:: Articles

Below is a list of past articles from the pages of Antique Homes Magazine covering a range of topics including preservation and restoration stories and information on buying, selling and fixing your old, antique or historic home or building.

Title	Date	Author
The Cape Cod House, A New England Original	Jan 31, 2009	by Nick Langhart
Aside from white-steepled churches and village greens, probably nothing characterizes New England as much as the Cape Cod house.

Three Essential Tips to Getting Your Historic Home Sold	Mar 9, 2011	John Petraglia, publisher
How you the Seller can help get your Historic Home SOLD!

Caring for your Older Home - Why Restore?	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
Rich with history and character, older buildings require a different mindset and approach to their upgrades and stewardship.

Paint Research for Historic Homes	Sep 9, 2010	Gladys Montgomery
Paint research offers an important information when an early house. Guest writer Gladys Montgomery, is an award-winning freelance writer and editor specializing in history, architecture, restoration, design, and decoration. Gladys has recently transferred her penchant for historic properties into real estate, as an agent with The Kinderhook Group, in western Massachusetts.

Those Who Came Before: Researching your Old House's History	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
Just what is involved in getting together a detailed report about the chain of title to your property, back to when the building was probably constructed, and data on the families and ancestors of past owners.

Choosing Paint Colors for an Early Historic House	Sep 9, 2010	Gladys Montgomery
The color dilema when restoring an early house - re-creating how the paint looked when it first went on 200 years ago or making it look like it’s lived there for 200 years. Gladys Montgomery, an award-winning freelance writer and editor specializing in history, architecture, restoration, design, and decoration, recently transferred her penchant for historic properties into real estate, as an agent with The Kinderhook Group, in western Massachusetts.

When Lightning Strikes	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
The previous owners of our house installed antique lightning rods along the rooflines.

Heating System Tune-ups	Jan 31, 2009	Dan Cooper
We never think about our home heating systems until that first cold day in November, when we flick on the thermostat, only to find that the furnace doesn’t fire up.

Finishing School	Jan 31, 2009	Dan Cooper
Appriopriate wood finishes in an antique home.

Impure Thoughts	Jan 31, 2009	Antique Homes Magazine
In a previous life, I was a re-enactor; but not like those folks slogging around muddy fields dressed in Civil War garb: I was obsessed with the decorative arts of 1878-1883.

The Role Of Historic Properties in Sustainability	Jan 31, 2009	by R. Christopher Noonan
Sustainability is incorporated as one of the guiding principles of the historic preservation movement and are found in the Secretary of the Interior’s “Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.”

Massachusetts’ Community Preservation Act	Jan 31, 2009	by Chris Anderson
This bill allows communities to raise and appropriate money designated for their own local open space, affordable housing and historic preservation projects.

The Historic House, Insurance Illuminations	Jan 31, 2009	by Kevin Daly
If you're assuming that all homeowner's policies are the same, you could be setting yourself up for a major disappointment if you need to file a claim.

A Basic Paint Recipe	Jan 31, 2009	by Brad King
All Paint professionals agree that the key to any successful painting project lies in Preparation! Preparation! Preparation! The Exterior of Your Historic House: A Basic Paint Recipe

Connecticut Phoenix Rises from the Ashes	Jan 31, 2009	Dan Cooper
On May 14, 2001 the house, a French Second Empire built in 1873 got a second chance when John and Shireen Aforismo purchased the structure and boldly took up the challenge to save it.

The American Doorknob	Jan 31, 2009	by Franklin Pierce Hall
A Brief History of the American Doorknob - “Ode to a Doorknob” – singing praise to such a simple everyday object, sounds bizarre and ridiculous, doesn’t it?

Dating Your Antique Homes	Feb 5, 2009	by Richard Wilcox
As we dwell in these structures built so many years before us, we often come to wonder about their origin, their history and their date of construction.

When in Doubt, Ask First (before wielding that hammer)	Feb 7, 2009	Richard Wilcox
Sometimes it's pointing, sometimes it's plumbing. And, if you're lucky, somtimes it's simply peeling paint.

Old House Myths	Feb 7, 2009	Richard Wilcox
Three Old House myths that really scare the wooden siding right out of people or really scare people right into the vinyl siding.

Called on the Carpet	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
Even after 30 years of the preservation movement in this country, many homeowners (and museums) accept the previous statement as gospel.

FAQ: Considering Climate Control	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
A buildings climate and environmental conditions are worth spending some time considering.

Caring for Your Older Home: Avoiding Restoration Pitfalls	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
Lack of time, resources and expertise usually lead to poor decision making where older buildings are concerned.

Insurance Basics	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
Many homeowners mistakenly insure their home for the pruchase price or market value.

Lost...But Not Forgotten	Feb 7, 2009	John Petraglia
Loss invokes a wide range of responses in people: shock, sadness, anger, vexation, helplessness, numbness, guilt and despair.

Rough Braid - A Glimpse at the History of Braided Rugs in America	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
Dan Cooper speaks with Michele Stenson, owner/operator of American Folk Art & Craft Supply.

