams? Do you long for private office space, a guest retreat, or a kids’ bonus room? The solution might be right over your head: no need to leave the neighborhood, or even put on an addition.

UPTO code • Any attic conversion is subject to building codes for safety reasons that may not at first be apparent, such as structural support and fire hazards. Other attic-specific requirements cover headroom, floor space, access and egress, windows and light, heating and cooling, and ventilation.

ADAMS ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK • Once, every part of a house was hand-made specifically for that structure, especially the windows and doors. While that hasn’t been true in residential construction for decades, it is still the modus operandi at Adams Architectural Millwork of Dubuque, Iowa. Here, all joinery is mortise-and-tenon, fastened permanently with sash pins. Sash and jamb sections are carefully matched by hand, and all windows are hand glazed. The company can replicate virtually any style of window or door.

Building Up and Out • Specialty products for framing or finishing off an attic.

Deep Clean to Save Big • After we got a $50,000 estimate to gut and renovate the bathroom in our 1946 modernist house, I figured I’d tackle the 8' x 8' room myself.

Hinging on Odd Bits • A salvage dealer and a framer team up to create a unique, dimensional picture frame.

Fancy Painted Floors • Borders and checkerboard designs are DIY favorites; you might also try your hand at stenciling or faux effects.

a long TRADITION

Attaching Railing to Post • Whether it’s the repair of an interior staircase or the replacement of a porch balustrade, the project probably will require the attachment of a handrail (and base rail) to a suitable post. The terminal post at the bottom of a staircase is often referred to as the newel post. In fact, any post along the staircase...