Authentic historic houses suitable
for renovation are getting harder to
find. But Building a new house based
on the proportions and details of a
historic house is an alternative. This
month I'll help you find stock plans
based on early houses and explore
ways to develop you own plans.
A lot of house plans are described
as "traditional" in style. Yet they are
often a mix of details and proportions
from different historic periods. The
result is called "eclectic" when it
works, or a "mish-mash" when it
doesn't.
Of course, houses have always been
built by combining styles. The builder
or designer draws on traditional trade
practices and uses existing patterns to
satisfy the client's desire for current
fashions and