The Vintage House: A Guide to Successful Renovations and Additions
by Mark Alan Hewitt & Gordon Bock
Both authors were teachers of mine at Drew University's Historic Preservation program. A must-have primer for homeowners and professionals, this impressive book presents the first comprehensive survey of its kind on how to achieve truly compatible, stylistically resonant additions and renovations. From exploring "How Do Houses Grow?" to "Getting the Details Right," it guides readers through typical projects and issues, such as finding more space within an existing footprint or blending in new windows or dormers without destroying historic character.

Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes
by George Nash
Old houses are different than new houses in many ways. Although modern technology may be good, it is not a fix-all solution. If you do the work yourself or hire someone, it is best to be informed on the proper method. You are the steward responsible for the future of your home.

1910 Sears Roebuck Home Builder's Catalogue
Just because you don't have a Sears House, doesn't mean your home didn't have Sears hardware and products. Books such as these are a great resource for the old house owner.

Turn-of-the-Century Doors, Windows and Decorative Millwork: The Mulliner Catalog of 1893
by The Mulliner Box & Planing Co.

Roberts' Illustrated Millwork Catalog: A Sourcebook of Turn-of-the-Century Architectural Woodwork
by E.L. Roberts & Co.

The Victorian Design Book: A Complete Guide to Victorian House Trim
by Richard O. Byrne

The Old Way of Seeing (And How to Get It Back)
by Jonathan Hale
As briefly discussed in my introduction: If you ever wandered why NEW buildings pale in comparison to old buildings, this book will answer your questions. The author promotes rediscovering our aesthetic eye and how simple geometric harmony can create LIFE in a building. This book provides a basic understanding to architectural design.

Traditional Construction Patterns: Design and Detail Rules-of-Thumb
by Stephen Mouzon
The Do's and Don'ts of design. If only contractors and architects today would follow the Principals and Rules of architecture, today's buildings would be so much more aesthetically pleasing to look at. This book will train your eyes enabling you to be able to critique architecture.

American Architecture: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
by Cyril M. Harris
A reference to architectural terms and their use.

A Field Guide to American Houses
by Virginia & Lee McAlester
What style is your house and what features define that style.

Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms : 1600-1945
by John J. G. Blumenson
A companion guide to the above Field Guide to American Houses.

A Concise History Of American Architecture
by Leland Roth

The Death and Life of Great American Cities
by Jane Jacobs

Victorian Exterior Decorations:
How to Paint your 19th Century House Historically
by Roger Moss and Gail Winkler
This is a great resource full of pictures and information. There is a lot to know about color placement on a house. An error will upset the entire balance of your house.

Bungalow Colors
Exteriors
by Robert Schweitzer
This too is a great resource full of pictures and information. Bungalow, Victorian, or Colonial, this book gives you some great ideas of color combinations for any home.

Victorian Interior Decorations:
American Interiors: 1830-1900
by Roger Moss and Gail Winkler
This is the best resource I have found so far. There is a wealth of information in a great format.

The Tasteful Interlude
American Interiors through the Camera's Eye, 1860-1917
by William Seale
A collection of photos from 1860 through 1917 of real rooms in average homes that a person can relate to (not everyone wants to decorate a Newport Mansion). What better way to understand period decorating styles than by examples. Once you have gained the knowledge of decorating styles by reading Victorian Interior Decoration listed above, and combine it with the examples in this book, you will be ready to put what you learned to use to decorate your home. That's what I did.

Photographs of New York Interiors
At The Turn of The Century
by Joseph Byron
Similar to the book listed above - "The Tasteful Interlude", this book also included some public buildings. I recommend purchasing both books.

The House Beautiful: An Unabridged Reprint of the Classic Victorian Stylebook
by Clarence Cook
For homes built in the 1870's or 80's or even later. This book provides information on furnishing your home tastefully and affordably. Decorate the right way - Victorian "inspired" decor is boring.

Hints on Household Taste: The Classic Handbook of Victorian Interior Decoration
by Charles L. Eastlake
If your home was built in the period before or after 1878, and the original owners were considered to be "fashionable" for their day, this is your guide.

Aladdin "Built in a Day" House Catalog, 1917

This is a catalogue for kit houses. However, this book and many like this are great for interior decoration. There are pictures and layout of rooms - excellent for decorating a 1917 period home. Notice there are no coffee tables.

Small Houses of the Twenties: The Sears, Roebuck 1926 House Catalog

This is a catalogue for kit houses. However, this book and many like this are great for interior decoration. There are pictures and layout of rooms - excellent for decorating a 1926 period home. Notice there are no coffee tables.

The Weekend Refinisher: How to Make the Most of Your Furniture -A Step-By-Step Guide
by Bruce Johnson

IF YOU ONLY BUY ONE BOOK ON Furniture Refinishing, this is the one. It will save you a lot of unnecessary work and PREVENT YOU FROM DESTROYING AN ANTIQUE. You will learn the most valuable lessons NEVER mentioned in any other book.

The Furniture Doctor
by George Grotz
A great how-to book that shows you how to deal with particular problems with furniture and refinishing.

Understanding Wood Finishing : How to Select and Apply the Right Finish
by Bob Flexner

The Practical Guide To Decorative Antique Effects
by Annie Sloan
This book will show you a variety of simple techniques to create an antique effect on furniture etc. Crakle-glazing, graining, using waxes etc. are featured for creating an antique appearance. Caution: First read the Weekend Refinisher before you mess with an antique. (you may think there is no hope for the existing finish, but in most cases you will be wrong - read it first, then thank me!)

The Art of Faux: The Complete Sourcebook of Decorative Painted Finishes
by Pierre Finkelstein
This book will show you a variety of simple techniques to create an antique effect on furniture etc. Crakle-glazing, graining, using waxes etc. are featured for creating an antique appearance. Caution: First read the Weekend Refinisher before you mess with an antique. (you may think there is no hope for the existing finish, but in most cases you will be wrong - read it first, then thank me!)

Professional Painted Finishes
by Ina Marx
This book contains the most information on Graining Techniques. Personally I do not like the way it reads, however it will give you all the information you will ever need. Although expensive, I would only purchase this book if you are really serious about this stuff. THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DECORATIVE ANTIQUE EFFECTS listed above, gives you a good overview which is sufficient for most.