End-of-year Favorites
In this last issue of the year, we present restoration award winners, reader-favorite kitchens and baths—and, I will say, a few over-the-top designs. This special issue is put together interactively with readers, whose Facebook “Likes” and comments over the year weigh into what we decide to feature.
The restore section (p. 35) addresses technical issues that come up during the rehabilitation of old houses, regarding energy. Senior writer Mary Ellen Polson describes how older houses are moving toward efficient, even fossil-free, heating and cooling.
The design section (p. 19) asks a simple question: How big? We’ve noticed that people tend to buy rugs that are too small, and they build kitchen islands that are too big. We offer a few tips on how to determine the right size and scale for major elements. Next, we juried kitchens and bathrooms that have been published (in print or on social media) over the years in our group of magazines. Our respondents chose a simple throwback kitchen (p. 30), its design perfect for cottage or bungalow, as well as a spacious and highceilinged Victorian bathroom (p. 32) that mixes antique fixtures with a modern serenity.
Finally, find two inspirational house tours (p. 57). One shows the work of a determined do-it-yourself homeowner, the other a professional restoration designer’s own home. As it happens, they are located on opposite coasts, and have little in common except for the preservation ethic of their owners. The first is a builder’s Dutch Colonial Revival house, kept as near to original as possible. The other is a tale of adaptive reuse: the capacious building was a firehouse.
Upfront, find a selection of beautiful, timeless gifts for old-house friends, or for your own home. Also, a photo-rich feature celebrates simple holiday mantel decorating. Enjoy!