Most people can’t wait to get to the stage of restoration where throwing up some holiday lights is the final touch to calling a house a home. For others, the experience of fixing up a house can be grueling. There are some who have a natural gift when it comes to restoration. Others might need a bit more help. If you find yourself in the latter category, help is right around the corner.
For those homeowners out there who are need some refreshers when it comes to fixing up a house, please do yourself a favor and attend this upcoming House Restoration Fair. It’s being held on Saturday March 27th from 10 am to 2pm at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Museum. $8 general admission, $6 Historical Society member rate.
Come learn from the pros. Meet the people who make it look easy. Meet others like you who are working on projects, or who have recently completed projects. Learn the tricks of the trade and get connected with those in the industry who are willing to tell you about the pitfalls that can turn a project from a dream to a nightmare. Here are the details:
Select information sessions in the museum auditorium are:
10:30 a.m. Window Restoration Details & Demonstration
Presenter Steve Swiat, a carpenter and owner of Northwood Restorations Old Home Carpentry, will offer information about window restoration and show you what can be done with traditional wooden windows. Components of original traditionally built windows can be restored or replaced to preserve the architectural details of older and historic homes.
11:30 a.m. The Studio House: Big Living in a Small Space
Roger Schroeder, an industrial designer who applied his skills to the renovation of his own house at just over 600 square feet, will share knowledge from the experiences of remodeling and utilizing the space. Roger and his wife, puppeteer Michele Costa, not only live in but also both work from their home. See the distinctive outside of the clever and compact home and learn from their problem-solving adaptations of the interior spaces. You can ask your questions about design and materials choices as you see how they have successfully packed a lot of living space into a small wonder of a home.
12:30 p.m. Architects Provide Solutions
“Ask An Architect–Get An Answer”. Solutions to house design dilemmas will be suggested by members of a team of AIA Registered Architects. Local architects from the Residential Committee of the Buffalo/Western New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects will be available throughout the House Restoration Fair to help homeowners one-on-one with various house design concerns. In the afternoon presentation in the auditorium, Patricia Bailey, RA, AIA, will lead the discussion of interior and exterior design elements as we see examples of successfully executed solutions to the house challenges faced by others.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trade fair display
Bring your questions for contractors featuring masonry, carpentry, glass tiling, and painting skills, as well as areas of general restoration expertise. Buffalo ReUse will feature vintage and salvage materials available at their ReSource store, and Habitat for Humanity will inform about its ReStore. Craftspeople for custom woodworking, art glass replacements for unrestorable features, faux finishes to match vintage historic homes are some of the areas of interest you’ll find. A new feature this year is “Ask An Architect” from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Meet with local architects from the Buffalo /Western New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. If you are considering remodeling an old house, changing accessibility, crafting a newly purposed space, or boosting energy efficiency, you’ll want to begin the process by consulting with a qualified architect. At this event you are encouraged to bring photos, plans, sketches, and information that an architect can utilize to understand the situation and begin the exploration of potential solutions. You will not walk away with a set of building plans, but perhaps with a head full of ideas!
Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Museum, located at 25 Nottingham Court at Elmwood Avenue