Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Fence Options for Every House Style

Building a fence for an old house is seldom an inexpensive proposition. Nonetheless, first investing a little thought into the best fence design can pay big dividends in an attractive feature that unites the building and landscape while enhancing privacy, establishing property boundaries, and protecting children and pets.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Cape Cod Exterior Colors

Twentieth-century Capes sometimes stray from tradition.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

A Landscape Designer’s Own Gardens

An award-winning landscape designer’s own extensive gardens reflect two decades of cultivation and care.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Patterned Brickwork

Decorative masonry in early houses on the Eastern Seaboard.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Musing on Brick Houses, 1929–1955

What are we to make of these fanciful brick houses?

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

What’s a Moon Gate?

The Moon Gate at Blithewold in Rhode Island was built at the turn of the 20th century, but the form goes back to ancient Chinese gardens and remains popular today. 

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Buy the Right Shutters

A primer on real, old-fashioned, appropriate exterior shutters, suitable for old houses, includes weather-resistant options.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Take-Aways From a Colonial Revival Garden

True Colonial-era gardens were practical, rarely ornamental, and relied on edible and medicinal plants.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

The Inspiring Gardens of Blithewold

An eclectic informality is more Arts & Crafts than Gilded Age in the gardens of Blithewold developed between 1893 and 1913.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Glass House Conservatories

Glass house conservatories are different from greenhouses in that they are permanently attached to a building.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Building A New Porch Railing for a 1920s Home

When Bill Ticineto and Jill Chase added a period-appropriate verandah to their 1920s-era home, building a new porch railing for the steps to their side yard was a necessity. Here’s how they did it.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

How to Repair Old Porches

Tips and techniques for restoring and repairing old porches, including repairing porch posts, columns, flooring, skirting and more.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Old-House Hardscaping

A deep dive into landscape materials plus some do-able outdoor projects; a quarry visit; laying a walk; creating a pond.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Recommended Ways to Build a Strong Fence and Garden Gate

Learn the best joinery techniques for a sag-free garden gate.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Modern Outdoor Spaces for Yard & Patio

The family backyard was born in mid-century suburbia. Play areas, patios, barbeques, and pools took the place of work areas and detached garages.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Best Bets for Exterior Building Materials

New old house designers and architects reveal their top picks for authentic exterior building materials.