Welcome to Old House Online

Renovation DIY and old-house restoration, traditional styles, period kitchens, historical decorating, period gardens, from colonial and Victorian through Arts & Crafts and Mid-century Modern: all from Old-House Journal magazine and special-interest titles Old-House Interiors, New Old House, and Early Homes.

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The Latest

Old House Styles

International Style, 1923–1970

Rare residential examples of International Style are an expression of early Modernism.

Web Exclusives

How Rock Face Block Brings History Back To Life

A look at how The Palmer Machine allowed construction of rock face blocks on-site, which improved the ease of construction and reduced transportation costs.

Garden Design

A Mid-Century Modern Garden Design

A renowned collector of all things Mid-century Modern lets his motifs spill into the landscape.

Doors & Windows

Restoring Casement Windows

Lately, casement windows have been on my mind. No surprise: my 1913 Adirondack-style cottage has a dozen wood casements—and they all need work. Unlike double-hung sash windows that move up and down, casement windows swing outward, inward, or occasionally upward, turning on hinges attached to one edge of the frame.

House Tours

Elegance & Whimsy for an Italian Villa

The charming house in Greene County, New York, has been faithfully restored: foundation and structure, exterior elements, and the trim inside. The new kitchen, still in the expected place at the back of the house, is now a family gathering space. Upstairs, a twin bedroom is a trip to fantasyland. Creativity and warmth run throughout.

House Tours

International Style, 1923–1970

Rare residential examples of International Style are an expression of early Modernism.

House Tours

Elegance & Whimsy for an Italian Villa

The charming house in Greene County, New York, has been faithfully restored: foundation and structure, exterior elements, and the trim inside. The new kitchen, still in the expected place at the back of the house, is now a family gathering space. Upstairs, a twin bedroom is a trip to fantasyland. Creativity and warmth run throughout.

House Tours

Garage & Outbuilding Styles for Old Houses

A well-designed garage does more than stable automobiles. It may by its placement create a private courtyard. It can block noise or a neighbor, or add balance if it’s part of the house. Today’s garages are also storage units and potting sheds; they may accommodate a home office or guest suite. Because a garage is new construction requiring everything from permits to utilities, it’s worth taking time to design one that works now and for the future—say, when electric-vehicle charging stations are a common requirement.

House Tours

Restoring A Gilded Age Mansion in St. Louis

Remarkably authentic, the interior of this 1886 house in St. Louis is an effusive ode to all things Victorian. Now it serves as the ultimate backdrop to a lifetime collection.

House Tours

Restoring a Raised Tybee Cottage

Resisting the build-bigger trend, partners restore and freshen a vernacular raised cottage dating to 1930.

House Tours

A Nantucket Original Saltbox

Restoring an historic 18th-Century Cape Cod-style saltbox house in Nantucket.

House Tours

A Rustic Catskills House Preserved

Preservation of a rustic yet majestic 1930 summer house in the Catskills’ Twilight Park involved updating systems from outside to save wood-clad walls.

House Tours

Cobblestone Cottage

The ca. 1840 cobblestone cottage survives because of a woman’s stewardship.

Repairs & How To

Restoring Casement Windows

Lately, casement windows have been on my mind. No surprise: my 1913 Adirondack-style cottage has a dozen wood casements—and they all need work. Unlike double-hung sash windows that move up and down, casement windows swing outward, inward, or occasionally upward, turning on hinges attached to one edge of the frame.