Best Old-House Discoveries

Revisit our favorite unexpected old-house finds in this special archive.

By Old-House Journal Staff

Bob Williams discovered a treasure trove of old photos and journals in his turn-of-the-century farmhouse, which once belonged to a distant cousin (see "For the Love of Lemma").

Whether major or minor, discoveries of long-lost elements are one of the major perks of old-house restoration. Over the years, our contributors have chronicled their own and others' findings, from hidden woodwork and heirloom tile to dusty diaries and plastered-over fireplaces. If you're looking to dig up your own buried treasure (so to speak), our special archive of discovery stories can help you search all the right places.

Bathroom Break: Refreshing a Colonial Revival Bath
Thanks to some lucky finds and a dose of ingenuity, a Colonial Revival bathroom is transformed into a light-filled, period-appropriate retreat.

Lost & Found: Uncovering a Historic Foursquare
The restoration of a 1902 St. Paul Foursquare revealed a treasure trove of secrets that helped guide the project.

Confessions of a Stripper
One old-house owner's simple quest to bare her woodwork becomes an obsession that takes its toll on time and tempers.

Rock Solid
Recognizing ageless structure beneath vines and crumbling mortar, Bob and Macon Hilton turned a 1790s estate on Virginia's western frontier into a family retreat.

Meant for Each Other
A Gothic Revival and its owner, a match written in the stars.

Blue Ridge Rescue
Seeing promise beyond the grime and a sinking foundation, Arthur and Zee Campbell restored color and craftsmanship to an 1820s North Carolina farmhouse.

For the Love of Lemma
A May/December bond between distant cousins grants a reprieve to a New York Queen Anne.

How Lucky We Are
6 things to love about old houses

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