ARCHITECTURE
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Q: What is a loft in a house? I’m looking for a new home in the suburbs and that term keeps popping up in real estate...
While becoming a gardener does not require any specific training beyond a love of plants, many of the best landscapin...
With names like “Purgatory Scream Park,” “Frightmare Farms,” “Blood Manor,” and “Edge of Hell Haunted House,” modern-...
Having trouble finding the motivation you need to start a home reno? Sounds like it’s time to add some inspiring DIYe...
Drafting chairs were originally made for designers, architects, and artists to draw at elevated, sloped drafting tabl...
A-frame homes are making a comeback. These cozy buildings are simple structures where the sloped sides of the A-shape...
There’s understandably some confusion about what constitutes modern architecture. While some may identify any contemp...
Hacienda style homes can create intrigue at just a glance. From their unique tile roofs to their romantic archways an...
Latinx designers and artists have had a major influence on our world’s visual makeup, but they don’t always get the r...
Rustic design is right at home practically anywhere, whether in the mountains, countryside, beach, or city.
Snuggle up by the fire in one of these luxury rentals, with amazing views and amenities to erase every trace of stress.
Nothing says classic like Cape Cod architecture. From suburban cottages to rural retreats, find your favorite interpretation of this perennial style.
Stately, luxurious, and at times playful, stained-glass windows radiate history, character, and captivating uniqueness.
These cozy bungalows are surprisingly spacious inside, with plenty of natural light to inspire creativity.
The Charm of an Old HomeThere are two types of people: those who think an old home is a dated money pit, and those wh...
If you work in an architectural, engineering, or creative field, drafting tables are likely part of your work space. ...
Take a (virtual) stroll through some of the Bay City’s revival gems, complete with serene views and luxe interiors.
Home comes in many shapes and sizes. In the Windy City, one unique setup is attracting renters and buyers of all kinds.
Few aspects of our lives say more about who we are than the buildings we build to live and work within. Modern archit...
In a world where we spend much of our time looking at screens and typing on keyboards or smartphones, there’s somethi...
Small cabin kits—the sort designed to install in a backyard or on a wooded lot—serve multiple purposes: pool houses, ...
Stray from the beaten path and visit one of these smaller American cities to discover culturally significant feats of architecture.
For old house enthusiasts, the historic charm of a vintage home can outweigh even the most tempting of today's modern amenities.
How many of America's most well-known homes would you recognize by name or by sight? Test your knowledge and take a virtual tour with our list of the nation's mos...
Check out the housing trends of the past to understand how they shape our present and future abodes.
For those who've always wanted to build their own tiny home or garden room, the prospect may now be more realistic than ever! Find the perfect kit that suits your...
Housing insecurity and homelessness are serious and complicated issues in America and beyond. Visionaries are working together and coming up with creative ideas t...
Beginning in the 1890s, the Foursquare was a popular American house for its budget-friendliness and simple style. But...
We were probably right to leave behind many hallmarks of yesterday's home, but it's time to reconsider these 15 once-popular details, not for their novelty, but f...
If you think mobile homes are low cost—and also low on style, space, and amenities—it's time to think again. In cities across the United States, these mobile home...
Buildings are more than just piles of bricks and mortar. Buildings tell stories and embody historical periods. Some even incite scandal and arouse controversy bec...
Gain some architectural insight—and a new understanding of American history—by visiting these National Trust Historic Sites.
Libraries are magical places, filled with tales of faraway lands, adventure, romance and chivalry, inspiring the imaginations of generations and instilling a life...
From the 1700s all the way through the 1940s, lath and plaster was the interior wall construction method of choice. B...
You never know what fun and fancy you may find in even the strangest ideas. Although designers wanted to revolutionize how we live – or at least offer some out-of...
Open floor plans have dominated modern home design since they first appeared in the 1950s as part of the overall trend toward more contemporary styling. Open conc...
There’s nothing quite like the Revival Queen Anne style of homes that swept through America at the turn of the 19th C...
If America were a brand, it would be one of the most prolific ones on the planet. Over its 242-year life, it has produced, in equal turn, striking skyscrapers, mi...
If you yearn to travel the world but are held back by lack of time or money, or impatience for the inconveniences of trans-Atlantic air travel, don’t pack away th...
A number of architectural styles are associated with the reign of the British monarchy, but few compare to the impr...
Popular in 17th- and 18th-century America for its ability to accommodate large families, the saltbox house features a catslide roof that extends below the eaves, ...
Looking to escape the commotion of city streets without going off the grid? Get inspired by these lofty lodgings, whose eye-popping elevation provides a taste of ...
Building a custom home isn’t for the faint of heart, but across the globe there are daring DIYers who take on the challenge, roll up their sleeves, and raise the ...
They say that home is where the heart is, but in a world of wildly divergent landscapes and cultures, “home” looks different for everyone. Here are 13 interesting...
There are the famous houses of America that everyone knows and loves: Fallingwater, Biltmore, the White House, and other venerable residences distinguished by the...
Prized for its classical appeal, durability, and low maintenance, brick is among the most desired types of exterior s...
While we'll never stop loving shiplap and subway tile, the out-of-the-ordinary designs and decor of these stunning homes gave us pause. We just can't get over the...
Some happy homeowners are perplexed by the tiny house craze, while others are ready to trade in their full-size homes for a taste of the tiny life. Regardless of ...
While a severe earthquake, hurricane, or nuclear disaster could easily destroy most buildings, there exists a rare breed of structures that would emerge practical...
Whether leveled by tornadoes, flooded by hurricanes, or scorched by fires, these great American cities have risen from the rubble to become revitalized burgs bear...
Have you ever passed by a wow-worthy residence that's had a "For Sale" sign on display for what seems like an eternity and wondered why no one has scooped up the ...
In the early 20th century, a handful of companies, including Sears, Roebuck and Co., sold tens of thousands of mail-order homes. Available in a variety of styles ...
