Exterior paint layers build up over time, and the accumulation of paint films will eventually fill and obscure original millwork details. An example is this Brattle Street Colonial Revival-style house built-in 1887. Built for Annie Thorp, a daughter of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, it was inspired by her father’s eighteenth-century Georgian house nearby. The “revival” style was exactly that, a late … [Read more...] about Stripping Historic Exterior Trim
Blog
Design Flexibility & Renovation of Historic Buildings
Sometimes historic buildings can take their time giving up their secrets. In such a case, it is well to have a flexible project design, one that takes account of the surprises and opportunities that renovation of an older building can furnish. An example is this 1840’s Gothic mansion on Beacon Hill, designed by Richard Upjohn, who designed the main entrances to the Boston Common. Originally a … [Read more...] about Design Flexibility & Renovation of Historic Buildings
Why Not Stucco for Exterior Finish?
The use of stucco as an exterior finish is traditional in Florida and California and is growing slowly in New England, as lumber of a suitable grade and species for exterior finish becomes harder to find. Historically, even in New England, some designers specified stucco as appropriate for the building style they had chosen. Though it is associated with dry or tropical climates, we can see it … [Read more...] about Why Not Stucco for Exterior Finish?
On-Site Millwork Fabrication Skills
Construction of this Craftsman-style home's new grand entry was an example of how on-site millwork fabrication skills can furnish design and production efficiencies, keeping the project on schedule. While a third-party vendor will generally fabricate custom millwork more economically than can be done on-site, in this case, significant on-site fabrication enabled the carpenters to help resolve … [Read more...] about On-Site Millwork Fabrication Skills
Accelerated Construction Schedules
By Doug Hanna One of the most common questions we get from owners, just after how much a project is going to cost, is “how long it will take?". People who have experienced a renovation project before usually have a somewhat realistic idea of the schedule. We often say that were it not for permits and inspections, we might be able to shave months off a particular job. But the fact is that we, … [Read more...] about Accelerated Construction Schedules
Steel Windows – Restore or Replace
Steel windows were a staple feature of the many early 20th centuries Tudor Revival homes built in Newton and Brookline. The narrow flat muntins in steel window sash approximated the leaded glass of the historic Tudor era and, paradoxically, given the space a clean, almost modern feel. What is not to like about this unique and effective window solution? Much has changed since the early 20th … [Read more...] about Steel Windows – Restore or Replace
Refinishing Victorian Woodwork for Modern Tastes
The modern knock on the Victorian style is that it is both too busy and too gloomy, like the Addams Family. The modern taste runs too simple and light. Still, it is hard not to be awed by the lush craftsmanship that went into this paneled Victorian wood staircase, the rich, heavy panels, and generous proportions and dimensions. And yes, it did need to be refinished, one way or the other. It … [Read more...] about Refinishing Victorian Woodwork for Modern Tastes
Finding the Carpenter in the Craftsman Style
he Craftsman style is familiar to us all, and is still with us in a way that the Victorian is not. We are often called upon to apply Craftsman style detail in very un-Craftsman buildings. The Craftsman sensibility endures because it has a humane feel to it, as it retains the visible presence of the hand of the craftsperson (carpenter, mason, metalworker, etc.) that made it. The Craftsman … [Read more...] about Finding the Carpenter in the Craftsman Style
Reproducing Historic Spaces With Veneer Plaster
After a century and a half or so of building settlement and aftermarket alterations, the walls of any wood framed structure will be somewhat misaligned. When those walls are behind a mansard type roof, and intentionally tilted inward, then the forgiving virtues of a skim coat veneer plaster wall system becomes a critical tool for rendering wall planes in a faithful and consistent way. As … [Read more...] about Reproducing Historic Spaces With Veneer Plaster
Happy Accidents in Historic Restoration
Change happens to every building, as styles and standards evolve. Where to draw the line between preservation and evolution is a matter of judgement and taste. An example of this was the abatement of asbestos floor tile from a concrete floor in a classic mid century modern residence, by the noted architect Samuel Glaser. Mid century concrete floor. Materials go in and out of style, as … [Read more...] about Happy Accidents in Historic Restoration