Creating a New Old House

Kay Stanley and Curt Seymour referenced history and built a brand-new Daufuskie Island house that looks as if it has endured centuries of salty air and sandy feet.

"In this wonderful book, widely acclaimed architect Russell Versaci tells the reader how to capture the character of an old house in a new house, tailored for today's needs. The author, who is well known for this sort of designing, starts out with his "Eight Pillars of Traditional Design", and then shows you how to put them into practice. Taking eighteen houses found throughout the country (and reflecting the traditional regional style), he uses a combination of brightly colorful pictures and highly informative text to take you around and through the houses, giving you an insiders look into what was done and why.

Having grown up in an old house, I have always found the boxy/characterless/styleless post-World War 2 houses to be nothing short of depressing. My wife and I now own a 1916 house, and wish to add in the character that makes an old house a gem. Well, we found this book to be a great source of ideas and inspirations. If you like the style and grace of well-made older houses, and want to incorporate that style and grace into your own home, then you must read this book!"

7 Ways To Make a New (Old) House

2.) Maximize the Impact of Wood

“There is not one single sheet of drywall in the entire house,” says Kay. “Every wall and ceiling is wood plank.” To achieve a nostalgic feel, Kay and Curt held off on the gypsum wallboard and opted for natural wood, leaving the beams exposed whenever possible. “Wood brings warmth and character that simply can’t be matched by any other material,” says Kay. Whether it’s board-and-batten, beaded board, or single planks, wood guarantees instant impact, even if the budget only allows placing it on a single wall or ceiling.

The foyer’s oil-rubbed electrified kerosene lanterns were originally attached to the sides of wagons that were headed west during the gold rush.

Read all seven steps

Backyard Pizza Party

Party-Worthy Pizza

Make your own gourmet pizza in 5 steps.

1. 1. Start with Dan's Pizza Dough. Place a pizza stone or baking sheet in oven. Preheat oven to 500° for 30 minutes. Stretch dough into a 10- to 12-inch circle on a separate lightly floured baking sheet.

2. 2. Spread 1/2 cup Fresh Tomato Sauce on each dough circle.

3. 3. Top with 4 oz. of shredded, sliced, or crumbled cheese. Some favorites include Decimal Place Farm goat cheese, Atlanta Fresh Artisan Creamery's Fresh Mozzarella, and Sweet Grass Dairy's Thomasville tomme.

4. 4. Choose the toppings. Get creative by mixing and matching your favorites. Try assorted olives, fresh basil pesto, thinly sliced radishes, fresh peas, sliced fennel, spring onions, and cooked and crumbled pork sausage or ground beef.

5. 5. Season pizza with desired amount of salt and pepper. Slide pizza from baking sheet onto hot pizza stone or baking sheet in oven. Bake at 500° for 9 to 11 minutes or until edges are golden.

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Antique French Desk W/ Bookcase

We are in love with this beautiful antique French desk w/ bookcase on top. You rarely find them together like this and in such perfect condition. Such a sweet set-stop by sometime to see some of our antiques or at least just smell them...and pretend you are in France or somewhere wonderful!

Old Antique Doors

Love these old antique doors-what interesting things you could do with them. I think framing out a potting shed door or maybe around a collection of prints and old plates on a wall. The possibilities are endless you just have to use your imagination!
On another note love these soft hydrangeas-pretty any time of the year!

Summertime