Gone are the days when those fortunate enough to live in a meticulously preserved historic home have to jam window ai...
Homebuyers and renters who dare to be different often put down roots in alternative dwellings that others eschew. Even if your inner compass tells you to steer cl...
Harsh weather? Energy shortages? Nuclear fallout? These and other calamities would render most houses unlivable. Not these weird and wacky residences, though. Bui...
Bored of your surroundings? If you're willing to trade your stationary stick-built home for a permanently impermanent address in the great outdoors, snag the keys...
Curb appeal takes on a whole new meaning when a house is painted in cheerful, unexpected hues! Whether you're considering a face-lift for your own address, or sim...
Come summer, you can’t help but think: Wouldn’t it be amazing to live right ON the water? Well, if you lived in one of these homes, you could! We’ve rounded up so...
Queen Victoria may have vacated the British throne long ago, but the regal and architecturally distinctive Victorian houses erected during her reign, from 1837 to...
The rugged beauty and fuss-free style of log cabins made them one of the most beloved American home archetypes of all time. Today, the wooden retreats are croppin...
American architecture might not be as old as the kinds you'll find on other continents, but it certainly is stunning....
A well-built farmhouse will never go out of style. The rustic interior offers old-fashioned beauty, while the views of rolling hills and lush forests provide tran...
Eager to escape the hustle and bustle of urban sprawl or the cookie-cutter homes of suburbia, some house hunters pack their bags and travel to remote reaches of t...
Baseball may still be America's pastime, but during the heat of summer, going to the beach probably comes in a close second. This popularity keeps beachfront prop...
Why demolish an aging edifice when you can transform it into a dreamy dwelling designed for modern living? That adaptive spirit spurred the crafty conversion of t...
What do you get when you bring together forward-thinking architects, exacting engineers, and tireless construction crews? In the case of these 12 iconic buildings...
Boasting a compact yet durable construction and an energy-efficient curved shape, dome homes have made a memorable entrance into towns across America and beyond—a...
While the days of the horse and buggy are far behind us, relics of that bygone age remain to this day in the form of carriage houses. Originally built to house ho...
Every house has a story—some more mysterious than others. The peculiar pasts and enigmatic former owners of these mansions have left countless unanswered question...
Whether you’re an avid shutterbug or simply an admirer of regal real estate, you’ll want to save space on your camera roll for these picture-perfect properties, w...
Shotgun houses, traditionally no wider than 12 feet, feature a cascaded floor plan, wherein each room is arranged behind the other. These popular residential arch...
You already know you can find an apartment or get a room for the night on Airbnb, but you probably haven’t seen the coolest digs the online reservation company ha...
From Pittsburgh to Kansas City, the most economical cities in America are also home to some of the most extravagant abodes standing today. For proof, take a grand...
Although the memorable speeches, grand state dinners, and other important events that have taken place at the White House have been well documented in history boo...
Has cabin fever set in at your landlocked lodgings? Fun, sun, pampering amenities, and tropical treats await when you hop a plane to any of these indulgent bed-an...
Who said you had to be a royal to live like one? Everyday house hunters looking for a new place to call home can snag any one of these on-the-market castles and c...
Whether you live in a centuries-old charmer or a modern marvel, you share something in common with the owners of home...
Bigger isn’t always better. For proof, look no further than these 23 tiny homes, situated all around the country, that serve as evidence that sometimes the most m...
Can’t find any centenarians on your street? Look again; the oldest resident in the neighborhood may well be a historic home. These ancient abodes around the count...
In desirable neighborhoods across the United States, the razing of a tear-down is a familiar sight. But this market-driven trend actually has a very long history....
Your house is made up of walls, windows, floors, doors... and a bunch of other thingamajigs and whatsits. Here, a slew of architectural mysteries solved!
It’s summer vacation time! Whether you’re big-city bound, exploring the great outdoors, or just getting out of dodge for a few days, why settle for a cookie-cutte...
The picture-perfect 4-bedroom house with the white picket fence is not everyone's ideal. If you’ve got a hankering to cut loose and see the country from the comfo...
As agriculture has morphed into big business and populations have shifted from the countryside to urban centers, timb...
Having guests home to visit is often a reason to celebrate. But after a day or two, we might wish for a little more—well—personal space. It turns out that the ans...
Early American homes were rugged and rustic—the ultimate DIY project. Today, modern homesteaders can build a new house with the same frontier appeal by starting f...
In California wine country, a house-hunting couple struck upon a cozy, cedar-shingled cabin. Encompassing 960 square ...
In the Idaho desert, the Outpost sits at the end of a half-mile-long driveway. Designed by architect Tom Kundig, the ...
You wouldn't necessarily expect to find experimental architecture in McAllen, a small city on the southern tip of Tex...
In southwestern Texas, a Chicago-trained architect challenged himself to create something new and exciting from an intensely familiar building type—the suburban r...
When setting out to plan a vacation, the first question you ask is this: "Where?" Whether geographical preferences or nearby activities determine your answer, we ...
Perched on South Fork Mountain in West Virginia, deep within a 27-acre site you can only reach on foot or with an off...
In 2002, Tom Givone went out on a limb. The former advertising copywriter decided to purchase and resuscitate a 19th-...
If you know someone who's been especially good this year—and you're feeling very generous—you need to check out our roundup of prefab and DIY housing structures t...
As a fully trained and credentialed architect, Curtis Popp could have easily gut-renovated the 1969 A-frame where he and his family spend vacations. But he didn't...
Curtis Popp believes in the power of editing. As partner in Sacramento-based Popp Littrell Architects & Interiors...
Out in the blazing hot, red-tinted desert 15 miles southwest of Bluff, Utah, stands a house inspired by a wide sombre...
Architect Andrew Hinman builds a striking contemporary shelter around his client's prized possession—a 1954 Spartan Imperial Mansion. You've never seen trailer li...
