Old House Journal July/August 2022

Renovating comes with highs and lows. I’m pleased that most of my decisions have held up and I now enjoy living here. It’s ecstasy when perennials re-emerge, and when I find I still like the colors I painstakingly chose 25 years ago. Still, mine is a wood house on the New England coast, so rot happens. Cyclical repairs don’t create the sinking feeling of being told foundation timbers need replacing, but they do cause temporary agony to the checking account. A new homeowner asked me: What would I change if I had it to do over? I could write a (boring) book! Some top-of-my-head advice in bullet points: RENOVATION: Run electrical lines, plumbing chases, and ductwork early, even to spaces you’re not ready to finish. Going back later is disruptive and…

MID-CENTURY DESIGNERS The newest book about the work of Charles and Ray Eames is from the European publisher Poligrafa. It introduces key works by the American couple known for their contributions to architecture, industrial and furniture design, and photography. At the same time, Poligrafa is releasing a book on Charlotte Perriand, the French architect and furniture designer who collaborated with Le Corbusier … and another on Eileen Gray, a previously overlooked furniture designer and architect whose work inspired both Art Deco and modernism. The publisher’s “Objects and Furniture” series has covered iconic modern designers from Mies to Saarinen; out-of-print titles are usually available through vintage book sellers or through amazon.com. CHARLES AND RAY EAMES: Objects and Furniture Design Poligrafa, 08/30/2022; $30. From artbook.com/poligrafa.html…

1. EARTH-FRIENDLY TUB Reconnect to the land with the Avalon 62" NativeStone bathtub, shown in Earth. Hand-formed and -polished with thick, heat-retaining walls, the tub is an eco-conscious blend of natural jute and cement that weighs less than expected. $8,990. Native Trails, (800) 786-0862, nativetrailshome.com 2. PIE SAFE IN SOUTHWEST AQUA The Fable Porch Shaker pie safe is finished in a certain blue over a Sicily rub, resulting in a Southwestern turquoise blue. The handmade piece comes in seven wood species and thousands of custom finishes. It measures 34" wide x 48" high x 15" deep: $1,776. March Legend, (866) 611-5224, marchlegend.com 3. TRUE BRICK Due to their high compressive strength, traditional square-edged Pathway pavers are suitable for residential driveways and walks. Made of naturally sustainable clay in a range of colors, they’re able to…

1. TELLING TIME The aluminum Sundial Armillary is a full 26" wide and may be mounted on a contrasting black pedestal. Sturdily made, the sculptural piece tells the hour if aligned to true north when mounted. It’s $299; optional 30" x 12" pedestal is $459. Garden Artisans, (410) 672-0082, gardenartisans.com 2. RECOVER YOUR WICKER Newly available stateside, the Liberty Garden outdoor collection includes their Persian Jacquard, an Arts & Crafts-inspired botanical in coral, peach, and pink. [Similar furniture: sikadesignusa.com] Pair it with basket-weave Arbor fabric in Fennel. Colorway sets include Lacquer (shown), Jade, Pewter, and Lapis. To the trade. Fabricut, (800) 999-8200, fabricut.com 3. READY TO VINE Constructed of kiln-dried, select Western red cedar, Catalina Estate Lattice finished with copper-topped pyramid post caps discreetly screens a private area or trains vining plants. A 3x6-foot panel…

PORTERVILLE, CA / $589,900 With exposed rafter tails at both corner bays (one square, one rounded), this 1911 Prairie-style Craftsman house has a roof that appears to float. Inside find never-painted box-beam ceilings, paneling, and woodwork. ESCONDIDO, CA / $2,340,000 The 1896 Albert H. Beach house is capped with elaborate cresting on its gabled roofs and widow’s walk. The fully restored interior is lavished in period room-set wallpapers; woodwork, fireplaces, and built-ins are intact and unpainted. DELHI, NY / $389,000 This George F. Barber-designed Queen Anne kit house is bristling with interacting roof shapes. Interior elements include an intact staircase with elaborate newel post and spindles, spandrels, and period mouldings. CHESTERTOWN, MD / $795,000 With one gambrel end—and a Second Empire-style mansard turret on the opposite—Lauretum is unique. The 1881 house on six acres has double-tiered porches,…

I was walking my newly adopted dog, Rylee, when Brian struck up a conversation. I’m from eastern Pennsylvania, but was living in Fort Worth, Texas; Brian is a native Texan. Well, we got married, renovated a small house and, in 2017, decided to move and buy a house in the area where I’d grown up. We like to put our own mark on home—and that’s hard when you’re renting. For two years we house-hunted, but nothing worked out. We weren’t picky; we put an offer on anything with a roof! What I really wanted was a Bucks County farmhouse, but we were sure that was beyond our means. Finally, in May 2019, we made an offer that was accepted. Four months later we moved into the house in Chalfont, in the heart…