Without a doubt our most popular homeowner’s workshop ever! – This workshop covers all aspects of Traditional Lime, Brick & Stone Restoration and Repair.
This workshop is completely hands-on and will allow you to remove failing mortar, mix appropriate mortars and place/finish lime mortar like a pro!
“Welcome to Paradise”!!! I replied: “The House or the Town”??? Rick Replied: “Oh geeze… definitely the town”!!!
Introducing the Nova Scotia Homeowner’s Series 2022. LIVE and In-Person – Paradise, Nova Scotia October 1st, 2022
There is a critical shortage of heritage professionals who perform Building Pathology on the vast stock of older houses and commercial buildings across Canada and the United States.
A Yellow Farmhouse Event “Company’s Coming” Antiques & Art Editorial By: Ellen Vanbeek Berry Photography By: Dr. Christopher Cooper My friend Michael Rowan’s visit (a fellow collector and seller) in October 2021 started the ball rolling to organize a small, personable, intimate and credible showing of antiques and art at the Yellow Farmhouse, just outside…
During the restoration of timber elements such as doors, windows, etc., the inevitability of tearing the wood is frequent and sometimes unavoidable.
JOIN US FOR AN IN-PERSON HANDS-ON MASONRY HOMEOWNERS INTENSIVE Saturday July 9th, 2022
Saturday June 11, 2022…. Old House Restoration & Repair for Homeowners – A new approach to help historic homeowners get the high quality, research-informed information they need to repair and restore their most valuable possession… their homes! Now you can take our award winning course from anywhere in the world!
Saturday, June 11, 2022 — Old House Restoration & Repair for Homeowners – A new approach to help historic homeowners get the high quality, research-informed information they need to repair and restore their most valuable possession… their homes! Now you can take our award winning course from anywhere in the world!
“There is a critical shortage of heritage masonry repair professionals who perform small lime masonry repair and repointing jobs on the vast stock of older houses and commercial buildings across Canada and the United States.”
There is a critical shortage of heritage professionals who perform Building Pathology on the vast stock of older houses and commercial buildings across Canada and the United States.
The kitchen has been driving me crazy, mainly because it was in the most miserable condition of all! The tin ceiling had great chunks of lead based paint dangling from it, hmm images of a big pot of stew or soup simmering on the stove with paint chips floating down into it like autumn leaves!
INSPIRATION – Yellow Houses
This lovely 18th century house (circa 1716) is located north of Boston, Massachusetts. These images were taken in the early 1930’s and are a record of both the building and this most remarkable wood fence. I would surmise the fence would date from the mid 19th century, but it has a very Neo-Classical flavour to the design so it could even be earlier.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2022 — The Old House Restoration & Repair for Homeowners – A new approach to help historic homeowners get the high quality, research-informed information they need to repair and restore their most valuable possession… their homes! Now you can take our award winning course from anywhere in the world!
Eastlake – is it a man, a piece of furniture or an architectural design style?
Floorcloths or “Oylcloths” are first mentioned in Britain at the beginning of the eighteenth century. They were painted by humble house painters and often offered in the classical designs used for marble floors by the fashionable architects of the day.
During the last two decades of the nineteenth and first two decades of the twentieth century, American and Canadian architects became well entrenched in the British Arts & Crafts movement, with some embracing elements of the Tudor and Jacobean Revival house styles of the time.
“Bulldoze it”, the man said. “It’s going to fall down; it’s too far gone”.
Their contractor warned wood shingles was more expensive and yet also, not as good. Their contractor was a coward. That last one was my assertion, and it still is!
The jewel in the crown of this splendid building is the 12 over 12 sash windows flanking the central door (where in most Neoclassical design would favour sidelights) with the second floor duplicated for symmetry. Usually, Neoclassical houses follow the form of its earlier interpretation, the Georgian (which the original 1815 house in the rear did) with a typical five-bay symmetry. However, in this case the house is decidedly asymmetrical with the central window and door arrangement.
Belvedere is a room built above the roof for the purpose of obtaining a “fine view” (literal Italian translation).
Edifice Guild Approved | Chance Coombs is a heritage preservationist who specializes in window restoration and masonry.
Dr. Christopher Cooper will take you through the entire documentation and evaluation process – through to the full repair and restoration process of your original wood windows in detailed close-up video step-by-step instructions.
Many wooden doors that have given faithful service for a century or two suffer from sagging because of screw holes which have become, after literally thousands of sharp shocks with closing and opening, too large for the screws. The whole door binds and sags, making it difficult to shut.
I have created a set of drawings in hopes to inspire the reader to recreate this historic landscape in their own front yard!
The old Ice Cream shop in Hubbards Cove, Nova Scotia
Our first long term project home is our frame Victory house built in 1947 located in Brantford, Ontario Canada.
This project is a clear example of what almost any amateur couple can do with a little fore sight and discipline. Money is one of the lesser parts of the equation.
On this episode of the Chris Cooper Show… I will be visiting Carla Emin in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia – Carla is living the proverbial Canadian dream of living in an old house that has been beautifully restored – with a successful business just steps from her back door.
The true sense of a craftsman is the quality of their work! We look at architectural millwork (a.k.a. gingerbread) and are awestruck at the intricacy and workmanship that went into these pieces of wooden art!
The problem with most commercial water collection barrels is they are plastic and unattractive and do not fit in the landscape of a Vintage Home very well.
There was once a little boy who collected bottle caps and candy wrappers, baseball cards and butterflies. This was followed by stamps, coins and cacti. And later still, antiquarian books, collectibles and antique furniture. And, finally, buildings. The latter being the most interesting by far. Now, at age 60, this same little boy; namely myself…
And now I leave you with these thoughts… there is nothing which better creates curb appeal, character and makes a house a home than a beautifully maintained and loved wooden verandah.
I have great affection for abandoned houses. I find them beautiful and somewhat sad in their attempt to prop themselves up and not become merely dust in the landscape. Every-so-often I find myself so enamored with a long forgotten edifice that it almost haunts me, as did a little house I stumbled upon during a…
I enjoy exploring older neighborhoods and looking at the older homes. I pay particular attention to the architectural details and the paint colours used, as this is my special interest. Many people have a fear of painting their house a bold colour such as red however red is a fabulous colour to make both a…
A garden gate becomes an attractive focal point for curb appeal and a welcoming portal to what wonderful delights await on the other side; a loved and cared for garden or the charming and perfectly restored house.
Old Home Living 