Flash floods are a reality in Texas, at least near the Nueces River, which runs through the 10,000-acre ranch owned b...
In La Verne, CA, architectural preservation and restoration expert Ray Adamyk recently dispatched a half-dozen workers from his "artisan army" of 150 to restore a...
In La Verne, California, a small, sunny city roughly 30 miles east of Los Angeles, renovation expert Ray Adamyk recen...
There's nothing quite like a trip to the ballpark: the uniform-clad crowds, the salty peanuts, the 7th-inning stretch—and the all-important game, of course. Yet a...
Summer's a great time to get away from it all—school's out, work is slower (or at least feels that way), and nice weather makes for smoother travel. A hotel is th...
If you’ve set up home on a lake, chances are you're there because you love to be outside. Your days are most likely spent outdoors, so you don't need much as far ...
Jeffrey Sommers's C3 Prefab modular house is a landmark of new urban architecture—and the first of its kind in Chicago. Although the structure was quick to constr...
Prefabricated homes are increasingly popular for a variety of reasons, among them the relatively quick build time, the ecological advantages, and the flexibility ...
For centuries, home builders have been drawn to sites on mountaintops, craggy coastlines, and rock islands to take advantage of the climate, natural resources, an...
Entrepreneur and hotelier Dan Dobrowolski has brought to market a tiny, movable cabin that feels as spacious as its natural habitat, the wide-open outdoors. The s...
Meticulous is the word that comes immediately to mind when you first see ESCAPE, the cabin-on-wheels designed by SALA...
A home is a retreat—a place to escape the outside world, to be alone, to recharge, to relax with friends. For some, one apartment among many in a building wedged ...
Converting an old barn into a home makes great use of the original structure's open space and guarantees a new house dripping with vintage country charm. Often, b...
We've all heard of construction paper—it's a staple of kids' crafts—but what about constructing actual livable houses from paper? The idea sounds unbelievable and...
The New American Home for 2014, nestled in the foothills of Henderson, Nevada, is an “idea house” showcasing new tren...
The versatility of concrete allows architects and engineers to be innovative in their home designs. While concrete has been around as a building material since th...
Do you dream about simplifying your life by downsizing to a house on wheels? You’re not alone. Mobile living is gaining popularity, attracting everyone from young...
Tudor architecture is a style of building that originated in England more than 500 years ago. This style's popularity coincided with the reign of the Tudors, an e...
Take an architectural tour to see some of the incredible buildings that have inspired Bob Vila. Ranging from classical to modern, these landmark structures will p...
For some, a day full of flurries means a day spent outdoors making snowballs, snow angels, and snowmen. For others, however, frosty weather inspires the construct...
A Raleigh, N. C. , couple’s desire for dappled sunlight—thwarted by poorly placed windows in their 1990s house, which...
Rather than tear down a derelict mountain shack, the owner solicited the help of North Carolina architect Chad Everhart to re-imagine it for modern-day living.
“Brutal” is the word architect Chad Everhart uses to describe his first encounter with a home he now calls the Mounta...
Creaking doors, cold spots, moving objects—be afraid, be very afraid of these famed ghostly retreats.
People have lived in caves since time began, but today's rock dwellings are anything but a hole in the wall.
Boathouses exist to keep pleasure craft safely out of the elements, but they also can also be beautiful, architecturally arresting structures, havens for boats an...
If you live in a lighthouse, you never have to leave the beach. Just imagine residing in one of these 7 tower-equipped properties recently listed for sale on Zillow.
If you love architecture as much as we do, check out the 10 Instagram accounts that have been distracting us recently.
It’s a classic challenge in an older neighborhood: How can a growing family increase their living space without expan...
First popularized for their simple design and affordable cost, today's A-frame homes are gaining renewed popularity thanks to design modifications that expand the...
Taking backyard play to new heights, these tree houses just might inspire you to create one to delight the kids—or your inner child.
This is nothing new: For thousands of years, people have been living in shelters made from earth-based building mater...
Over the past 20 years, Jeffery Wyant and Maria Keares Wyant of Wyant Architecture in Philadelphia have become known ...
One unusually warm and sunny November day, a giant 225-ton crane deposited five prefab house modules onto a 25’ x 125...
For Dennis Wedlick, the conservation-minded architect who masterminded the Hudson Passive Project—New York State’s fi...
The name "Bungalow" is Indian, adapted by the British in India to describe a one-story house with a porch. While this...
Looking back a hundred years, we can see the magnitude of the changes that occurred in the opening decades of the twe...
As an owner of a Shingle Style House, I obviously have a great affection for the style. While they never attained the...
The origins of the Stick Style are European Gothic, but an American architect named Richard Morris Hunt actually deve...
A single characteristic distinguishes the Second Empire house: its dual-pitched hipped roof. From the eaves, the roof...
Octagons are not the most common Victorian style, although following the publication of A House for All in 1848, as m...
Alexander Jackson Davis and Andrew Jackson Downing, the men who helped launch the Gothic Revival, also did their bit ...
The Gothic Revival began in England and was the result of new investigations of antique buildings. The Gothic had bee...
The Greek Revival captured the American spirit as no other style had done. To visit an unspoiled town that prospered ...
The name comes from the English queen who assumed the throne in 1837 and remained in power until 1901. Victoria wasn'...
The generic, early American house is known by many names, among them the English Medieval House, the Cape Cod, the sa...
Many Octagon, Second Empire, and Stick Style houses survive, but it was the Queen Anne House that inherited the mantl...
Almost everyone by now should be familiar with the phrase LEED-certified—a program developed by the U. S. Green Build...
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, bringing category-3 winds and tidal surges that de...
In architectural history, there is one major dividing line that separates the handmade house from all those that cam...
We’ll begin by considering a handful of words that are especially useful when the talk turns to buildings. SYMMETRYIn...
