Mary Ellen Polson

Products of the Week

Hand-sanded and hand-finished solid white oak, cherry, and mahogany cabinets, dressers, tables, chairs, beds, and armoires.

HVAC & Retrofit Systems

A central heating and cooling system using "aspiration" technology to warm and cool homes evenly and quietly with flexible small ducts that weave through ceilings, walls, and even floors.

Brass, Bronze & Copper Hardware

Classic-style door hardware, engineered for new construction or historic renovation, lacquer-coated, solid brass, patterned after original antique hardware, passage, privacy, mortise lock, or dummy sets and cabinet hardware and accessories.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

The definition of “Americana” has shifted since a first wave of interest ca. 1820, but nostalgic collecting has always been diverse and tied to our enjoyment of artifact.

Flooring takes the brunt of surface wear and tear, but woodwork gets its share of abuse as well. (Photo: Fotolia.com/Ruggiero Scardigno)

Repairs & How To

Old-growth wood trim and flooring may last practically forever, but finishes are ephemeral. They need refreshing when they begin to look worn and dirty.

Repairs & How To

Want a safe, efficient fireplace? Make sure the chimney is in tiptop condition.

Brick is a stalwart, almost always appropriate for use around an old house.

Old House Gardens & Exteriors

Wood columns, balustrades, and even fretwork can last decades provided they’re cut from long-lived, dimensionally stable wood with a low moisture content.

Repairs & How To

Porch season is in full swing—a perfect reason to refresh your garden structures and outdoor railings.

A six-panel door on a colonial-era house is topped with a transom of bullseye glass.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

Whether welcoming guests at the entry or hiding the contents of a closet, traditional doors are a key element of period millwork.

Digital

E-newsletters

Minimize the impact of a built-in dishwasher by hiding it behind a panel matching the rest of the cabinets.

Kitchen Furnishings & Appliances

Hiding the appliances was standard practice for period-inspired kitchens, but that’s no longer the case. Market innovations allow you to choose among multiple approaches in your design.

Repairs & How To

Three DIY ways to give your front door a new look.

Another task on the Selenys' kitchen to-do list is to re-chrome their vintage Chambers stove.

Kitchen Furnishings & Appliances

Find someone near you who can restore your vintage stove or refrigerator with this state-by-state directory.

A quintessential colonial revival entrance hall is complete with a raised-panel wainscot and bold moldings.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

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 paneling and various wainscoting styles.

In the original great room of an Arts & Crafts house, very plain lamps on industrial arms throw light toward the beautifully stenciled ceiling. Antique lamps add ambiance.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

High-tech lighting illuminates places that period lamps don’t reach.

On new wide-plank pine boards in a ca. 1700 house, the edges were beveled down to make the floor look old.

Interiors & Decorative Accessories

Original wood floors are a prized feature—when they have survived. For those looking to approximate one, our experts explain what an authentic floor should look like.