Excuse me… there is an addition swallowing your house…
It is generally possible to design additions to historic houses which are compatible with the character of the original house. In fact, that was the norm for centuries and there are many historic houses that were added to in the past in compatible ways.
Unfortunately, in recent decades there has been a trend toward adding onto houses without regard for their character or for even creating a unified design. This poor little bungalow being swallowed by its addition is a good example. A good example of bad design, that is.
The same amount of usable space could easily have been added in a way that was compatible with the original bungalow and its Craftsman style. Simply adding long dormers on either side of the hipped roof, using the original front dormer as a model, would have done it and retained the charming early 20th century design.
The subject of compatible additions for historic houses is explored in depth in Chapter 3 of “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners,” with numerous approaches outlined.
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop at YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
“Restoring Your Historic House is also available in bookstores nationwide and from online retailers.
© Scott T. Hanson 2026.
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