Category Archives: Uncategorized

When Demo Discovery Can Drive Design

Demolition is almost always interesting. Unfortunately, for clients with old houses, it isn’t always interesting in a good way. In old bungalows and Victorians here in the South, if we tear out a plaster and lath wall, we risk discovering framing … Continue reading

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Old House Interior Door Styles

Interior doors can provide a good bit of insight to the history and style of a home.  Here in the Deep South, specifically Atlanta, we typically have six-panel heart of pine doors in our Craftsman bungalows and American Foursquares: homes … Continue reading

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A Geyser In the Yard Presents Challenges

When we were at our lake house two weekends ago and the water pressure was less than stellar, I thought that something was afoot.  Then, I ventured down into the basement to discover that at weekend’s end, my newly filled … Continue reading

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Clawfoot Tubs, Bad Hygiene, and the Sears Catalog for T.P.

I am enamored with my clawfoot tub, which is original to our restored 1911 Craftsman bungalow.  It’s is a deep wellspring of contentment.  I love soaking, with a glass of red vino, on a chilly winter day.  And since I’m … Continue reading

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How Little Bug Bodies Give Trim that Warm Historic Look

My favorite old house finish is made from the scraped bits of bug secretions.  And when first harvested, the finish is a tempting amalgam of scraped bark, bug appendages, and sticky-lac resin.  The female lac bug is the one responsible for this … Continue reading

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Avoid a Paint Hang-Over with Essential Oil

Ever paint a room and feel like you’ve been injected by a flu-like contagion and then dragged behind the back of a truck?  I’ve been the unfortunate victim of a painting hang-over without any joy of getting there.  Happily, a friend of … Continue reading

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Edible Underwear to Platinum Rings

I’ve seen it all: crack baggies hidden behind historic Craftsman trim, edible underwear in the attic (No lie and it was still in its original packaging!), houses crawling with German roaches, toilets that dump their nasty contents into the dirt crawlspace, and foyers with giant … Continue reading

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