Tag: How-to Projects

New Episode | A Vibrant Georgian Tapestry c1790 | Pond Bridge

Season Two Episode One | The house now stands as a blank canvas—honest, straightforward, and gracefully devoid of pretension and sham. It is ready to live on for another 235 years and, one hopes, will find the same loving stewardship afforded a house and landscape of such Provincial and, dare I say, National importance! This house is, without question, the most well-preserved domestic Georgian I have ever had the pleasure of visiting and exploring.

Benefits of Wooden Storm Windows for Energy Efficiency

Yes, it’s that time of the year. There is a little nip in the air that reminds you to get those storm windows installed. Why not just replace the most character defining element on your home, with plastic windows you ask! Do you know why they are called replacement windows? It’s because you will have to replace them over and over again!  Let’s go over a bit of “What-To”, even a bit of science.

Help Me! Where Do I Start My RENO!

I get asked all the time by clients – how do I start my renovation? The most important document is a plan of renovation and preservation. Rather than bulldozing ahead and tearing-out remodeling of past owners and trying to renovate or preserve piecemeal, the home owner needs a written plan and a well thought out schedule before he or she starts the work.

Powder Room Perfection | Edifice Magazine

Bringing all these elements together helped create a space that is both warm and inviting.  Even though this room is only 18 square feet, paying attention to the little details can create a huge impact in a small area.

Tin Ceiling Conundrum!

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!

A Heritage Landscape | Neo-Classical Fence

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.

Floorcloths | A Fashionable History

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.

The Jacobean Revival | Style Guide

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.

Wood Shingles | A Once Ubiquitous Crown

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! 

Painted Brick? What to do?

Many times I come across houses that have been painted and many of our subscribers ask what to do with the painted bricks and in some case, how you can remove the paint from the brick?

Repairing Antique Hinges

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.

How-To Project One – Prop-It!

Summer is here and it is always nice to prop open your old fashioned guillotine windows (a window devoid of weights and pulleys) and take advantage of cool evening breezes. The problem with this is what to use other than a book (see Image 1). During our visit to the east coast a couple of…

Read More