Description

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Expert instruction for historically minded homeowners on how to expand or renovate their most valuable asset.

A must-have primer for homeowners and professionals, this impressive book presents the first comprehensive survey of its kind on how to achieve truly compatible, stylistically resonant additions and renovations. From exploring “How Do Houses Grow?” to “Getting the Details Right,” it guides readers through typical projects and issues, such as finding more space within an existing footprint or blending in new windows or dormers without destroying historic character. The authors’ expert perspective on dealing with historic buildings brings new ideas on design as well as problem-solving technologies, like compact water heaters. Also included is advice on meshing sustainable building practices, such as geothermal heating, with an already built house (the greenest house there is). Richly illustrated with color photos, plans, and drawings from nationally recognized architects, this book shares analysis and experience from two of the nation’s most respected old-house professionals.

About the Author

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Mark Alan Hewitt, FAIA, an architectural historian and preservation architect, lives in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

Gordon Bock, the longtime editor of Old-House Journal, lives and works in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Praise For…

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This highly useful volume contains a wide variety of information that both encourages, and enables, one to take on a vintage house project, be it urban or rural, large or small. Important details that might otherwise be left to trial and error are discussed…the authors address thought-provoking theoretical questions…that provide valuable starting points for the renovator. Informative captions full of helpful observations accompany detailed floor plans and numerous before-and-after photos. The mantra of this book is, ‘Take care of the past and the past will take care of you.’ With a helpful bibliography, eight pages of resources and a glossary, this book will take care of those planning to enlarge or renovate their vintage home.
— Style 1900: Antiques & Interiors

[B]oth smart and gorgeous. When it comes to the ins and outs of old houses, these guys know it all. Read this one, learn from it and then put it on your coffee table for others to enjoy.
— Plumbing & Mechanical Magazine

With its in-depth, no-nonsense approach, the book is a great resource for restorers of all levels.
— Old-House Journal

…required reading for vintage homeowners and enthusiasts…reads like an entertaining conversation between friends, with a clear and heartfelt message at its core: ‘Take care of the past and the past will take care of you.’ It is a welcome addition to the toolkit.
— New England Antiques Journal

For architects or designers concerned above all with contextual continuity, the book constitutes an ideal introduction to the tasks at hand. It is the perfect gift for a prospective client, especially among those for whom starting from the ground up is neither an interest nor an option.
— The Architect's Newspaper

The greenest house is the one that lasts the longest. In a useful book that is part architectural history primer and part building manual, Mark Alan Hewitt and Gordon Bock show how old house can be given new life—sensibly and beautifully.
— Witold Rybczynski, author of Makeshift Metropolis

The Vintage House will convince any homeowner that treasured houses deserve thoughtful renovations. With a blend of inspiration and information, Hewitt and Bock make the case that quality design and a healthy respect for history yield brilliant results. Follow their suggestions and you just can’t go wrong.

— James Schwarts, Editor of Preservation, The Magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation