Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Shrubs for Every Old House

Without landscaping, even the most charming period home will appear incomplete. Shrubs are a common, traditional accompaniment to old houses, and they can be planted in a variety of formations with historical precedent—from foundation plantings to topiaries to walls of plants across the horizon.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Classic Plants for Historic Gardens

Classic bedding plants like dahlias, coleus, impatiens, and petunias have long been American garden favorites. Their seemingly timeless appeal stems in part from their consistent beauty and ease of growth—but scientific innovations play a part, too.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Slate Roof Stand-Ins

A buyer’s guide to man-made substitutes for natural stone.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Guide to Vintage Lightning Rods

Much has changed since the early days of lightning protection, when it was widely believed that the glass balls adorning lightning rods were an indicator of whether the rods were functioning properly. We now know that the glass balls were purely decorative—in fact, the balls’ different patterns and colors were how installers advertised their businesses.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Choosing Victorian Paint Colors

Author Brian Coleman gives us the inside scoop on how he selected the Victorian house paint colors for his fanciful Queen Anne.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

How To Prevent Lightning Damage

Prevent lightning damage with lightning rods.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Creating Colorful Curb Appeal

Coordinating your garden with your paint scheme can pump up your home’s overall allure.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Porch Details for Every Era

Old catalogs yield clues to appropriate styles for columns and other millwork.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Stylish Sheds

When choosing stylish sheds for your garden, consider the design, adaptability, and placement.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Town House Façade Facelift

G. P. Schafer Architect refreshes a New York City town house façade.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Re-creating a 1912 Garden

The estate gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand are hardly known for their coziness—or for low-maintenance demands.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Ornamenting the Roof

Add a decorative touch to your roof with finials and filigree, weathervanes, chimney pots, and fancy shapes.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Windows for New Old Houses

For convincing new-old windows, every detail counts.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Gardens of Colonial Virginia

The many gardens at Williamsburg are a primary source for colonial and revival designs.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Gutter Talk

Four common gutter questions answered.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

How To Grow Heirloom Tomatoes

You can grow heirloom tomatoes in your yard with a few simple steps.