The Vintage House: A Guide to Successful Renovations and Additions

When it comes to renovating or adding on to a historic home, questions of proper craftsmanship and design abound. Renovating in a way that upholds the character and integrity of the original house is not always easy, but this book-written by two of the nation's most respected old-house professionals-provides a veritable blueprint for doing just that.

A must-have primer for historic preservation-minded homeowners, architectures, and designers, The Vintage House is the first comprehensive guide to achieving truly compatible, stylistically resonant additions and renovations. It details the basic parameters around which vintage houses can grow, how to make a "conditions survey," and how to fully understand what you have to start with.

Mark Alan Hewitt and Gordon Bock carefully explain the preparations that are fundamental to renovation and walk you through the various aspects of intelligent rebuilding-how to work within the existing footprint of a home, blend in additions that "stay in tune," expand heating and cooling systems discreetly, maintain a "face," or facade, in keeping with a home's codified style (be it Colonial, Cape Cod, Tudor, etc.), select authentic materials, and much more. Also included is advice on meshing sustainable building practices, such as geothermal heating, with an already built house (the greenest house there is).

The author's expert perspective on dealing with historic houses offers a wealth of new design ideas as well as problem-solving technologies such as corner bathroom fixtures. Richly illustrated with more than 200 color photographs, plans, drawings from nationally recognized architects, this book offers invaluable analysis and nuts-and-bolts guidance that will help any old-house homeowner or professional preserve the essence of a vintage treasure.

Mark Alan Hewitt, Faia, an architectural historian and preservation architect, practices in Bernardsville, New Jersey.
Godon Bock, the former longtime editor of Old-House Journal, is a contributing editor to Traditional Building magazine and many other architectural periodicals and books. He is also an adjunct instructor of historic preservation at Drew University.