The Historic District

We having a running joke at our home that I always get the nay-sayers while my husband always gets the appreciative people. However, there was one time… We had an older gentlemen come by to fix some problems with the original doorknobs and locks on our 1914 house. After working on the front door for...

We have an original clawfoot tub that we would like to restore. I would like to add a shower to the clawfoot tub for use when family visits. When you walk in the bathroom, the sink is to your left and then the tub. The end of the tub with the faucet does not face the wall. The toilet is across from ...

I would second the request for the name of a good brand for stains and finishes. The closest individually-owned paint store is 45 minutes away. It a Benjamin Moore store, and I don't know if they offer stains. Most of my old house purchases are done online due to our location.

Sorry..I posted this in the wrong forum originally. Our front door is on my to-do list and I'm looking for advice on the best method for restoring it to its former glory. You may be able to see what it used to look like at the top of the door. The front door faces the east and has a large covered po...

Our front door is on my to-do list and I'm looking for advice on the best method for restoring it to its former glory. You may be able to see what it used to like at the top of the door. The front door faces the east and has a large covered porch protecting it. The rougher portion in the center of t...

I have three doors in my kitchen and have fixed up two. The door that receives the most use was in bad shape so we stripped it down and primed and painted. The second door was an interior door in nice shape and I simply applied a fresh coat of paint to it. The third door is where I need some help. T...

Thank you for all the great advice. I ordered Golden Fluid Acrylic online in Burnt Umber and only touched up the chipped pieces with a very small brush. It looks wonderful! Now I notice a darker portion that may have been a touch up from previous years but the burnt umber worked like a charm. The up...

I'm definitely not an artist. Could you provide advice on what colors to mix?

Thank you, clover and lisascenic. I'm attempting to show pics. The second floor one has the most damage while the first floor one mainly has two chips.

Long-time reader and old house lover. I'm working on a 1914 four square that has prairie style influences such as a grand staircase in the middle of the house. There are three plaster cornices (not sure that's the correct word but they sit up under a beam in the ceiling and connect to a side wall) t...