A Rich Architectural Vocabulary

See the architectural details and complexities in this historic home.

By Brian Vanden Brink

Image: © Brian Vanden Brink | Builder: Fabrizio Construction

This section of a beautiful historic house on Boston’s south shore is rich with architectural details and complexities. The spot where dining room, living room and front hallway meet features parquet hardwood floors, fluted columns with Doric capitals, a fluted shell topped display cupboard, coffered ceiling, and in the living room beyond, fluted pilasters framing the fireplace, a polished stone fireplace surround, a cozy inglenook and paneled walls with beautiful crown moulding. The house was skillfully restored and remodeled by builder Stephen Fabrizio.

Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

A Field Guide to American Houses

If you want to plan, design, or remodel based on the vast tradition of American architectural styles you first have to understand their history, geography, architectural significance, and relationship to one another. This book can help with that.

Buy at Amazon

Not So Big House

This book earned author Sarah Susanka a reputation as a small house guru, yet, that wasn’t exactly her goal. This book isn’t about building a small house, it’s about building a smart house, one that matches how we live, and prioritizing beauty and comfort over size.

Buy at Amazon

Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid

If you are designing or remodeling a traditional home and want to make sure that you get all the finish details right, this book is for you. Marianne’s drawings are illustrative, covering every aspect of interior and exterior finishes.

Buy at Amazon

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

View All

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Guard Posts for Angled Deck Corners

Prescriptive codes don't address the connection at less common angles, so base the connection off more typical ones using bolts, structural screws, blocking, and steel tension ties.

Featured Video

A Modern California Home Wrapped in Rockwool Insulation for Energy Efficiency and Fire Resistance

The designer and builder of the 2018 Fine Homebuilding House detail why they chose mineral-wool batts and high-density boards for all of their insulation needs.

Discussion Forum

Highlights

Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

View All

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Membership & Magazine

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

A Rich Architectural Vocabulary

See the architectural details and complexities in this historic home.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

More Through the Lens

Up Next