Old Houses

What is it that moves so many of us to take up these shells of past lives, put them on our backs and carry them into the future?As I celebrate nearly one year! of writing for The Magazine at CIRCA, this is a question I continue to ponder.  Registered and Part of THE Oldest Estate and Home in Manhattan – CIRCA Old Houses Old houses make...

Old houses get a bad rap for needing tons of maintenance. Let’s set the record straight - ALL houses need maintenance. New houses may be especially problematic because 1) they use materials that are touted as “maintenance free” - e.g., vinyl siding and windows, 2) those materials can age in unattractive and sometimes calamitous ways, and 3) it is often impossible to repair modern materials and...

Is there one historic feature you consider “to die for” - literally? For you, maybe it’s a cupola or a wraparound porch. For me, it’s windows. I once campaigned to preserve the old wood windows in my New York City tenement apartment (needless to say, the landlord paid no heed). When I finally became the owner of my own ca-1890 house, its original windows were among the main attractions. The...

If you love old houses but don’t spend every day swimming in the waters of historic preservation public policy, you may well ask, what is the National Register of Historic Places? You’ve come to the right place!

Siding, trim, windows, and eaves — where to start when developing the paint scheme for you historic house? Kate Wood has the tips you need.

Architectural Digest talks with CIRCA Old Houses and Cheap Old Houses founder, Elizabeth Finkelstein, on the real estate market and cheap old houses!

Must-read for old house lovers — especially you Ohio Buckeyes!

New year, old houses… January always sparks the urge to look at the world with fresh eyes.

"Quaint" or "modern," however you like them we're looking at kitchen designs that old house fans will love.

CIRCA Old Houses and Cheap Old Houses Cofounders Curate Paint Capsule Collection with Dunn-Edwards DURA

CIRCA Old Houses and Cheap Old Houses founder Elizabeth wants you to wear Dovetail Workwear, just like her!

"There is nothing inherently drafty about old houses; in fact, many of them are built with stronger, old growth wood, brick and plaster that are far better insulators than cheaper modern materials. However, deferred maintenance may mean that spaces are no longer airtight, which can lead to drafts." — Elizabeth Finkelstein in HuffPost