After the Revolution, Americans wanted cultural as well as political independence, and they began to change the styl...
If the ups and downs of architectural history were to be represented by a line graph, there'd be a tall spike at the ...
New PhilosophyThe average American house has more than doubled in size since the 1950s, standing at more than 2,300 s...
Modular homes are constructed in a factory and assembled on site. Since modular homes are factory-built to exacting s...
Modular homes are built to the same local and state codes as traditional stick-built homes. The way they differ is ho...
Whether it’s called a modular home, a systems-built home, or a factory-built home, the modular home is a misunderstoo...
If you are looking for a good quality, super-insulated and super-strong house, a modular home using structural insul...
Far from the misconceptions of dark, damp, musty-smelling structures, today’s concrete homes can be designed to stand...
Shopping for a new home can be challenging, especially when there are seemingly endless options online. While newer h...
Who wants to live in one, big room? You might be surprised. The market for loft apartments remains steady and strong,...
‘Tis the season for cookie swapping and decorating Gingerbread houses. Everyone gets involved in the baking frenzy, f...
The roof says it all when it comes to Cape Cod and Dutch Colonial houses. The Cape Cod house has a gabled roof, which...
Let’s consider a handful of architectural terms that are especially useful when talking about the forms of buildings....
How and Where to Spot a Shingle Style House The Shingle Style flourished in the last quarter of the 19th century. T...
This renovated Manhattan townhouse proves once and for all that beauty and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
Back in 2005, when Paul Gleicher and his wife Lisa Sharkey began to gut-renovate their 1885 Manhattan townhouse, the ...
Innovative shipping container homes show just how good sustainable architecture can look.
In recent years, architecture has seen a flurry of offbeat yet beautiful abodes with designs based on the world around us.
Eschewing excess space and making the most of every inch, these functional but tiny houses prove that bigger is not always better.
Iconic contemporary architect and designer Michael Graves is in the spotlight once again: The Virginia Center for Arc...
Cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and protected from the elements, earthen shelters—or hobbit houses—aren't just for Bilbo in the Shire.
In Milan, Italian apartment dwellers will soon have the chance to live in the middle of a forest, 20 floors up. After...
Man’s best friend gets the royal treatment at Barkitecture Houston. Being in the doghouse isn’t such a bad thing whe...
You may not be one of the rising wave of aging baby boomers, but if you’re building or renovating your house, the pri...
Did you know that the best insulation there is can’t save you as much on heating and cooling costs as you’d save if y...
While striving to honor the provenance of the original stone farmhouse, Wyant Architecture created a spacious and contemporary new family home.
From rustic log lodges to mountaintop cabins, these properties offer a good night's sleep as well as easy access to some of the nation's most beautiful parks.
Spencertown, NY, is a church and a post office and a general store. It's actually not even a town; it's a hamlet. New...
The luxurious super-green house underway at 2020 Alton Road in Miami Beach is moving right along on its way toward LE...
Roughly half of the shipping containers that enter our ports never make it back to their points of origin. Not surprisingly, this growing glut of steel cargo cont...
Most houses that survive from the Colonial era—such as early Capes, Saltboxes, and Georgians—are descendants of Engli...
Homes from early Spanish settlements are found in St. Augustine, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; Sante Fe, New Mexico; ...
Looking for an inexpensive backyard office or a tiny house in the woods? Check out the growing field of container arc...
Take the classic white box architecture popularized by Richard Meier and others in the 1960s and 70s and add the late...
At 2020 Alton Road, a home on track to be Miami Beach's first LEED Platinum residence is steadfastly taking shape. Mu...
What is LEED Certification? As green building hits the mainstream, you’ll continue to hear many new terms. One of the...
Origins and Early 20th Century Adaptations of the Garrison House Colonial is one of the most adaptable styles. The ga...
The construction of 2020 Alton Road, a 3,200 square foot, single-family residence in Miami Beach pursuing a LEED Plat...
Some Georgian Revival Houses can, at least from afar, be confused with eighteenth-century precedents; others resemble...
The word snug comes to mind when I think of the Cape Cod House. These are efficient and economical houses, putting th...
You may be one of the many who believe Dutch houses have gambrel roofs (a variation on the gable roof in which the pl...
The South Bronx The South Bronx’s reputation conjures up violent street life in the shadow of menacing apartment tow...
There is a new residence in the Malibu hills constructed mostly from an old airplane. Consisting of a main house and ...
With rising energy costs and the lingering effects of the mortgage crisis, demand for smaller houses has never been g...
Early Colonial Revival HousesThe Colonial Revival was inspired by patriotism, nostalgia for the pre-industrial past, ...
A zero-energy home (ZEH) produces as much energy as it consumes over a year's time. The only way to achieve this is t...
Architect Mary Kennedy and Bob tour her Georgian Colonial family home in Westchester County, NY. After a flood ruined the house, the challenge was to salvage and ...
Bob visits with architect Alan Shope who has built a unique earth-bermed house at his farm in Upstate New York.
Bob goes over plans for the second floor with architect Gregory Rochlin and then joins carpenter Bob Ryley for meticulous demolition and disassembly work.
Bob and architectural historian Brian Pfeiffer tour the neighborhood's historic homes.
Work gets started as Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin discuss first-floor plans, demolition begins, and a surprising discovery is made.
Bob and architect Gregory Rochlin tour the interior of Bob's 100-year-old Shingle Style home in Cambridge, MA.
Bob works with contractor Bob Ryley and carpenter Chris Clark installing new wood-shingle siding.
Bob meets with architect Gregory Rochlin to discuss the third-floor structural redesign.
Bob tours the front vestibule, highlighting the beautiful stencil work done by artist Kim Sweet. He explains how small touches can bring back the feel of an 1890s...
Bob reviews the Victorian design elements of his front-corner porch and the interior columns that echo the exterior ones, and then watches the turn-of-the-century...
