Southern discomfort?

Well since moving south I have found that the use of good materials is not prevalent here. Most of the trim and moldings are made from MDF a paper type product used to save money. The problem with these materials is there is no way to get the look and feel of real wood with these. End grains and side rips always look rough. Even finding good wood products is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Most lumber companies either don't have them, never seen them or don't know where to find them. I have had to drive to Raleigh which is 3 hrs from our new home just to find 4/4, 6/4,and 8/4 material. These materials are readily available in the Northeast. I guess it is just an adjustment. I will continue to persevere and hope to find work restoring some of the beautiful homes the south has to offer!

Early Homes Magazine Cover, Winter 2009

Early Homes Magazine Cover, Winter 2009

Windows Live Hotmail

Windows Live Hotmail: "OLD HOUSE INTERIORS MAGAZINE Publishes local mans Home.
Fooled you! Looks like this house is an antique! Randy DiStefano owner of Randall's Restoration a Vermont based 18th century reproduction and restoration company built his historic house only five years ago! Old House Interiors was so impressed with his house that they are going to publish it in two of their magazines. OHI this month gives you a peak on the last page, and winter 2009 Early Homes will do a full story. You can contact Randall's Restoration at www.randallsrestoration.com or call Randy at (802)843-WOOD."

count down

It's a wonder there are any Early American homes left. Working on antique houses has been a been a joy for me for some 20 years now and I marvel at the craftsmanship and warmth of an old home. But recently while working on a project I was talking with another contractor who insisted that if one element of an antique home was changed, it might as well be torn down. I assured him that over the course of 200 years many things change, life styles change and the needs of the family change, as will the house in which they live. Maybe he is more of a purest than myself. I don't think so, I believe that saving these old home is of utmost importance and if raising a door jamb because people are taller now and don't like bumping their heads then so be it.I've seen so many old homes taken down and discarded as trash without any regard for the treasure that lies within them, I've seen house loads of wide board flooring in dumpsters and in burn piles. People have no idea what they have or just don't care.People take down these beautiful homes and build gaudy mansions or a wendy's, so I say do what you will but save what you can. Am I wrong