Tread and riser, baluster and handrail: a staircase can be merely utilitarian or a stunning work of art. There are many ways to build a staircase—box or spiral, dogleg or winding—and infinitely more ways for these complex structures to develop creaks, sags, or leans.
It’s one thing to love an old house, another to take one on. Restoration can be intimidating; still, the rare sort of homeowner thrives on the work, typically describing their characterful money pit as “a fun project.”
Not every old house is destined for restoration in full period style. But more can be saved from demolition if tax credits are used to justify rehabilitation costs.
Converting a 1910 Shingle Style house with no air conditioning to one with a whole-house system was not something I took lightly. I have spent my life restoring old houses. If HVAC was in my future it had better be efficient and virtually invisible.
Antique windows are one of the enchanting architectural elements that set an older home apart. While I’m an equal opportunity lover of all old windows, my expertise comes from restoring my 1886 Victorian, which has double-hung sash operated on ropes and pulleys.