Bare but for a thin skin of paint, modern walls are a stylistic aberration. For most of our history, the lower wall has been decently dressed in decorative wood paneling. Old-House Interiors January/February 2011
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Editor’s Note
Early in my career I spent time with a Canadian preservation architect who viewed my populist old-house magazine with just a little disdain. He appreciated its celebration of the historic, in a country obsessed with newness. But he felt that having tribes of amateurs, of varying tastes and means, out there ripping out plaster and installing new kitchens would erode the historical record. “Benign neglect” was something preservationists loved, and, being someone who often prefers the “before” pictures, I understood. Still, I argued then that most of these fixer-uppers were destined to be remodeled or even razed; at least the restoration movement introduced mindfulness and options.
Thirty years on, I know that’s true. Sure, some good old work and unique features were obliterated by renovation. But houses have always been updated and changed. We live in our houses in present time, and we too become part of their history and evolution. Magazines like this one bring up thoughtful points about history, style, appropriateness, and longevity, but they do not seek to turn owners into curators, or to insist that everything old is a precious historical document. As renovators can attest, sometimes it was just someone else’s hasty, cheapskate, or poor decision rendered in wood or concrete.
The fact is that today, old houses—from colonial survivors right up to handsome mid-century ranches—are widely respected. Many more tradespeople and artisans devote themselves to sensitive renovation and even conservation. A reproductions market offers building elements, fixtures, and furnishings well above the average in quality and taste. In this issue you’ll see three approaches. In a Craftsman kitchen, the owners realized that the original cabinets—and what’s left of the original plan—were worth preserving. They replaced tentative 1970s make-dos with cabinets and fixtures sympathetic to the 1910 house. When it comes to a grand Victorian, unflinching preservation would suggest that the stripped roof and missing porch be left as a monument to changing tastes and budget concerns in the late 20th century. The house deserved better, and was restored. Finally, we see how an inconsequential house, egregiously remodeled, was reconfigured with appreciation of the original stone foundation and walls, interesting roof lines, and Arts & Crafts spirit. Hoopla!
Patricia Poore, Editor of Old-House Interiors
