Painted floors were common in American homes throughout the 19th century. Durable paints would seal soft pine flooring which made 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 old tin pan with some gray sand in […]
Early preservation efforts usually focused on landmark buildings associated with important historical figures or events. We call this the “George Washington slept here” principle and explains why so many grand houses have been preserved and restored. But, is that all we should do? My ancestors never lived in mansions or owned plantations. Instead they were farmers, […]
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 caring for and cleaning woodwork and furniture and the apparent need to feed, nourish or moisturize wood. Unfortunately, most […]
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 use these terms following established […]
People who choose a career in Historic Preservation and Cultural Resources Management do so for a variety of reasons. One thing that is common to us all is a deep and abiding interest in preserving our built heritage. This certainly is the case for us at Historic Design Consulting. In an effort to contribute […]
This weekend I heard about an estate sale at a large, 1899 mansion near White Bear Lake, MN and my wife, my visiting parents and I thought we would stop by and see if we could find a few treasures that we couldn’t live without. As tempted as I was to buy an 18th century […]
A few weeks ago I spotted a log cabin in Watertown, MN that had recently had its old clapboard siding and a kitchen addition removed. Since I wasn’t able to stop and take a closer look I kept driving and hoped that I might make it back before the building had disappeared. A couple of […]
Charles Locke Eastlake (1836-1906) was a British-born furniture designer and among the most influential figures in architecture and design in the last half of the 19th century. Although his early designs were shaped by William Morris’s use of floral and medieval motifs, Eastlake later developed his own, distinctive style which emphasized angular detailing with shallow, […]
I just had the great pleasure of being the first interview on Nick Slavic’s Ask A Painter Facebook Livecast program where we talked for two full hours about historic paints, varnishes, finishes and historic preservation and gave a quick look at The Landing in Shakopee, MN. Nick hosts his live program each week on Facebook and gives […]
I grew up in a rural community in Northwest Iowa and have always had an interest in rural history and the people who lived in small towns. As a kid I spent many days visiting my Grandparents in the farm community of Early, IA in the 1970s. Even at that time Early (which had a population of […]