Journal

Guides to the details that define a home

Researched explainers on architectural styles, woodwork and materials, illustrated with documented examples from the library and cited to their sources.

Tyrolean farmhouse room with a built-in corner bench, wood-paneled walls and a tiled stove

Style guide

What Defines an Alpine Chalet Interior?

Long before “chalet style” meant ski-lodge decor, the heart of an Alpine house was one warm, paneled room. Its stove, bench, corner and ceiling still define the look.

Miniature colonial drawing room with painted paneling, fluted pilasters and a classical fireplace

Visual guide

Traditional Interior Door Styles: A Visual Guide

Stiles, rails and panels are the grammar of almost every old interior door. How they are counted, proportioned and molded is what places a door in its period.

Historic photograph of a richly paneled Jacobean room at Hatfield House with a carved chimneypiece

Explainer

Wainscoting vs. Wall Paneling: What's the Difference?

The two words began as near synonyms. Here is how they drifted apart, where the chair rail belongs, and how to recognize the main kinds of wood paneling, from linenfold to the Alpine Stube.

Victorian dining room with built-in mirrored sideboard, glazed china cabinet and period costumes

Colorado guide

How much do custom cabinets cost in Colorado?

Published Denver and Colorado benchmarks, what drives the price, and what the dry climate means for solid-wood cabinetry.