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