Bob takes a tour of the Isaac Bell historic house in Newport, RI, exploring one of the finest examples of the Shingle Style to be found anywhere.
Architectural conservator Brian Powell helps Bob do some detective work to discover the original exterior paint color scheme. They then look at historically appro...
Bob takes a break from putting his own landscape in order to tour the elaborate gardens at the Naumkeag historic house in Stockbridge, MA.
Bob takes us to Stockbridge, MA, to tour Naumkeag, a wonderful example of the grand Shingle Style by architect Stanford White.
Karen Brooks Hopkins, president of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), gives Bob a peek at the restoration of the main building.
Bob meets with Pat Fricchione from Simplex Industries to discuss the process of constructing a modular home and the reasons why prefab is an attractive building m...
Bob meets with Bill Wilson of the Berkshire Visitors Bureau to discuss the beautiful region and the many famous turn-of-the-century mansions dotting the lovely Be...
Bob teams up with Michael Shiels, the project's general contractor, to discuss the foundation prep work that is underway.
Bob meets with Jim Costello from Superior Walls of America to discuss the difference between a pre-cast and a traditional poured-concrete foundation.
Bob meets with Thomas "Doc" Dougherty, the stair builder at Simplex Industries, to confer about the custom staircase Doc is building for the modular home.
Bob continues his tour of the Simplex Industries factory and observes the installation of prefinished Bellawood floors in the project home.
As workers join together the different sections of the modular home, Bob walks through the basement and first floor, discussing the marriage wall and how the piec...
Installation of the second floor sections begins as Bob points out the complexity of the pre-fabricated pieces.
Bob reviews the site preparation process with the on-site contractor, Michael Sheils.
The first day of assembling the modular home ends on a high note-- the addition of a roof.
Bob talks with Mark Murphy (Owens-Corning) about a new man-made stone product for the exterior of the modular home.
Bob and contractor Michael Sheils discuss the use of gusset plates to tie in the walls. They then tour through the master bedroom and bathroom.
Bob surveys the modular home project in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts, paying special attention to the products used on the exterior of the house.
Bob tours the Elm Court mansion, which was built in 1886 by William Douglas Sloane and Emily Vanderbilt Sloane.
Bob meets with Sonya and Bob Berle in the library of Elm Court to discuss the interior design and preservation of this magnificent home.
Bob visits Cape Cod with Dick Wills, who is carrying on the work of his father, architect Royal Barry Wills. Beginning in the 1920s, the senior Wills popularized ...
Dick Wills takes Bob on a tour of the interior of his Cape-style home.
Bob visits the Julia Wood House, home of the Falmouth, Massachusetts Historical Society, and takes a tour with Carolyn Power, the society's executive director.
Ron Ford from Kohler Power Systems joins Bob to talk about the 22-kilowatt backup generator that has been installed.
Bob takes a tour of the Jackson Homestead in Newton, MA.
Bob and landscape designer Ruth Foster tour Mahoney's Garden Center to discuss landscape elements for the project house.
Interior carpenter John Kiley continues to build the staircase in the front hall of the modern Colonial.
Darcie Miller from Wellborn Cabinets is on the site of the modern Colonial project house to talk about the kitchen's design.
Decorator Leslie Curtis joins Bob in the modern Colonial project house parlor to discuss the room's wall treatments.
Artisan Ken Forcier are applying the second "layer" of the stencil he's using to decorate in the parlor of the modern Colonial.
Bob introduces an 1890s Brownstone on New York City's Upper West Side.
Reviewing the architectural floor plans for the Brownstone remodel, salvaging the vintage sink, and removing asbestos tile uncovered at the start of demolition.
Bob visits with Jim Vaccaro and Tom Ferontie of Mashpee Commons, in Mashpee, Massachusetts and talks with Pat Fiero of the Housing Assistance Corporation about th...
Bob meets with Joe Valle, the developer and general contractor for the River Hill development in Mashpee, Massachusetts on Cape Cod.
Bob meets Bob Bevilacqua at the River Hill site in Mashpee, Massachusetts, where Bevilacqua and his crew have undertaken a mammoth job of earth moving as they cle...
Bob meets University of Vermont professor Tom Visser in Plymouth Notch to visit the birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge. They then go to see the Burtch-Udall ...
John Spellman of Cape Cod Counter Works shows Bob the installation of the shop-made laminate counters in one of the Mashpee, Massachusetts, homes.
Bob introduces Medford, MA, a city five miles north of Boston. Settled in 1630, Medford once flourished with industry, including the shipbuilding building. Today,...
Bob walks with the owner and architect through different rooms on the first floor of the Victorian. Looking over the floor plans, they discuss the changes that w...
Bob works with the general contractor Charlie Tomaszewski to move the Medford project home's original front door, so they will be able to frame up a new foyer.
General contractor Charlie Tomaszewski completes the restructuring of the kitchen/family room, having replaced a rabbit warren of rooms with a 35-foot wide-open s...
Bob goes up to the attic of the Victorian project house, where an ODL tubular skylight is being installed. Also, Bob looks back at the installation of windows on ...
Bob helps install the new six-panel garage door at the Victorian restoration project house.
Bob visits a Habitat community in Phoenix, Arizona, then heads back to New York, where he meets Jim Kilorian, President of Habitat for Humanity in Westchester Cou...
Located in Mt. Pleasant, the neighborhood of I'On values community living to puts an emphasis on nurturing a traditional small-town feeling.
Bob talks with carpenter Bob Ryley and general contractor Kevin Kalman, as they lay down the subflooring.
The neighborhood of I'On is built around myriad architectural styles and designs. Bob takes a look at, and remarks upon, some of these variations throughout the n...
Bob takes a tour of the historic Middleburgh Plantation, the oldest surviving wooden house in South Carolina.
