Classic Neighborhoods and Homes.

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The middle house is riddle with wrong proportions. The entrance wall is recessed and narrow. The designer could have planed out all 3 frontal elements and thus getting rid of the 2 overscaled projections.



The precast entrance surround would then be much more gracious by having adequate wall mass framing it. The front door itself could still be in the recessed position for weather protection and also pick up some 2nd floor footage above the entry.
 
I really hate the fake juliette balcony treatment over a blank wall just below a window.



Too many design elements forced into too small of a facade space. This is the #1 error of architects lacking design restraint.
 
Sorry I posted such an ugly/inappropriate home in this forum for classic neighborhoods and homes...I mainly was impressed with the back alley access so I grabbed a few examples.



What do you think of this, for sale on the same street (ok, it is probably a McMansion with vinyl windows, so take it easy on me). In the description they call this a "classic example of Eastern Seaborard Archtiecture" which sounds like a made up term to me.....

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/46/bigphoto/049/U9003049_1.jpg

http://media.cdn-redfin.com/photo/46/bigphoto/049/U9003049_1_1.jpg
 
Beautiful home!



This is actually a Southern Colonial originated in the Confederate states. The veranda porch was a key element for the southern heat and high humidity. White windows are very appropriate for the East Coast styles. The windows in this house may not be vinyl due to the compound radii at the door transom. It is really hard to tell from the picture but the clean reflection from the glass is suggesting the muntins are behind the glass.



Thank you for posting pictures of classic homes. I hope with my comments you now can spot the real and the fake.



The house really has good form regardless of the windows being updated. The white window is appropriate for this style.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1254970990]Old homes have steps up to the front door due to the raised foundation while new home is leveled with the street with one or two steps. The elevated floor is better for privacy and people from outside can't look in easily.</blockquote>


There are significant disadvantages to a raised foundation. Mainly, access for the elderly or handicapped (and everybody else for that matter). A house with no steps whatsoever is worth a premium. Of course, this means the house has to be single story as well.
 
{Please feel free to move this post if this is not the right place.}



<a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/presbhom.htm">The National Park Service offers a series of free(!) technical briefs</a> for folks interested in maintaining and restoring older buildings. They also offer briefs on earthquake retrofitting, ADA issues, and energy conservation.



I think these would be BK approved. Take, for example, the brief titled <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/tps/briefs/brief08.htm">"Aluminum and Vinyl Siding on Historic Buildings: The Appropriateness of Substitute Materials for Resurfacing Historic Wood Frame Buildings."</a>



<blockquote>In many cases, the replacement of wood siding on a historic building is proposed because little attention has been given to the retention of historic materials. Instead, the decision to use a substitute material is made because: (1) it is assumed that aluminum or vinyl siding will be a maintenance-free material; and (2) there is the desire to give a building a "remodeled" or "renovated" appearance. A decision to replace historic material must, however, be carefully considered for its impact on the historic resource--even when the model planning process has been followed and the appropriate treatment is replacement.



Therefore, this brief focuses on the visual and physical consequences of using a substitute material such as aluminum or vinyl siding for new siding installations on a wood frame historic building. These concerns include the potential of <strong><em>damaging or destroying</strong></em> historic material and features; the potential of <strong><em>obscuring</em></strong> historic material and features; and, most important, the potential of <strong><em>diminishing the historic character</em></strong> of the building. </blockquote>


(Emphasis in original.)



H/T <a href="http://retrorenovation.com/">Retro Renovation.</a>
 
How about <a href="http://www.myansleypark.com/listings.php">Ansley Park,</a> Atlanta, GA, and No_Vas' (long ago) recommendation of <a href="http://www.oldfig.org/index.html">Fig Garden</a>?
 
FYI The Pasadena Craftsman Home Tour is tomorrow. <a href="http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/popup_eventdetails.php?eid=4&page=8">Ticket and location info here</a>
 
[quote author="Mcdonna1980" date=1255846584]FYI The Pasadena Craftsman Home Tour is tomorrow. <a href="http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/popup_eventdetails.php?eid=4&page=8">Ticket and location info here</a></blockquote>
Went to one several years ago. We really enjoyed it and saw many craftsman interiors. The inside of these homes are gorgeous. Not a lineal inch of drywall.
 
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