Why buy new when you can buy used building parts at a fraction of the cost? Whether you're shopping for stained glass, steam radiators, or porch columns, you might find just ... Read More

Unless your house is brand new, you probably aren't sure just how old it is. Most older homes aren't constructed all in one piece. Rooms are added, additions built, roofs ... Read More

A highlight of the International Builders' Show in Orlando last week was the "New American" model home. Showcasing the newest innovations in accessibility, green design, and energy efficiency, the house ... Read More

Located in Westchester County, New York, this charming cottage was built in 1926. Neighbors call it a Colonial (or, more aptly, Colonial Revival). But notice the front facing gable and ... Read More

“How can some neighborhoods and communities keep out modular homes?” asks a reader in our Discussion Forum. “It doesn’t make sense to me. Is it purely their architecture review board?” • Discuss ... Read More

Cornell University in Ithaca, New York is known for the beauty of its rolling hilltop campus. It's also becoming known as a showplace for modernist architecture. Towering over historic stone ... Read More

Whether you choose a lot in a suburban development or a site with sweeping ocean views, the land you build on will shape your home in surprising ways. How do ... Read More

Newer siding and other remodelings make it hard to determine the style of this old house. The shape is foursquare, but the porch and gables have a Victorian flair. What ... Read More

Remember all the hoopla when Rem Koolhaas unveiled his plans for the new library in Seattle, Washington? Well, now that it's been open for more than a year, some critics ... Read More

The owners of this remodeled home are looking for color ideas that will bring out the architectural details. They've tried using Paint Pro to experiment with color choices, but still ... Read More

Are you ready? You have less than a year to pick your choice for the new Seven Wonders of the World. The old list, the Seven Ancient Wonders of the ... Read More

What would a city zoning board say about an innovative building like the Farnsworth House or the Jørn Utzon House? Getting approval from picky planners can be tough, so some ... Read More

The Realtor calls this usual house neoclassical. But, how do you explain the round turret? What's the style, really? Learn more about this house, and join the discussion Neoclassical architecture Greek ... Read More

Flamboyant, romantic, eccentric... no matter how you describe them, Queen Anne houses always draw attention. But not every Queen Anne is large and showy. Check out the "quirky queens" in ... Read More

Today the Bring New Orleans Back Commission begins to unveil plans for restoring the hurricane-devastated City. There have been a lot of battles over where to build, and urban planners ... Read More

Meanwhile in Mississippi, the Governor's Commission on Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal recently published a hefty report that's flying off the shelves. A Pattern Book for Gulf Coast Neighborhoods is packed ... Read More

Not long ago, the proud owner of an American Foursquare home in New England came to us looking for an old Sears floor plan. He lamented, "The closest one, design-wise, ... Read More

If you dream of designing houses and other small buildings, but don't want to spend the years it takes to become a registered architect, then you may want to explore ... Read More

My favorite architecture writer of all times, Witold Rybczynski, has a gloomy prognosis for reconstruction in New Orleans. "A city that is unable to decide where to temporarily house its ... Read More

"Are some houses too ubiquitous to have a style designation?" asks a visitor in our Discussion Forum. It's easy to find houses like this one in Vancouver, Canada, but ... Read More

So many of you own older homes, I've assembled this handy-dandy list with favorite links to pages about researching, restoring, and preserving historic architecture. Don't work too hard!