Home Styles and Materials
Spring is here – a time for new beginnings. This is the first opportunity I have had to finish my feature on styles of homes in our City. I hope it was worth the wait. Remember, also, that I have just covered some of the architectural styles of houses – there are many more that could be mentioned. But I feel it’s time to move on to other subjects that may be important to owners of older homes. So begins the final chapter on styles.
Classical Revival Cottage – This is a style that was a period revival of the 1920s. These homes represented a return to symmetrical design with a centrally placed porch, balanced windows and narrow ship-lapped siding. The windows were usually double hung and many times had multiple panes in the top sash and a single pane in the bottom. The porch roof was typically supported by turned classical columns and the entry door was frequently flanked by side lights. There are many fine examples of this style all along North Myrtle Avenue. Read more
Principles of Sensitive Rehabilitation
As Historic Preservation Commissioner for the City of Monrovia, I had the privilege of attending the California Preservation Conference in Santa Rosa recently. Much of the discussion and many educational sessions addressed the restoration and rehabilitation of historic properties. In that connection, I thought it would be good to share with you, as an owner of historic property, the basic principles for sensitive rehabilitation as published in an article on “What Every Restorer Should Know” by Susan Morse. These “do’s” and “don’ts” are aimed at both the veteran preservationist and the first-time restorer. I have made my own comments after some tips in parentheses. Read more