Practical Preservation – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Guest Blogs

The longtime editor of Old-House Journal explains why preservation is often more interesting and budget-friendly than remodeling.

| September 16, 2026

Drawing on decades of experience with Old-House Journal, editor emeritus Patricia Poore argues that old houses should be appreciated not just for their charm and craftsmanship but for the history, design intent, and materials they preserve. Rather than advocating for strict restoration or period-perfect interiors, the piece encourages homeowners to approach renovations with restraint, respect, and an understanding of architectural style.

Through examples of old-house styles and approaches toward restoration and preservation, Poore explains how preserving original details, repairing instead of replacing, and learning the “language” of a house can help maintain both its character and its place in the larger neighborhood and historical landscape.

More Than Housing

I still remember my Irish grandmother’s reaction, many years ago, when I told her about my job. As I explained the concept behind Old-House Journal—people fixing up their homes to look original, not modern—she said, “You mean people buy old houses on purpose?” To her generation, and my parents’, settling for an old house meant you weren’t rich enough to afford a new one. So you tried to make the old house look newer by remodeling.

I grew up in suburban houses without pedigree—just housing, really. My parents were buying a roof and just enough room, and what they considered to be “a decent yard.” Maybe they would carpet a bedroom or hang wallpaper in the dining room. Then we lived there, with no further thought to interior design or fine collectibles. Enlightenment was gradual.

In first grade, my friend Barbara inhabited one of the original Dutch Huguenot houses in Bergen County, N.J.; its core dated to 1693 and the “new” kitchen to 1810. It gave me little-girl chills to follow the hollowed-out treads up the dark stairs to her bedroom tucked into the eave of the…