Versaci explores how architects, builders, and craftsmen are reinterpreting the traditional American house. Through photographs and engaging text, discussions of history and craftsmanship, and sidelong glances at the workings of real old houses, Versaci explains how traditional houses go together and what gives them their unique design appeal.

Features 17 new, old-style houses—from colonials to farmhouses—from all over the country.

From the Introduction
"Let's find a great old house and fix it up." Perhaps you daydream of living in a home with a past. But in real life, you know that the adventure of rebuilding an old house often leads down a rocky road. By creating a new old house, you can skirt these troubles and satisfy your old-house soul. This book will show you the path to a new home that is patterned on tradition.

Two decades ago in architecture school I discovered my own passion for things old. At the time, Modernism was the rule of the day. The spare forms of Modern American homes did not have the connection to the old-fashioned arts and crafts that made traditional houses delightful places to live. In the world of Modernism, I was a lost soul.

Disenchanted, I turned to history for inspiration. While searching through dusty volumes in the library, I uncovered treasures. America was rich with forgotten styles, from the first colonial dwellings and styles of the new republic through early-twentieth-century classicism. Determined to rediscover the legacy of the past, I decided to make a career out of designing homes built on tradition.

Longing for an old house
Like many of you, my clients long to recreate the gracious homes of the past. In pursuit of their dreams, we have brought to life the new old house, a vintage home designed for modern living. We have unearthed forgotten details of style, building techniques, and materials with timeless character and integrated them with the benefits of modern conveniences. The houses we have created are new variations on classic styles, blending the emotional comforts of the past with the creature comforts of today.

Timeless pillars
As an architect, I delight in the complexity of designing houses. In the process, I have learned ways of building "new old," which have become my working tools. I call these principles the Pillars of Traditional Design. The Pillars are design principles drawn from the old ways of building which seamlessly weave the past into the present.

The houses in these pages have been created by architects, builders, and homeowners who are dedicated to making new old houses. These homes represent rich geographic diversity of regional styles in America. You will see portraits of seventeen new houses in the traditional styles of our forefathers: from the native forms of the Southwest and Spanish settlements in Florida and California, to the early architecture of the colonies from New England to Georgia, through the Greek Revival style, to the pioneer traditions of Texas and the Rocky Mountains.

These outstanding examples, selected from more than 300 homes, present the way traditional American styles are being reinterpreted in the best new homes of today. My hope is that they will inspire you to create the new old house of your dreams, wherever you may live.

Table of Contents
Introduction— Reviving the Classic Homes of the Past: A Portfolio of New Old Houses; California Spanish Colonial Revival: Recapturing the Romance of Spain; Rocky Mountain Ranch: River House in Big Sky Country; Spanish-Pueblo Adobe: Reviving a Primitive Power; Midwestern Greek Revival: An Honest Prairie Farmhouse; Connecticut Valley Colonial: Relocating a Relic; Pennsylvania Dutch Farmhouse: A New Farmstead with a Past; Hudson Valley Greek Revival: Building by the Book; Maryland Tidewater Plantation: Preserving History; German Stone Farmhouse: Bringing a Farm Back to Life; Cape Cod Cottage: A House of Salvaged Bones; Southern Piedmont Farmhouse: A New Farmhouse for an Old Village; Southern Antebellum Plantation: Proper Southern Manners; French Creole Cottage: A Weathered Bayou Cottage; Texas German Ranch: Sunday House on the Prairie; French Colonial Plantation House: A Portrait of Louisiana Heritage; Craftsman Arts and Crafts Bungalow: House of Fine Woodworking; Colonial Revival Shingle Style: New England in the Northwest; Directory of Architects.

About the Author
Russell Versaci, is an accomplished residential architect who has spent two decades in professional practice designing traditional houses. Recognized for his expertise by his peers in traditional design, Versaci is a founding member of the Institute for Traditional Architecture, a select guild of architects dedicated to teaching the art and craft of traditional building.