So you have an old house and you want the kitchen to look more period appropriate. All you see in your neighbors’ houses, the advertisements, and the builders’ supply places are stone, stone, and stone. And yes, stone can be beautiful! But is it appropriate for an old house? Historically, stone was rarely used as countertop material. The method for economically processing large slabs of stone is a relatively new development. Thus, continuous stone countertops are more of a modern countertop treatment. Formica... more

A faucet is comprised of a spout, handle(s), and at least one valve. The valve is the part that gets the most wear and tear. Faucets and valves keep this world in running water. We couldn’t have the water systems we have today without the controls afforded by pipes and valves. The only problem is that all valves leak over time. If we don’t keep our faucets in good repair, they will leak. Single basin faucet. Although not common in most homes these days, it still has the most common compression... more

Why would anyone want to convert a 100 year old garage into a gardening shed? Because they can? No. They can’t. So says the building department at the City of Portland, OR. When Kathi Wells of Laurelhurst first explained to me her desire to convert their rickety garage into a gardening shed, I thought, “No problem.” Wrong. Foolishly, I drew up the plans to replace the garage with a shed of exactly the same dimensions and overall appearance as the original garage, which was a virtual... more

Boys’ Fort, the design team of Richard Rolfe and Jake France, loves summer in Portland. “You can LIVE outside…just briefly,” jokes Rolfe. Highlighting a recent design for an outdoor living space, Rolfe and France illustrate how they incorporate salvage and vintage items into their designs to create a one-of-a-kind look. “When someone walks into your home, you don’t want him or her to feel like they’ve just walked into a Pottery Barn catalog. You want them to feel intrigued... more

As she made her morning coffee, Ari Starke realized she needed a sweater for the first time this season. She sighed, “Here we go again.” The owner of a 1930s Tudor, Starke loved her historic little home with all of its charm. Unless it was cold outside; then she was torn. “I have these beautiful wood windows, but it was miserable to sit too close to them. On windy days, they rattled and you could even feel the air coming in between the top and the bottom sash. The amount of money we spent heating... more

The author of the above lines was expressing a yearning for an authentic sense of place, firmly rooted in the historical past. Much of America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was looking backward to a romanticized pre-industrial colonial past, where life seemed somehow less complicated and stressful, where a sense of community mattered more than the rush to industrial prominence. The Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876 unleashed a wave of patriotism and pride in all things traditionally... more

(All photos courtesy of WILLCO, copyright WILLCO.) Many homeowners want to create more livable square footage in their existing homes without the expense or hassle of new construction or a new addition. While they may feel limited, there are actually quite a few possibilities that can produce exciting results. Perhaps the attic, with its steeply pitched ceiling and dormer windows, would be perfect for a new master bedroom. The basement, with its exposed concrete walls, could make a great family game... more

I used to fly up and down the stairs all the time. Lately I have discovered myself holding on to handrails. There are reasons for handrails; if you don’t know, you will quickly discover them on the way down. Imagine going down a steep flight of stairs that has no handrail; you slip and proceed to grab for something, but there isn’t anything to hold onto. New stylized handrail that replaces the original (above) with code requiring returns back to the wall. Adult handrail, and the “Little... more