Welcome to Old House Living!

Enjoy reading illustrated historic design articles, and learn about different aspects of decoration and construction for heritage houses - or your traditional neighborhood. From William Morris wallpapers to Arts & Crafts fireplaces, a wide range of information is presented for owners of Old Houses. New articles will be presented at intervals for your reading pleasure.

Articles in Old House Living

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Post Icon New! Victorian Decorative Tile Flooring - Encaustic tiles - Part 3
Encaustic tiles were usually used as the decorative tiles within a floor that primarily used geometric tiles as the main tile covering.
Post Icon New! Victorian Decorative Tile Flooring - Geometric Tiled Floors - Part 2
Geometric tiles are like jigsaw puzzles for floors.
Post Icon New! Victorian Decorative Tile Flooring - Mosaic Tiling - Part 1
There are three main types of historic tile flooring used in the Victorian period.
Post Icon Summer Architecture - 1910 -1913
Old House Living is often at its best in Summer! Windows can be open, porches can be used, and gardens enjoyed. In this article we look at two summer structures: A Classic Porch from 1910, and a 1913 Tent Cabin from Pasadena.
Post Icon Hanging Pictures in Old Houses
The technology of hanging pictures has changed greatly over the years. Depending on when your home was built, the method of hanging pictures will vary.
Post Icon Wallpaper and Historic Homes
Wallpaper is synonymous with heritage homes. Old photographs show a wealth of pattern peeking out from behind paintings, showing a rich background for stiff family portraits, and generally giving another-world atmosphere redolent of an earlier age.
Post Icon William Morris Wallpaper and Fabric Designs
William Morris was the father of the Arts & Crafts movement in England and America. His designs for wallpaper and fabric are as popular as they ever were.
Post Icon The Planning, and Printing of a Wallpaper Collection
How are choices made when a company decides to produce a wallpaper collection? A look behind the scenes at an historic wallpaper company planning a collection.
Post Icon Fireplace Tiles in Historic Houses
Famous designers and worldwide distribution. Sounds like the fashion industry, but we are talking about tiles! The glossy, artistic legacy found in many older houses - historic fireplace tiles.
Post Icon Aesthetic Interiors 1880’s - 1890’s
Birds, blossoms, Japanese motifs and black lacquered furniture were the height of fashion in the late 19th century. It all added up to the Aesthetic movement in Interiors. How did it originate?