# How Old Houses Can Avoid Restoration Mistakes & Achieve Curb Appeal

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/intro/
- Published: 2014-02-13T19:57:17-05:00
- Author: Daniel Lane

## Caution Old Home Owners

## Read this site before you do anything to your old house!

![haunted house restoration](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/images/intro/before-and-
after-restoration.jpg)

## Welcome to the Old House Guy website!

_Our goal is to provide information every Old House owner should know to make their
house look the best it can. You will learn how to achieve TRUE curb appeal – curb
appeal that resonates within your inner senses, not what advertisers want out of
your wallet._

_By following the information in this site, your house will stand out from the others
in a class unsurpassed. Whether you live in a small Bungalow or Victorian mansion,
both houses will make an equal impact of beauty.
 

 This site is educational. Your
eyes will be trained to know what to look for and you will learn to pick out design
errors. You will have a better understanding of architecture than many professionals.

_Is your house historic?  __A building that is 50 years old is Historic by The U.
S. Department of the Interior._ _Although we promote Historic Restoration, our goal
is based on and emphasizes Aesthetics (link). However, both are accomplished by 
following timeless Architectural Principles. Principles that can even improve new
homes. Principles ignored by builders today._

## What All Old House Owners Should Know

Unfortunately to the educated eye, most old homes have already lost their appeal.
As each day passes we lose more of our charming neighborhoods not by the wrecking
ball but by the homeowner, contractor, and architect. An overwhelming majority of
houses have suffered from ill-conceived attempts to upgrade and improve their exteriors
that destroyed much of their character.

Many homeowners think they are properly restoring their home when actually they’re
destroying the home’s integrity and making it into something out of Disney Land.
A more severe problem is that over time these errors have become familiar and accepted.
These awful errors have become part of standard design.

The problems may not be obvious so the homeowner will keep remodeling and buying
new fixtures, landscaping, etc. They don’t realize these are merely distractions
for the untrained eye. Don’t worry help is here!

Successful curb appeal is more than adding embellishments or an expensive new door
but requires an understanding of architecture. Many changes can satisfy the homeowner
but will drastically fail to those with a trained eye.

Although that gingerbread fretwork on the gable of a house looks stunning, it’s 
not that simple. Years ago, buildings were pedestrian friendly. Houses were viewed
by foot or carriage passing at a slower speed. This gave the viewer more time to
notice the beauty of a house. It enabled it to be viewed in its own setting, so 
that all its architectural details, were able to work together to portray a certain
feeling. Jonathan Hale, a preservation architect, explains this in his book, [“The Old Way of Seeing” ](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/039574010X/kenroginskihisto).

There is an interplay of shapes and shadows that impress the viewer first – not 
the details – and these communicate directly with your eye and mind. These features,
on buildings constructed years ago, will gently guide the eye to see particular 
parts in order to make associations that give the building vitality, harmony and
interest. Don’t believe it? Try looking at an old church without gazing up the steeple.(
Gordon Bock – The Old House Journal)

The purpose of the website is to prevent and reverse the many injustices to your
old house.

Homeowners can harm the house they love for they are victims of brainwashing. Advertisements
bombard us insisting our house needs a certain look to be fashionable. No one cares
if it clashes with the architectural style. Contractors and architects do the same–
the professionals homeowners sadly depend on so very much. [ See an example of some big mistakes. ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/freehold-history/)

I will focus on key elements which have the greatest impact on the appearance of
your home, and how you can recapture that lost character that once graced your neighborhood.
Sections on Windows, Shutters, Siding, and Porches are key areas that must be understood.
Each of these areas contributes to a bigger picture creating buildings that are 
often simple in details but where everything works together to make a beautiful 
whole.

If you need some personalized guidance, we are available for consulting by phone
and other visual services that will help you and avoid mistakes.

Don’t forget to [subscribe to our newsletter ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/subscribe-to-our-newsletter/)
for updates on informative blog posts.

But first, let’s take a look at some misjudgments of what people think makes a house
beautiful and why Aesthetics and age old architectural principles must be understood.

Click here to get started and [learn about Aesthetics and the Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/aesthetics).