Rome wasn’t built in a day…and good stewardship takes time, too. So, we’re back with more seasonal maintenance tasks (make sure to read Part 1 as well!). 1. Invest in a smart thermostat. Even when you’re not at home, the interior of your house should remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid problems like frozen […]

A Distinctive Home in the Storied “Playground on the Potomac” – Lester Cottage – CIRCA Old Houses Newsflash! Regardless of what the vinyl window and siding sales force would have us believe, there’s no such thing as maintenance-free. ALL homes require steady, ongoing care. The beauty of OLD homes (I mean, beyond the obvious…) is […]

CIRCA founders, Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein, have partnered with NYS Clean Heat as they look to make energy-efficient choices for their own cheap old farmhouse renovation. Learn fom their journey as we show you how best to tackle energy-focused upgrades in any old home.

Old houses do not need to feel like museums, frozen in time, one-note style statements. An Italianate house with mid-century inspired decor? Love that! A vintage bungalow with contemporary furnishings? Adds such interest!

Are you curious about how to control unwanted moisture in historic buildings? Repair stained and leaded glass? Preserve and reuse historic gas stations?? Then you are in luck! “Preservation Briefs” is a series of 51 guides that address these questions, and hundreds of others, in expert technical detail. And they are available online from the […]

You know those people who love getting up in the morning because their jobs feel like play? I used to be intensely jealous of them…until I became one nearly a decade ago. This isn’t a post on deep meditation or how to “get rich quick” (sorry!). It’s a topic that makes me a little giddy […]

Almost nothing makes my heart sing more than someone telling me they’re interested in old houses. Maybe they live in one, grew up in one, want to buy and rescue one, or turn one into their dream coffee/book/thrift shop with podcast studio and artist workspace.  A question I often get is, how do I become […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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

Your historic property deserves a preservation-minded tradesperson — here’s how to find one!