- Each of the 12 houses will be featured in national and international press to announce the book- In the UK, the media includes Tatler, House & Garden, Country Life, The English Home, and Telegraph Luxury Online- In the US, the media includes Town & Country, Architectural Digest Online, The AD Aesthete Podcast, Air Mail, and DeparturesThis book is a sumptuously produced journey around 12 privately-owned country houses, asking what it is like to live in such places today. What role do they play in the 21st century? For many years after the Second World War, the country house was struggling. Now a new generation of young owners, often with children, has taken over. They're finding innovative ways to live in these ancient, fragile and poetic places. While they treasure the history and beauty of the houses, they're also adapting and enhancing them for a modern era. Old Homes, New Life is a behind-the-scenes account of today's aristocracy, as they reinvent the country house way of life. Each family does this in its own way, maintaining the tradition of individualism, even eccentricity, which is so much associated with country houses. Dylan Thomas's superb yet intimate photographs capture both the inhabitants of these houses and the spaces they occupy - from State dining to family kitchen, walled garden to attic. This feast for the eyes is accompanied by an equally mouth-watering text by Clive Aslet, based on interviews with family members and his long experience of the subject through his years as editor of Country Life. The result is an exclusive tour of a dozen spectacular homes.

"Plain talk for restorers, from soup to nuts (and bolts). Here's thorough, practical advice that's sensitive to both history and budget".--The Old House Journal.

Easy-to-understand introduction to good design and rehabilitation explains everything from selecting an architect and choosing appropriate materials to restoring interiors from ceiling to floor. 300 illustrations.

‘I was born on 25th May, 1938, in the front bedroom of a house in Orton Road, a house on the outer edges of Raffles, a council estate. I was a lucky girl.’ So begins Margaret Forster’s journey through the houses she’s lived in, from that sparkling new council house, to her beloved London home of today. This is not a book about bricks and mortar though. This is a book about what houses are to us, the effect they have on the way we live our lives and the changing nature of our homes: from blacking grates and outside privies; to cities dominated by bedsits and lodgings; to the houses of today converted back into single dwellings. Finally, it is a gently insistent, personal inquiry into the meaning of home.

Although there are other books about renovating old houses, this is the first that prioritizes the identification and preservation of the historic, character-defining features of a house as a starting point in the process. That is the purpose of this book: to describe and illustrate a best-practices approach for updating historic homes for modern life in ways that do not attempt to turn an old house into a new one. The book also suggests many ways to save money in the process, without settling for cheap or inappropriate solutions. Scott Hanson is a historic-building preservation professional and has 40 years' experience rehabilitating historic houses. He has illustrated this authoritative book with hundreds of step-by-step photos, illustrations, charts, and decision-making guides. Interspersed throughout are photo essays of 13 restored historic houses representing a range of periods and architectural styles: Italianate, Victorian, Queen Anne, Federal, Colonial, Colonial Revival, Greek Revival, Ranch, Adobe, Craftsman, Shingle, and Rustic. With interior and exterior photography by David Clough, these multi-page features show what can be achieved when a historic home is renovated with a desire to preserve or restore as much historic character as possible.

Old homes come with a character unmatched by recently built houses on the market The craftsmanship is often more distinct, the architectural elements more refined, the wood floors and trims more detailed, and the structure more solid and settled. A certain amount of renovation must be done to the older homes, and remodelling your home can make it come alive, fix its flaws, enhance its interior, and even make it more eco-friendly. However, renovating can be time consuming, expensive, and nerve-racking, leaving the homeowner in a dust whirl-wind with everything that needs to be done. This guide helps you to overcome these challenges bringing you home-owner bliss. To begin, you will learn how to estimate and stick to your renovation budget, as well as some key cost-cutting techniques to help you come in under budget. You will learn what building codes to follow before your begin your project, as well as the projects you can do on your own and what you might need professional assistance on. This book takes you through the complete remodelling process from the bottom up, beginning with the foundation. The book also presents ideas for renovating your family room, bedrooms, attic, basement, kitchen, and bathroom, as well as a variety of floor plans to follow if you need some help getting started. You will learn how to select and install cabinets and counter tops, as well as how to fully update sinks, taps, appliances, baths, showers and toilets. You will also learn how to overcome the challenges associated with water, electricity, asbestos, tanks and wells, and cesspools. There are step-by-step instructions for some of the most common projects, including installing drywall, upgrading windows and doors, and installing flooring. There is a section on exterior renovations, which contains information on skylights, garage doors, sunrooms, decks, and pools. Whether you are attempting your first project or are a seasoned professional, this is an indispensable companion for any homeowner with a project or two in mind.

Practical advice on roofs, walls, masonry, glazing, insulation, plumbing, doors, stairs, floors, exteriors, and more.