Old House Journal September/October 2022

The very first issue of Old-House Journal, then a typewritten newsletter for Brooklyn brownstoners, debuted in October of 1973. You’re holding the October 2022 issue. That’s 49 years down, and we start our 50th year of publication. Our birthday celebration will unfold all year, culminating next October. I still remember my Irish grandmother’s reaction when I told her about my job. When I explained the concept behind OHJ—people fixing up their homes to look original, not modernized—she said, “You mean people buy old houses on purpose?” To her generation, and my parents’ generation, settling for an old house meant you weren’t rich enough to afford a new one. So, of course, you tried to make the old house look newer. OHJ evolved from a newsletter mostly about 19th-century row houses to a…

LIKE GOING HOME Readers are familiar with our scout and story producer Brian Coleman. You may not know that he’s also Dr. Coleman, a practicing psychiatrist, or that, in his spare time, he has written 27 gorgeous books on design. (I’m proud to say that all started when he wrote to tell me about his Victorian house, back in 1991. His relationship with OHJ blossomed.) Scheduling a lecture at Browers bookstore in Olympia, Wash., Brian told the current owner that he grew up in that city and worked at the Anna Blom Bookshop as a kid. “Anna Blom was an elderly Russian lady. She served me tea and paid me in Wizard of Oz books; sometimes she’d give me a quarter and I’d go to the hotel across the street to get…

1. OPTICAL WAVE C. Jean Horst’s handmade watercolor quilt “The Journey” is the artist’s interpretation of Renaissance bargello flame stitch. The queen-size quilt with hand-appliquéd butterflies is sewn from all-cotton batik fabric, with eight to nine stitches per inch; $1,795. Amish Country Lanes, (717) 394-6244, amishcountrylanes.com 2. FAUX BAMBOO The Brentwood dresser re-interprets ever-popular faux bamboo furniture. Inspired by period pieces, the dresser is constructed of alder and measures 42" wide x 22" deep x 42" high. With a two-tone finish shown: $3,430. Cottage Home Furniture, (866) 223-2757, cottagehomefurniture.com 3. BOOKISHLY Give a small collection of books heft with these clever leather-over-wood bookends. Capable of supporting heavy volumes, they’re made to order. Each side measures 4" wide x 4 ¾" deep x 7 ¼" high: $495 per set. Scully & Scully, (800) 223-3717, scullyandscully.com 4. VEGAN…

1. UP OR DOWN LIGHT From bath-accessory specialist Ginger, the Empire double light with flared shades offers classic over-the-sink illumination in a damp-rated package. Lights may be mounted up or down. In chrome or polished nickel: $314.05 to $376.20. Ginger Co./Cape Cod Brass, (877) 560-2818, gingerbath.com 2. FROM ACROSS THE POND Towel dryers from Britain’s largest maker of towel warmers are now available in the U.S. and Canada. Made of solid brass with traditional jointing, the ENC1 comes in 11 stylish finishes. A 32" high x 20" wide x 5" deep fixture sells for $2,096.67 and up. Vogue UK, (508) 887-8771, vogueuk.com 3. CIRCULAR REACH The Perrin & Rowe Deco 7" towel ring carves a graceful arc that opens near the top. Constructed of solid brass, it’s offered in chrome, satin or polished nickel, unlacquered…

GO ONLINE TO VOTE! READERS' PICK FACEBOOK.COM/OLDHOUSEJOURNAL CLEMMONS, NC / $1,650,000 Built of Flemish bond-patterned brick, the 1798 Moravian farmhouse sits on eight protected acres. A large, sympathetic addition at the rear holds kitchen and great room. Inside: arched window wells and fireplaces. PLYMOUTH, MA / $675,000 Built in 1672, the Thomas Doten house is an extraordinary early gambrel-roofed Colonial. Plank floors, wainscoting and paneled walls, two original fireplaces, and an unusual split staircase are among original features. REHOBOTH, MA / $595,000 The comfortable, 1780 Federal with original plank floors, turning staircase, exposed beams, and a massive center chimney stack offers a portico entry and window lintels, and a later sunroom. ALTAMONT, NY / $475,000 A tripartite window over the temple entry and a proportional five-bay façade distinguish this 1747 Georgian house. Features include exposed-beam ceilings, well-appointed kitchen, and new…

“Why in the world would you buy that place??” As Ralph and I contemplated the purchase of the newly listed property, family and friends warned us against it. “Don’t do it! You already live in a custom home you built!” “Why would you take such a risk?” “It’ll be a headache and a financial drain, guaranteed!” Being rather spontaneous (we got engaged on our second date), we bought it anyway. The late Queen Anne house—on Utter Street—was built 1897–99. Our unmuddling was undertaken from 2019 through 2021. My career was in public education. I figured I could transfer my leadership skills to project management—I was used to chaos and multi-tasking. A former student, Andrew Buehrer, is a talented carpenter whose aptitude was apparent even in high school. He, his brother Luke, and…