Bob observes, and assists with, the installation of Cherry cabinets, a Northland refrigerator, and a wine storage system.
Architect and town planner Andres Duany explains how the project house in Mount Pleasant, SC may be expanded if necessary.
Bob tours Agecroft Hall and its luxurious gardens. The property overlooks the James River.
Bob takes a tour of Wickham House, a high-style museum designed by Alexander Parris, the architect of the Virginia governor's mansion.
Architect John Paul Hanbury brings Bob up to date on the progress that's been made on the restoration of the Virginia governor's mansion.
Bob takes a tour of Shirley Plantation, the oldest operating family farm in America, located right on the James River.
Bob tours colonial Williamsburg, VA, stopping at the Royal Governor's Palace, where facilities manager Mark Winger gives a tour.
In Colonial Williamsburg, Bob visits a cabinetmakers' shop, where traditional methods of building furniture are still in practice.
Bob takes a walking tour of some of Boston's best-preserved antique commercial buildings in the Leather District with architectural historian Brian Pfeiffer.
Bob tours the home and office of world-renowned landscape architect Martha Schwartz.
The architect and interior designer of the loft conversion project have modeled some intriguing ideas for Bob.
Bob tours some of the grand old houses that remain from Roxbury's heyday at the turn of the century.
The first Elmwood project concerns remodeling a Gothic Carpenter-style home, built in 1871.
The old flooring in the Gothic Carpenter-style home in Elmwood has been removed. Bob outlines the process of installing the new floor and discusses the new suppor...
Pat and Roger Simons, the owners of the second house in the Elmwood project, review the goals of their bathroom remodel.
In the second Elmwood project house, a Colonial Revival, a new Kohler tub is installed, while homeowner Pat Simons, a ceramic artists, creates a tile mural.
The second home in the Elmwood project, a Colonial Revival, is complete, after the second-floor bathroom gets a new vanity, new doors for the laundry closet, and ...
Bob tours the third Elmwood project house, an eclectic Queen Anne sometimes known as the "Castle of Elmwood". The goal is to reinforce an old sundeck, so that it ...
Bob drops by the third Elmwood project house to watch as the deck is covered with rubber and the hot tub is installed.
Bob meets with Judy Lee, the owner of the fifth Elmwood project house. The front porch, built in 1892, must be replaced.
Bob meets the owners of the sixth Elmwood neighborhod project house and reviews the proposed portico plans. Built in 1892, the Victorian home needs a new front po...
The seventh Elmwood neighborhood project house has rotting sidewall and old asphalt roof shingles in need of replacement.
Owners of the tenth Elmwood neighborhood project house, Peter Haraty and Brent Bachelder, want to create one large space on the attic level, a change requiring wa...
Homeowner Don DeSantis is transforming the attic level into an exercise space. The floor structure is being shored up in order to hold the wieght of excercise equ...
Bob takes a shoreline tour of Miami, his hometown, to introduce the new project.
Bob takes a tour of a William Randolph Hearst treasure: the ancient Spanish monastery that he Hearst had transported stone-by-stone from Spain to Miami.
Bob meets Gavin and Michelle Langley, owners of a vintage Sears kit house, who plan to preserve both the historic and sentimental values of the house. Bob review ...
Bob continues his tour of a Craftsman bungalow, located in Studio City, CA.
Bob confers with carpenter Cortney Lofton and cabinetmaker Brian Comeaux on the milling and construction of an interior soffit for the bungalow.
Bob and carpenter Cortney Lofton install clapboard siding on the front porch of the bungalow. In addition, they reinforce the gable to correct an existing sag, th...
Bob outlines the building plans for the new back porch and pool deck at the Studio City, CA project house.
Bob confers with contractor and carpenter Cortney Lofton, as he builds a pergola at the Studio City bungalow, which will serve as a gate to the backyard.
Bob meets with contractor Cortney Lofton, who is installing porcelain mosaic tiles with acrylic mastic over an existing bathroom mortar bed.
Bob learns the process of creating stained glass windows. Designs begin on paper before they are traced onto glass using a light table. A variety of glass types a...
Bob helps cabinetmaker Brian Comeaux custom-build a cabinet for the dining room.
The newly built china cabinet is installed. The unit was constructed in several peices, so it would fit through the front door. Several final cuts and adjustments...
Bob tours the home's exterior, noting that the crowned gates are complete and that a locking latch has been added to secure the pool. Bob also remarks on the land...
Bob meets with Donald Young for a tour of the home's Zen garden. Donald discusses the plant choices and lighting requirements in a garden of this size. Slate tile...
Bob joins homeowners Gavin and Michelle to review the Craftsman-style decor.
Bob takes a tour of Newton, MA. "The Garden City" boasts a wide variety of American architectural styles and is one of the most desirable communities in the Bosto...
Bob meets homeowners Tracy and Linda Gallagher at their 1930s Colonial Revival home. Bob also meets the architect and contractor, whom the Gallaghers have enliste...
Bob and contractor Paul Morse review the excavations and formwork for the foundation.
Bob meets with the architects, Mark and Geoffrey, who visit the project site every two weeks in order to check on progress, and to make sure their plans are being...
Bob is on site to discuss the design of the completed addition with the project architects.
Bob sets out on a carriage tour of historic Charleston, SC to get a feel for the elegant and well-preserved architecture of one of the most beautiful cities in th...
Restoration contractor Richard Marks shows Bob around the elegant, though quite run-down, Federal-style project house.
Bob meets Betsy Johnson, owner of an 1805 Federal-style home in Charleston, the carriage house of which he now tours.
Bob visits a Federal-style home undergoing reconstruction, and having an addition put on, in Charleston, SC. Restoration contractor Richard Marks guides Bob throu...
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks, who explains the distinction between restoration and reconstruction. He and Bob also discuss the relocation o...
Bob tours the William Gibbes House, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in America.
