Martha Stewarts New Old House: Restoration, Renovation, Decoration, Landscaping
by By Stewart, Martha, Prato, Rodica (ILT), and Stewart, Martha (PHT)
Category: House & Home , General

Martha Stewart has always loved old houses, and much of her life has been devoted to making them livable again. From her first renovation - the reclaiming of a 19th-century schoolhouse - to the complex restoration of her Federal-style farmhouse on Turkey Hill, Martha has endeavored to "remove the unsightly and replace it with the beautiful." She often wished she had kept a complete record of her restoration efforts, so when the old Adams homestead in Connecticut became available, she decided not only to buy it and restore it, but also to record the experience. Martha Stewart's New Old House is the renovation journal Martha always wanted to keep.From the initial inspection of the historic but sadly "down-at-the-heels" Adams house to its completion as Martha's dream home, Martha Stewart's New Old House is the step-by-step story of exactly how she makes an old house "new." This uniquely personal account guides homeowners (and would-be homeowners) through one of the most exciting and challenging projects they will ever undertake the restoration, renovation, and decoration of an old house.Reshingling the roof, rebuilding the foundation, repointing the chimneys, stripping the exterior for painting, framing new walls, installing a heating and cooling system, stripping wallpaper and paint, installing drywall, refinishing floors, restoring millwork - Martha explains it all, allowing the homeowner to work with the contractor and crew more effectively.Once the renovation of the Adams house was completed, Martha invited a talented group of designers and artisans to decorate the rooms. Here they explain their visions for the design and give step-by-step instructions for decorative techniques: marbleizing, designing a tile floor, painting a faux carpet, creating a trompe l'oeil wall mural - special touches that make a truly spectacular home.Finally, Martha leads the reader outside, where she explains how to preserve trees and shrubs, accent the property with evergreens, build a stone wall, and create a restful, fragrant herb garden, giving the house the perfect setting.Homeowners who choose to make major improvements in lieu of moving - and all those who buy old houses hoping to restore them to their original charm - can now benefit from Martha's practical knowledge, incomparable sense of style, and brilliant organizational skills. Delivered from start to finish with her personal flair and passion, Martha Stewart's New Old House is a compendium of essential information that is sure to inspire and motivate homeowners to create their very own dream house.