Then, take a look at Tom and Judi Embrescia's 25,000 square foot Ohio home. The sheer size of the space presented several decorating challenges, but the couple was able to keep the original look of the house, which was built in 1910.

Next, we meet Gep Durenberger, who bought the home his family owned more than 60 years ago. Durenberger wanted to maintain the integrity of the structure and return it to the look it most likely had when his family lived there in the early 1900s. To do so, he returned it to a single family dwelling and added faux stone walls in the formal entry.

Finally, visit Judy and Jim Brandenburg's house, located deep in nature in Ely, Minn. The home is set on a rock cliff, in an area populated by wolves. Its simplicity of design, rustic feel and many windows make it well suited to the area, which is the subject of Jim's photography.

Pilhofer Home Facts:

• Suppliers of recycled and antique lumber are located across the country and available on the Internet.

• To counter the effect of dark timber, utilize prints and neutral colors that lighten the room.

• Hardware such as copper fixtures can help achieve "casual elegance."

Resources

Caring for Your Historic House
by Charles E. Fisher, Gordon Bock , United States National Park Service, National Heritage Preservation Institute, Heritage Preservation Organization, National Park Service

The Old House Web
www.oldhouseweb.com
A community for old house enthusiasts.

Heritage Preservation Organization
888-388-6789
www.heritagepreservation.org

Embrescia Home Facts:

• Hand-carved stone fireplaces are often made of cantera or adoquin stone, although limestone, granite and marble are also common.

• Tall standing lamps and wall sconces can warm a large room with high ceilings.

• Reproduction wooden iceboxes are available with modern electrical refrigeration components.

Resources

Cantera Hand-Carved Stone
888-99STONE
www.cantera.com

Home Concept
www.lampusa.com
Lighting tips

Roseland Icebox Company
www.iceboxes.com
Types of iceboxes offered by the Roseland Icebox Company.

Durenberger Home Facts:

• Faux stone walls are an easy do-it-yourself project. Be sure the "stones" are proportionate to the size of the room and the expanse of the wall.

• Bay windows were created to add shape and dimension to houses that were typically boxy.

• Any standard swing-style door can be replaced with a hidden door with concealed hinges and a hidden latch.

• Trompe l'oeil, a style of painting which depicts objects in realistic, three dimensional detail, is French for "fool the eye."

• Cisterns have been used for water storage for nearly 3,000 years. Public water distribution became common beyond large cities during the 20th Century.

Resources

Caring for Your Old House : A Guide for Owners and Residents
by Judith L. Kitchen (Author)

National Trust for Historic Preservation Library Collection
www.lib.umd.edu
Preservation Resources A to Z

PreservationDirectory.com
www.preservationdirectory.com
Comprehensive resources for historic and cultural preservation.

Brandenburg House Facts:

• A Viking longhouse is one large room with wood walls, a central fire and one hole in the turf-covered roof to let out smoke.

• Danish wood-burning stoves are free standing, energy efficient and known for creating less pollution. They're also equipped with primary, secondary and tertiary air supplies.

Resources

Longhouse (Native American Homes)
by Cynthia Breslin Beres, Kimberly L. Dawson Kurnizki (Illustrator)

The Viking Network
http://viking.no
Information about Longhouses.

Hearth Net
www.hearth.com
Information about fireplaces and other hearth-related products.