Bob meets with restoration contractor Richard Marks and roofer Joe Wells to go over the proper techniques for installing slate roofing.
Bob returns to the William Gibbes House in Charleston, SC for a tour of the one-acre garden of this grand Georgian mansion, one of the nation's best examples of G...
Bob assists Patty Hettich in stripping paint from decorative woodwork, then making rubber molds to create new details in the Federal-style home.
Bob takes a field trip to Millford Plantation, a spectacular Greek Revival governor's mansion with echoes of the Civil War still ringing through its halls.
Alongside restoration specialist Richard Marks at the Federal-style home in Charleston, Bob watches painter David Snyder scrape and sand old wood siding.
Bob tours a Georgian architectural beauty with twin octagonal parlors a few blocks away from the project house in Charleston, SC.
Bob takes a tour of the elegantly appointed Guillard-Bennet House, one of the jewels in Charleston's crown.
Bob chats with painter Rick Snyder in the dining room of the Federal-style home, while Rick experiments with color on intricate wood detail.
Finishes are completed on the 1800s Federal-style home in Charleston, SC, and the interior design is underway as the owners finally move back in from the carriage...
Bob, the architect, and the homeowner discuss plans for the new greenhouse. The exact position of the greenhouse in relation to the existing house is chosen so as...
With the bricklayers on hand, Bob discusses the techniques being used, and explains the "anti-freeze" that has been added to the concrete to retard the cold weath...
Bob visits the Yestermorrow Design Build School in Warren, VT, which espouses a unique philosophy on architecture. Bob meets with students and discusses their pro...
Bob tours a home that was designed to affordable, flexible, and easy to build with a do-it-yourself, low-cost construction system.
Bob tours the Adamson Estate Museum, just down the beach from the project house, where he gets a look at authentic California-Spanish architecture.
The architects present their plans for transforming the run-down Malibu beach house into a showcase home of California-Spanish architecture.
Bob reviews the newly completed caissons with the architects, and demolition continues with the removal of a tree from the courtyard.
Bob visits the unusual home of TV star Max Gail in hopes of gathering design ideas.
The framing of an authentic California-Spanish hip roof begins over the master bedroom of the beach house in Malibu.
Contractors explain their methodology as they apply stucco finish to the Malibu beach house in a multiple-step process.
The Malibu beach house gets a pair of Cantera stone columns in the entry foyer. The pieces are fit together and Bob learns what to odo when they don't come togeth...
Real estate agent Lois Bostic shows Bob some interesting properties in the area representing a variety of styles-- cottage, Spanish, contemporary, and ranch.
Bob tours the town of Osterville, MA, which has a deep background in fishing and maritime activity. And he meets with Bill Koch, one-time America's Cup champion, ...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley install southern yellow pine plywood on the interior of the garage. On the exterior, Bob talks with Greg Binford about adding a stain...
Landscape designer Ruth Foster explains a few techniques for promoting drainage and keeping weeds under control, respectively. She also discusses the plants she h...
Bob takes the ferry to the island of Martha's Vineyard, MA, where he tours Oak Bluffs and soaks in the town's Victorian history.
Bob and realtor Alan Schwikert visit a 1930s Shingle-style home just outside of Vineyard Haven and then a smaller 'in-town' Victorian. Neither project fits Bob's ...
To prepare for the Victorian remodel, Bob takes an inspirational tour of the striking Chateau-sur-Mer in Newport, RI.
Bob tours Lyndhurst mansion, a testament to high living during the Victoria era in New York's Hudson River Valley. The 40-odd rooms include a Gothic dining room w...
Bob and contractor John Clancy discuss creating the new concrete chimney at the Victorian-style project house in Martha's Vineyard.
Contractor Bob Ryley is creating a Victorian-style breezeway using modern materials, which will bridge the old and new wings of the home.
Bob meets with an expert in Victorian design to look at homes with scalloped, diamond, and straight shingles. Gingerbread-style brackets and railings are also rev...
As contractor Bob Ryley attaches the gingerbread-style verge board on one gable end of the Martha's Vineyard Victorian project, Bob remarks on the notable feature...
Bob and Tom Moran (from Pella) discuss the anatomy of the doors chosen for the Martha's Vineyard Victorian project, and contractor Bob Ryley demonstrates the proc...
Bob meets with carpenter Ron Jackson, who is installing Atlantic white cedar shingles and sidewall flashing.
Bob joins electrician Greg Roulette as he works on the rough wiring. The circuit breaker panel, Greg explains, is a receptacle for ground, neutral, and hot wires...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley confer about adding trim to the curvilinear top edge of an arched window. After sheet lead is installed as flashing, Ryley attaches s...
Painting contractor Mike Suarez sprays water-based stain on the home's exterior, while Bob, accompanied by paint consultant Sherry Hiller, tours the island with a...
Contractor Bob Ryles demonstrates how to install tin ceiling sheaths, a Victorian touch for the Martha's Vineyard project house.
Landscape designer Ruth Foster visits the project site to explain her choice of plantings for the formal courtyard garden.
Bob reviews progress in the kitchen, where pantry space and a tin ceiling have been installed, and where contractor Bob Ryley continues working on the staircase. ...
Bob confers with artist Margo Datz about decorative striping and stenciling in the master bedroom. She demonstrates for Bob how to add a stencil pattern to painte...
Bob and contractor Bob Ryley review costs for the Victorian-style remodel-and-build project in Martha's Vineyard, MA.
Bob tours the furnished, decorated Martha's Vineyard Victorian project house. The designer has sourced pieces from antique stores, salvage yards, second hand stor...
The designer shows Bob around the addition, pointing out certain highlights, such as the breezeway with exposed studs and the Victorian-influenced lighting design...
Bob meets with Lynn from the Shirley-Eustis Colonial Governor's Mansion Association. Together they tour the Federal-style home, noting an Irish crystal chandelier...
