by Amanda Davis Mad Men returns on Sunday! So why am I featuring a fixer-upper in Vermont, you may wonder? Fans of the show will know that one of Sterling Cooper & Partners’ top account executives is good ol’ Ken Cosgrove, native son of Burlington, Vermont. Poor Ken had a bit of a rough 1968, so I thought we’d go back to his roots today with a drive about 45 minutes southeast to the city of Barre....
by Elizabeth Finkelstein Tomorrow is my birthday. I told Ethan not to worry -- this year I'm not looking for an expensive gift, just something with lots of potential and character that will fill me with joy for all the days to come. Something like a fixer-upper! To help him out, I've compiled this week's list of 10 beautiful old houses for sale for under $50,000. Any and all will do! Have a...
by Amanda Davis The weather has finally decided to warm up a little, so I thought we’d stay close to CIRCA headquarters today and celebrate with a great ol’ fixer upper right here in Brooklyn. Special thanks to Magazine reader, Maggie, for sending this great find our way! This 5-bedroom, 3 ½ bath beauty is located in Bed-Stuy (Bedford-Stuyvesant), and comes with a whopping 4,000 square feet....
by Elizabeth Finkelstein I call this column "Before & After," but this particular piece should actually be called "Before and WAY BEFORE." Some of you may know Ken Roginski -- aka The Old House Guy -- from his fantastic website that offers an endless supply of information related to researching and renovating old houses. Oddly enough, before he reached out to me, my mom discovered his website and sent...
by Hänsel Hernández-Navarro If there's one thing we love about CIRCA, it's the chance to "tour" the great vernacular architecture that makes America wonderful. We're fascinated with the sweeping Southern porches, the Pueblo Revival homes of the Southwest, and the Craftsman bungalows dotting the Pacific Northwest. The midwest offers classic American Foursquares and majestic Queen Anne beauties, and New...
by Elizabeth Finkelstein This house. THIS HOUSE! It's everything I've ever wanted. Reputed to date back all the way back to 1780, this eclectic historical home must have been a beauty in her heyday. Just LOOK at that turret. But wait, it gets better: The house sits on over 132 acres! And get this: It has been in the same family since 1837. I'm sure that family has some stories to tell. Today's featured...
by Elizabeth Finkelstein Ohio! You're killing it this week with the beautiful houses. Not only did we get two lovely and inexpensive CIRCA listings from Ohio this week (see HERE and HERE), but three of today's 10 beautiful old houses for sale for under $50,000 hail from the Buckeye State. You might not escape the endless winter (really, isn't this just endless?!?) in Ohio, but you will snag 14' ceilings...
by Amanda Davis I was so excited to come across this listing in the small city of Thompson, North Dakota. It’s a little bank house! I can’t say enough how much I love adaptively-reused homes like this. Finding an old building and turning it into a residence provides so much opportunity for creativity. You want a walk-in closet? This baby has a walk-in vault! Right alongside the 5 stained glass windows!...
by Elizabeth Finkelstein Spring is finally here!!! After the brutal winter we've all had, this calls for some serious celebration! In honor of old houses everywhere covered in lilacs, peonies, johnny jump-ups and snapdragons (my personal childhood favorite), CIRCA is offering all listings through April 15th at half off the regular $45 listing fee. To apply the promotion, no need to do anything special!...
by Hänsel Hernández-Navarro If there's one thing we love about CIRCA, it's the chance to "tour" the great vernacular architecture that makes America wonderful. We're fascinated with the sweeping Southern porches, the Pueblo Revival homes of the Southwest, and the Craftsman bungalows dotting the Pacific Northwest. The midwest offers classic American Foursquares and majestic Queen Anne beauties, and New...
by Elizabeth Finkelstein I have a serious weakness for the Italianate style. This certainly stems from too many years spent living in Brooklyn, admiring the great brownstone-lined streets found all over New York (for a crash course in this style of architecture, spend a day getting lost in the beauty of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill or Park Slope). Of course, Italianate in NYC doesn't come...
by Elizabeth Finkelstein Hey New Jerseyites (and wanna-be New Jerseyites)! One of my favorite CIRCA houses is open for viewing this Sunday, March 16th, from 1:00 - 4:00. The best reason to attend? Period wallpaper on the CEILINGS, or course! Lots of pictures below, but I'm sure it looks even better in person. See for yourself! 105 Second Avenue Little Falls, New Jersey Open House Sunday, March 16th,...