Mea Culpa - Hard Lessons Learned	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
A humorous look at restoration

Old House C.P.R.- Taking Care of your Old Place	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
Start talking “energy efficiency” and most preservationists and restorers begin to tremble.

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Gardening	Feb 7, 2009	Michele Anstine
Old gardens, like old houses, tell a story.

Historically Inspired Walls	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
Veering in front of a half dozen gravel trucks bent on my destruction, I turned off of busy Route 44 in Middleboro, MA, and onto a quiet side road.

Show Me The Door	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
My house was built in 1917; it’s a quaint little cottage with a few interesting details.

Safety Matters	Feb 7, 2009	Noelle Lord
Picture the weekend warrior. Jeans, flannel shirt, maybe a big tool belt with hammer in hand right?

The Houses Taught Me	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
“There are mullions, and then there are muntins; a mullion is a post that connects multiple window units, and muntin is the small piece that separates two or more panes of glass on a single window sash.”

Old House Animals	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
You may not realize it, but a veritable Disneyland lurks within the walls of your old house: every critter imaginable is running amok in your framing, and they’re most grateful for your hospitality.

Deep Energy Retrofits and Historic Homes, Can We Do This?	Jan 24, 2012	John Petraglia
With rising energy costs, pressure is put on our finite historic resources - our limited supply of historic homes.. By John Petraglia - practicing the art of real estate brokerage for over 25 years and publisher of Antique Homes Magazine.

Antique & Historic Houses in a Changing Marketplace	Sep 9, 2010	John Petraglia
A timely discussion as to what is happening in the New England Real Estate market - what impact it has had on the value of antique properties and on the desirability and marketability of these unique properties. By John Petraglia - practicing the art of real estate brokerage for over 25 years and publisher of Antique Homes Magazine.

It's all Greek to me	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
You thought you had it all figured out: Colonial houses were those built before the American Revolution, Federals were those built after the Revolution, but before Greek Revivals, which were the ones with the big, white columns out front, and then came Victorians.

Dear Readers - Happy House Hunting	Feb 7, 2009	John Petraglia
Overview of the 2008 spring real estate market. Where the market is heading, especially in regard to antique and historic properties?

Historic Window Hardware	Feb 7, 2009	Dan Cooper
It’s easy to focus on the more prominent historic details such as fenestration, roofing and siding during the renovation or recreation of a property.

Taking Care of Silver, Packing Silver for Shipment	Jan 24, 2012	Jeffrey Herman
Jeffrey Herman started Herman Silver Restoration & Conservation in 1984, and has built a national reputation of quality craftsmanship and sensitivity towards the finishing of every piece. Herman has repaired and reconstructed everything from historically important tankards, tea services, and tureens to disposal-damaged flatware. And yes, he will also polish a single spoon or fork. He considers himself an environmentalist, using the safest, non-toxic, most organic products whenever possible. Before starting his business, Herman worked at Gorham as a designer, sample maker, and technical illustrator. Upon leaving Gorham, he took a position at Pilz Ltd. where he learned the fine art of restoration. Herman earned a BFA degree in silversmithing and jewelry making from Maine College of Art in Portland, and is the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths. He encourages anyone with silver-related questions that can’t be answered on his Web site (hermansilver.com) to contact him. If you have a piece in need of service, Herman invites you to e-mail an image of the object for an estimate. Jeffrey Herman Herman Silver Restoration & Conservation PO Box 786, West Warwick, RI 02893 800/461-6840, 401/461-6840 Fax: 401/461-6841 E-mail: jeff@hermansilver.com Web: http://www.hermansilver.com

Taking Care of Silver, Don't Trust All Silver Polishing Videos!	Jan 24, 2012	Jeffrey Herman
Jeffrey Herman started Herman Silver Restoration & Conservation in 1984, and has built a national reputation of quality craftsmanship and sensitivity towards the finishing of every piece. Herman has repaired and reconstructed everything from historically important tankards, tea services, and tureens to disposal-damaged flatware. And yes, he will also polish a single spoon or fork. He considers himself an environmentalist, using the safest, non-toxic, most organic products whenever possible. Before starting his business, Herman worked at Gorham as a designer, sample maker, and technical illustrator. Upon leaving Gorham, he took a position at Pilz Ltd. where he learned the fine art of restoration. Herman earned a BFA degree in silversmithing and jewelry making from Maine College of Art in Portland, and is the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths. He encourages anyone with silver-related questions that can’t be answered on his Web site (hermansilver.com) to contact him. If you have a piece in need of service, Herman invites you to e-mail an image of the object for an estimate. Jeffrey Herman Herman Silver Restoration & Conservation PO Box 786, West Warwick, RI 02893 800/461-6840, 401/461-6840 Fax: 401/461-6841 E-mail: jeff@hermansilver.com Web: http://www.hermansilver.com

Pretty as a Picture	Jan 31, 2009	Dan Cooper
One Massachusetts homeowners renovation love story.