Bob reflects on the project house's previous appearance and how the addition will change both the appearance and functionality of the home.
Bob visits Drayton Hall, in South Carolina, for a tour of one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States.
Bob tours the Art Deco section of Miami Beach. His guide points out many notable sites, including the Bow Hotel, believed to be the oldest building in Miami Beach...
Bob goes house hunting in Plymouth, MA, talking with the realtor while he tours the area homes for sale.
The architect begins the design for the remodel using Autocad software. Computers make changing the architects' initial plans fast, easy, and precise.
Bob helps carpenter Bob Ryley and crew install a new box bay window, which will enlarge the dining space and enhance the interior atmosphere.
For inspiration, Bob tours the John Quincy Adams House in Quincy, MA.
Bob takes a field trip to Plimoth Plantation, a replica village where visitors can experience early Colonial life.
A country-style door, built by carpenter Bob Ryley in the workshop, is hung in the new entry of the Plymouth project house.
Bob has finished wiring the Colonial-style light fixture in the entryway and, back in the kitchen, the refrigerator ice maker is hooked up.
Bob and carpenter-contractor Bob Ryley review the exterior of the home, pointing out the new trellis and the new entryway. Next, they move inside to have a look ...
Bob tours the newly furnished and appointed Plymouth project house with the interior designer. Throughout, there is a mix of formal and informal pieces, which all...
In search of the perfect "cracker" cottage to remodel, Bob goes on a neighborhood tour of Naples, FL, both by car and by boat.
Hoping to find inspiring remodeling ideas, Bob tours a recently revamped cracker cottage nearby.
Bob meets with landscape contractor John Wall to talk over removing existing plant material.
Bob confers with contractor Al Stouse as his crew begins demolition work on the Naples project.
Bob confers with contractor Al Stouse about the termite and dry rot damage on the roof overhangs. Next, Bob helps build and install new roof brackets, or outriggers.
Bob helps contractor Al Stiles change a swinging door into a relocated pocket door.
Bob helps the contractors work on building and installing new French doors.
Contractors Al and Steve Stiles set a new window on the back porch. Using a combination of stock and one custom windows, they demonstrate how to save money on mat...
Bob tours the interior of the in-progress Naples project, discussing the installation of ceiling boards with the drywall contractor.
Bob takes a field trip to Keewaydin Island, where he tours an island cottage that was created by a colorful artist.
Bob joins the interior designer for a shopping trip. The designer aims to achieve a comfortable 1940s vintage look. Bob and the designer also visit an upholstery ...
Bob tours the finished porch and pool area, and exchanges comments on the beautiful completed project with the architect.
Bob takes a driving tour with realtor Catherine Caravette of two Chicago suburbs, Wicker Park and Lincoln Park.
Bob joins architect Bill Bauhs to discuss plans for renovating the two-flat greystone.
Bob meets with architectural historian Susan Benjamin to tour five buildings in Chicago, the birthplace of the skyscraper.
Bob takes a tour of the sights and sounds of the town of Marstons Mills, MA.
Bob meets with the architect to go over plans for the Cape-style house, before heading to the site to observe the pouring of the foundation.
The crew lowers the recycled "ell" onto the new foundation with a crane.
Bob and carpentry contractor Bob Ryley complete the raftering job on the roof of the Cape Cod house.
Bob helps carpentry contractor Bob Ryley and his crew install a wooden window at the Cape Cod project house.
Bob tours the smart finished exterior with carpentry contractor Bob Ryley.
Bob joins architectural historian Susan Benjamin for a tour of some of Chicago's landmark buildings.
Bob joins architect Mike Morgan and general contractor Ron Gan in the basement of the coach house to discuss options for making the basement space useful and/or m...
Bob tours the Oak Park, IL studio of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Bob goes on to visit several nearby houses designed by Wright at the turn of the century.
Bob meets with Askia Aquil of the St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services to talk about the upcoming project, taking place in a revitalizing area. Next, Bob ...
Bob meets with David Cross of Tampa Armature Works (TAW), a company that converts shipping containers into intermodal steel building units (ISBUs).
Once stripped down, an ISBU's exterior is finished with heavy-gauge steel, then faced in sheet-metal wrap and covered with SuperTherm insulating ceramic coating. ...
Window installation is underway. Bob talks with Stephen Hugh of Clearwater Window to learn more about the installation process, and Dave Olmstead of PGT Industrie...
Bob visits the historic neighborhoods and parks of St. Petersburg, FL.
Bob talks to Derek Mercer and Delwin Carter of Tampa Armature Works about how to treat the steel exterior to make it look more like a conventional house. Bob then...
Bob joins Steve Armstrong, the project architect and engineer, to discuss the project. The challenge of building a home like this is marrying new methods of const...
Bob talks with David Cross from Tampa Armature Works. Cross reviews the versatility of designing houses with shipping containers. Both traditional and contemporar...
General contractor Buba Barrow joins Bob for a tour of the finish work and interior layout, starting on the tiled front porch, moving through the open-plan family...
Bob talks with David Cross (formerly of Tampa Armature Works) about the future of home construction with steel shipping containers.
Bob looks on as general contractor Tim Berky clads the Queen Anne Victorian project house with clapboards, taking cues from the home's original 1890s exterior.
General contractor Tim Berky is creating a new frieze board to match the existing board and molding on the 1890 Queen Anne Victorian project house.
General contractor Tim Berky updates Bob on progress since the footing for the new foundation was poured and repairs to the original foundation were made.
Bob meets with homeowner David Masher and architect Greg Colling at the project house, a Queen Anne Victorian in Rowley, MA's historic district, to review plans f...
Homeowners David Masher and Jeanne Sanviti-Masher provide Bob with a tour of the interior of their 1890s Victorian home in Rowley, MA.
Bob joins general contractor Tim Berky to hear how the foundation and footing will be handled for the Victorian kitchen remodel and deck addition.
