The exterior of the house is painted in a deep green, high-gloss oil paint because the California sunshine will fade the color within a few years. The Thornbergs used Victorian colors; the brick-red color highlights the architectural details of the wood trims.

Restoring Turn-of-the-Century L.A., Part 1

Echo Park wasn’t the best part of Los Angeles in 1975 when a young couple moved to their Angelino Heights … Continue reading →

The city hall courtyard in Pasadena, California. (Photo: Thinkstock)

Exploring Victorian Neighborhoods: Pasadena, California

In this series, we’ll explore Victorian neighborhoods across the country and around the world to learn about regional period architecture … Continue reading →

The Doctors House Gets a Restoration for Christmas

When the Doctors House in Glendale, California, was set for demolition in 1977, city residents rallied long and hard to … Continue reading →

Discover Christmas at the Doctors House

The Doctors House Museum in Glendale, California, is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the many people … Continue reading →

Set designer Gerard Marin decorated the dining room with understated elegance; entries and doorways were often swaged in this manner. The home boasts a beautiful collection of lamps, including the hurricane and hanging lamps seen here. The small table next to the banister is covered with an antique silk doily featuring hand-stitched, white-on-white embroidery.

A Holiday House with Victorian Flair

Built sometime between 1887 and 1897, The Doctors House is one of only two remaining Queen Anne Victorians in Glendale, … Continue reading →

Restoration Story: An 1886 Queen Anne

Restoration can be a full-time job laden with chance and coincidence, as Cathie and Dennis Caldwell of Orange, California, have … Continue reading →

With its ornamental crown, this fainting couch, which resides in the second parlor of Tony and Wilma Burton’s 1893 Queen Anne, is an ode in oak to Eastlake. It is defined by simple, angular lines that curve only at the crest of the headrest, and its distinctive decoration is placed for maximum effect.

Eastlake-style Furniture

Wilma and Tony Burton have included several pieces of Eastlake furniture in their 1893 Queen Anne painted lady in Riverside, … Continue reading →

Furnishing a Victorian Guestroom

While contractors busily adapted his 1878 Queen Anne to his 21st century lifestyle, homeowner Chris Mullen indulged one of his … Continue reading →

How do I restore imperfect wood floors?

After removing linoleum in our 1893 Queen Anne’s kitchen, we discovered a maple floor that seems to be the original. … Continue reading →