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

We have a solution to decreasing noise pollution inside an old house.

Stained glass windows add color and appeal, changing the quality of the interior light and lending another dimension to the room’s design.

Old conservatory windows found at a salvage yard became pocket doors separating bedrooms.

The country vernacular.

Options for blocking exterior noise keep improving: no need to replace original, single-glazed windows. Secondary glazing can go inside or out.

Glazing—the glass configuration chosen for windows and doors—can transform interior environments by bringing in light and by opening or concealing views; glass allows connection between interior spaces and to the outdoors.

It should be understood that conserving old windows is the “greenest” option: they are endlessly repairable and easy to upgrade for energy efficiency and comfort. For those buying replacement windows, find good news in recent aesthetic improvements.

Clear glass may not do the trick in a bathroom. But you shouldn’t sacrifice light, ventilation, or beauty in the quest for seclusion—not when so many period-friendly options await.

From transforming antique doors into a fireplace surround or building a shelf using salvaged corbels and fence boards, we show you six different ways to breathe new life into old items.

In a sleeping porch, the original slide-away windows got yanked once too often.

Why settle for a blackout shade when you can ornament the window with a screen of wrought iron and blown glass? It can be plain—or fancy!

Learn how to keep warm throughout the winter with thermal tune-ups for your windows.