November/December 2018

This Old House

America's Most Trusted Home Improvement Brand

This Old House2 min read
Reader Mail
We were so sorry to read the open letter from Roger Cook in the most recent issue of This Old House magazine (September 2018). He was correct; it was obvious something was different. We hope and pray for his recovery and comfort. Roger is enjoyable t
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Historical Holiday Decor
Christmas at the Newport Mansions Newport, RI • November 17, 2018–January 1, 2019 • adult admission $30 • newportmansions.org Ring in the holidays in Gilded Age style with a tour of three of the period’s most iconic mansions—The Elms, Marble House, a
This Old House1 min readArchitecture
Going Deep
A SMALL SPACE can be the perfect place to add some drama. Even though designer Laura Ulam’s Yountville, CA, home was a light and bright mix of modern-farmhouse and cottage styles, she envisioned a darker, “more masculine” look for the small guest bat
This Old House1 min read
Pinwheel-pattern Floor
MORE THAN EVER, kitchens need to look good while they work hard. So for this Nantucket, MA, home, interior decorator Thomas Jayne, author of the new book Classical Principles for Modern Design, created a quilt-look floor that can take a spill in styl
This Old House3 min read
Better Home Theater
THIS MAY BE THE YEAR to go for a home theater upgrade. TV makers have been pushing 3-D and curved-screen gimmicks for years, but TV tech just went through a meaningful growth spurt. For $650 you can now get a better 55-inch picture than could be had
This Old House4 min read
Mudroom Bench
SHOES, BOOTS, AND ALL SORTS OF MESSES tend to accumulate in our houses’ rear entries and mudrooms as we transition from the outdoors to the inside. The pileup reaches a peak in winter when gloves, hats, and other outerwear are shed and then mysteriou
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This Old House blueprint
The ultimate pet-feeding system featuring NSF-certified stainlesssteel pet bowls. Feeding systems are available in a variety of sizes to meet the needs of any pet. Made in the USA using only safe, nontoxic materials! For more information, visit petco
This Old House7 min read
This Old ask House
Q I recently slipped on the stairs of my 100-year-old home and on the way down broke three balusters. I’m fine, but where am I going to find replacement balusters that match the originals?—DAN D’ONOFRIO, WINTHROP, MA A It’s un likely that there are r
This Old House1 min read
DIY Smarts
Q Loose toilet seat My toilet seat uses nylon bolts with nuts that are meant to be turned by hand, but I can never tighten them enough to stop the seat from sliding from side to side. What’s the secret to keeping the seat from wiggling?—JIM HODGES, P
This Old House1 min read
Norm’s Tricks Of The Trade
Q I’m hanging new kitchen cabinets over old plastered concrete-block walls. How should I fasten them to the walls? My over-the-range microwave is heavy!—BUD GORDON, SIOUX CITY, IA A I can’t think of a stronger or easier way to hang upper cabinets tha
This Old House8 min read
In Fine Detail
Climb the front steps, past the stone-clad porch piers, and the Craftsman-style architectural elements all around give the house a familiar, homey feel. But once inside, it’s clear this is no standard bungalow home. A glass-framed entry ushers light
This Old House2 min read
Choosing The Right Windows For A Contemporary Craftsman
Tell us about the grouping of windows. The “ganged” windows are a feature common to the Craftsman style. It’s a technique that uses smaller windows to create large areas of glazing. They serve a double purpose—to let in lots of natural light and to f
This Old House5 min read
Colonial Reviver
SUCCESSFUL DO-IT-YOURSELFERS share an important trait: a steadfast confidence that whatever they put their hand to will turn out well in the end—even if it takes a few attempts to get it just right. It’s an attitude that Jaime Costiglio has embraced
This Old House5 min readEconomics
ROOM TO grow
REMEMBER THAT POPULAR MUSICAL with the catchy title I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change? That conundrum turns out to apply to not only many couples but also more than a few homeowners. Like Jason and Tera Starr. “After having toured about a half-d
This Old House5 min read
Directory
COVER See the listing for “In Fine Detail.” BEFORE + AFTER: BATH Going deep (pp. 14–15) Designer: Laura Ulam, Courtney Heaton Design, San Francisco; courtneyheatondesign.com. Contractor: Mario Samayoa, Napa, CA; 415-608-0822. Shower door: ovedecors.c
This Old House2 min read
save This Old House
PRICE $9,900 (must be moved) LOCATION Prospect, KY CONTACT Eric Whisman, Kentucky Trust for Historic Preservation; 502-320-9735 THE HISTORY Long before the city of Prospect was incorporated, its industry thrived thanks to the area’s fertile land, woo

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