New Rooms for Old Homes / Great Book

This is another favorite coffee table book that is in my collection and is currently off the shelf and at hand. 

NEW ROOMS FOR OLD HOUSES

Beautiful Additions for the Traditional Home

by Frank Shirley

Published by THE TAUNTON PRESS

"Inspiration for Hands-On Living"

All of the books by this publisher are wonderful.

Back cover. Mine has the dustjacket. 

The hardcover binding is plain.

Retail $40. My used copy from local bookshop $15.
Gold Seal on front dustjacket from

NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

I did not know the term "monitors", did you? Such an interesting architectural detail for raising the roof and getting more light into a room without adding a skylight.

The pleasing addition is on the far right. Note slight color change in roofing material.

Have a great weekend. By now you know how to order used books, right?

xo

More about Monitors and Cupolas. Unknown left a comment about a monitor barn in Shelburne, Vermont. I couldn't find it but found a 1903 barn in Richmond, Vermont that was moved and beautifully restored with the monitor spanning the entire roof ridge and a cupola too! It's fabulous as is the article by KNOBB HILL JOINERY Preserving New England's architectural legacy for future generations with photographs of the entire process.

Read the article and see the amazing photos HERE. 
The barn is home to the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps.

Isn't this barn beautiful? Everything old is new again.
xo

Sliding Barn Door Inside The House

One day I too will have a sliding barn door inside my cottage. They make such good sense when you can't do a pocket door. The room is so spacious without a door opening into it.


sliding barn door


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Covered Patio in a Barn

I showed a house today that had a barn with a patio inside. One whole side was open. This was in back of this house, not attached. It's always good to have a covered place for eating outside and grilling. So nice. A rolling picnic table and benches were stored in the other part of the barn. Have a great weekend. xo

Double Decker Sliding Barn Doors

I still like this sliding barn door trend, especially on this converted barn/home. via

I woke up early after a half day of mowing yesterday and I'm almost finished with my fall cleanup. I was shocked into getting it finished after I saw photos of an early dusting of snow in Connecticut and upstate New York this week. It is unusually warm today and that's good for the trick or treaters. Happy Halloween. xo

Natural Pest Control Has Wings

Barn Owls have the best ♡ shaped faces.

Shy barn owlet peeking out.

It's a lot to read but this article is very rewarding if you are at all concerned about pesticides on your fruit or in your wine. Fruit growers in California have begun putting up nest boxes in their orchards and vineyards and letting the occupants help with pest and insect control. They are finding the birds are outperforming the pesticides and I find that to be quite thrilling. I always enjoy Penelope Bianchi's owl videos on Instagram showing her barn owls bringing vermin back to the nest box to feed their young. Of course, bluebirds in nest boxes help with insect control as do other small birds.

I have two more dahlia photos awaiting processing which I will add to this post later. I have to transfer them from my Nikon camera on my attic computer which has a card reader. I am waiting for my generator to come on for the weekly 15 minute test cycle before I turn on the computer. I'm glad so many of you are still enjoying my cottage flower photos. xo

The green background seems to fighting the green dahlia foliage of this Black Velvet beauty in my backyard.

I enlarged this dahlia by cropping out all but the flower. It's the same photo I posted yesterday minus the rooster.

Converted Barn Home

♡So.Fabulous♡

My favorite feature is the sliding barn door shutters. This clever design has one cutout so you can still see outside when they are closed. I also like the enclosed steps and railings leading to the front door. I spy a screened porch too. There are many other barn homes to view here but this one is my favorite by far. Have a great Sunday. xo

Red Barn in Amagansett

I love this red barn. Wouldn't a huge green wreath with no decorations look fabulous on the gable end? via

This old red barn near me is starting to show signs of neglect. I hope this landmark doesn't deteriorate much more before some repairs are made. This was a drive-by photo made with my iPhone without getting out of the car.

Curious Barn Owls in UK Church Window

Richard Brooks photographed the three young Barn Owls looking out of the quatrefoil of a local church one evening in July after staking out the site most evenings over a three week period. Enlarge this amazing photo here.

As the perfect place to perch, it must have been the answer to their prayers.

Three inquisitive young barn owls used this lofty window for an early evening surveillance mission in a Norfolk churchyard.

Standing in the stone quatrefoil of Christ Church, Fulmodeston, they were keeping a beady eye open for a tasty snack of mouse, vole or shrew.
Read the article in The Daily Mail here.

Sliding Barn Doors Used Inside

This is probably about the 4th time I've featured sliding barn doors used as an interior feature. I always stop to look at photos of them when I'm browsing blogs. I forgot to make a note of the source of this photo for these new doors that maintained the look of their barn/carriage house origins. It's a lovely Friday morning so far. I'd better get my outside work done early because I think it's going to be quite warm. Have a great weekend, Rosemary

Historic Brick Barn near My Cottage

I took this photo mid afternoon on my way home from the post office. This historic 19th century brick barn is off a public walking path that was once private property but was dedicated as parkland in 1989. This is the back of the barn not visible from the road. I am glad I pulled over and walked down the footpath for this photo on a cloudy day. I put it on Instagram too.

Sliding Barn Door for Bathroom

Here is yet another lovely interior sliding barn door to delight and inspire you. 
My other blog posts on interior sliding barn doors.

Interiors, Cottages, Sheds, Hideaways, and Barns

So simple and elegant. Nice family entrance.

Beautiful, warm, and cozy.

Rustic backyard shed decorated with real wood logs.

Wonderful garden shed.

Backyard spa.

Small cottage with wonderful landscaping.

Another small cottage with old-fashioned flowers and shrubs.

A beautiful barn in winter. via

This post has a little bit of everything, doesn't it? I've been weeding out my photos and these are some I've been saving. All of the backyard sheds and cottages are from Sunset. The first two interiors and the last barn in the snow are from blogs. If they are yours, let me know so I can put in a link.




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Interior Sliding Door Hides Closet Office

A sliding barn door conceals a small but efficient hideaway office in a project by Greene Partners, via Sunset Magazine.

Barn Door Hardware Click on the different types of tracks to get more ideas and see additional photos. I wish I had one of these doors somewhere in my cottage.

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Red Star on Barn

I stopped to snap this barn outside one of my favorite thrift shops recently (last Saturday) on a beautiful, cloudless day. Happy Monday. xo

Red Barn Complex with Windmill

I took this photo yesterday with my iPhone without my feet touching the ground. Yes, I was in my car! This delightful farm is near my cottage and I never tire of driving past. I had been taking a few pictures at The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and had to drive by this pastoral setting coming and going. It was on the driver side on my way home. It has everything, doesn't it? A partially frozen pond with an aerating fountain in the center that is actively working in spite of the cold weather. Look closely and you will see the spray. I especially love the windmill and the long barn complex is fabulous. Swoon. I put this on Instagram too but the top and bottom were cropped because of the square format used there. 

We had a gray day up until just recently. I was sure it was going to snow but it never did. It's still being forecast for tomorrow morning but just a dusting. I've got my TV evening all set up. It's PBS all night -- Pie in The Sky, Father Brown, Scott and Bailey. I'm looking forward to all three English programs. Can't wait! xo

Red Barn in Need of Repair

Red Barn in Wood County Ohio by dbthayer
I hope someone saves it soon.

Nice Property Near Me

This green barn building is part of an estate with outbuildings. The happy white building is a garage. Its twin is in the next photo.

Do you see the happy faces? The large stone main house is behind. This is a corner lot and I didn't photograph it because I had to turn in the opposite direction. I photograph it for you another day.

The people kept the landmark old red barn for their horses.

Here's a closer view showing the stone foundation and the stone walls.