We frequently read and hear about historic buildings and other structures being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However, it isn’t clear to many what the National Register is and what it really does. Does it protect a house from demolition? Does it prevent owners from building an addition, Read more…
There are many differences between woodworking in today’s machine age and the 19th century. Contemporary carpenters and furniture makers rely on drawings, dimensions, and precise measurements to help them plan and build things. Before the Industrial Revolution, however, things were very different. 19th century house joiners certainly did rely on Read more…
Our recent cold snap has led to a few questions about insulating historic homes, thermal efficiency, windows, doors and much more. I thought I would outline a few things that you should consider when trying to improve the thermal efficiency of your older home. Generally speaking, houses lose heat in Read more…
We all know there is plenty of advice on the internet and that some of it is very good and some of it is poor. One topic that I encounter frequently as a preservation consultant is the care of historic woodwork and furniture and the apparent need to feed, nourish Read more…
Painted Floors in the Victorian Home Painted floors were common in American homes throughout the 19th century. Durable paints would seal soft pine flooring making them less liable to stain and easier to clean. An 1850 edition of Miss Leslie’s Lady’s House Book recommends cleaning heavily soiled, common pine floors using: “an Read more…
During the last half of the 19th century popular literature often focused on proper housekeeping and home maintenance. Pamphlets, magazines, almanacs and advertising emphasized the necessity of maintaining a neat and clean home where the family could thrive in an orderly environment. This sort of literature was particularly popular for Read more…
When we read about historic architecture we often encounter the terms restoration, renovation, conservation or rehabilitation. However, these terms have very specific meanings when used in particular contexts which can be quite different from how they are commonly understood. It can be especially confusing when speaking to preservation professionals who Read more…
CNN’s website has a nice article describing some preservation wins and losses in 2015. I find it encouraging to see coverage of preservation efforts in the popular media as it suggests that the idea of preserving our built heritage has become more mainstream and less the provenance of academics and architecture Read more…
In a previous post I described the importance of the paint can in the history of house painting. Rather than having to mix white lead, oil, pigments and driers in a bucket at the job site, painters and homeowners alike were able to buy cans of prepared and tinted paint. Read more…