Old House Journal Magazine - September - October 2024

In this issue

Sun Parlors & Other Bright Spaces
Daylight, ventilation, and an informal place to relax: inspiration from 1920s sunporches.

Riddle of the Water
Detective work led to solutions from French drains to rebuilt stonework.

JUICY 1920S BATHROOM REVIVAL

Serial restorers redesign their tired baths in period style, with colorful tile and Art Deco touches.

2 mins

Sun Parlors & other bright spaces

Is there anything better than a New England sunroom in January? Big windows invite what daylight is available, your relief from the gloom. Plants survive the winter. If the room is insulated and weatherstripped and the floor is masonry or tile, passive solar gain radiates through the house. Sunrooms are, however, popular from Seattle to Miami. Architectural devices for bringing sunlight (and often ventilation) into a house include the orangeries and conservatories of the Victorian era, porches later enclosed to extend the season, and even purpose-built \"sun parlors,\" especially after 1915 or so. Here's a glimpse of these gracious amenities, with hints on furnishing, whether in porch or more elegant parlor mode.

4 mins

Light-filled Craftsman Redo

For a dark kitchen in a 1914 Illinois house, the trick was anchoring white expanses with woodsy warmth.

2 mins

The Riddle of the water

When water incursion happens, the roof isn't necessarily the culprit. Maybe snaking a drain line, or clearing debris from a clogged gutter, temporarily will stem a leak. But a recurring problem usually means other forces are at work. It takes persistence-and a team with the right skills and patience—to identify the source and apply a solution.

4 mins

Roofing & Siding

Make note of these historical and unusual materials for the building envelope.

1 min

Navigating the Lumberyard - Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard.

Here's some lumber lingo you should know before you venture into a lumberyard. Almost everyone fixing an old house will end up at a lumberyard-whether it's a local supplier or the organized aisles of a big-box home-improvement store.

5 mins

Patching a Plaster Wall

Fix a hole in the wall with a few common tools and some drywall supplies. Practice your technique!

4 mins

For a Wet Basement Wall

If there's problem common to old houses, it's a wet basement. I'm not talking about occasional flooding, but rather a basement that apparently seeps or leaks after even a rain shower or during snowmelt. Several approaches are available; sustainable solutions will get to the root of the problem.

1 min

ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS COME TO LIFE

Owners and their designer celebrate the unique features of a 1912 Arts & Crafts Tudor.

2 mins

ENDURING BEAUTY IN WALLS of STONE

Now back in the family who had been here since 1830, the old farmhouse is again ready for generations to come. Additions dating to 1840 and the 1950s were preserved.

3 mins

AN OVERVIEW OF METAL ROOFING

METAL ROOFS ARE RESURGENT, FOR GOOD REASONS.

1 min

a farmhouse renewed

Sensitive renovations and restoration work preserved a house that dates to 1799.

3 mins

Read all stories from Old House Journal

Old House Journal Magazine Description:

Old House Journal is a leading magazine for owners, restorers, and admirers of old and historic homes. The magazine provides a wealth of information on restoration techniques, architectural styles, and historical research, as well as advice on home maintenance and renovation.

Old House Journal was first published in 1973, at a time when many old and historic homes were being demolished or neglected in favor of new construction. The magazine was created to provide a voice for those who were passionate about preserving and restoring these important structures. The magazine also provides in-depth coverage of architectural styles, with features on everything from Victorian homes to mid-century modern. One of the unique features of Old House Journal is its focus on historical research and documentation.

By subscribing, readers will have access to the most comprehensive coverage of old home restoration available, making Old House Journal an essential part of any restoration enthusiast's library.