by Nigel Costolloe | Jul 10, 2012 | Brookline, Exterior Painting, Historic Restoration
One of the earliest lessons I learned in painting was not to rush to apply the 2nd coat. Oil-primed exterior walls on a Brookline Victorian were taking forever to dry; the paint can label suggested 48 hours before recoating – I waited a full week then applied a...
by Nigel Costolloe | Mar 2, 2012 | Historic Restoration, Wood Restoration
They say eyes are the windows to the soul. In New England, windows are an integral and essential part of the vernacular of older homes. Compare the blank facade of a cookie cutter development home with its modern windows, faux mullions and shallow profile to the...
by Nigel Costolloe | Feb 10, 2012 | Historic Restoration, Home Improvement
Exhibit A: the ceiling of a parlor in one of JFK’s childhood homes in Brookline. A well-loved room, filled with books, comfortable chairs and a working fireplace – this is my idea of nirvana. The clients obviously enjoy the fireplace, as evinced by the...
by Nigel Costolloe | Feb 3, 2012 | Boston Painters, Exterior Painting, Historic Restoration, Water Damage
I had no idea either, until I moved to New England from San Francisco and encountered a multitude of paint failures that are unique to old wood houses and Old Man Winter. The above photo is of an elevation on the Fitch Inn in Bedford, the start of Paul Revere’s famous...
by Nigel Costolloe | Apr 15, 2011 | Blog, Boston Painters, Environmentally Friendly Paints, Historic Restoration, Interior Painting, Paint Quality Institute
There’s a great outfit just outside Philadelphia that is a valuable resource to we painting professionals, the Paint Quality Institute, www.paintquality.com. The institute’s mission is to inform and educate the professional as well as the consumer. Their Director of...
by Brian | Feb 21, 2011 | Exterior Painting, Historic Restoration, Home Improvement, Interior Painting, Wood Restoration
For those of us who have left behind our younger years, the cold dry air of winter can offer up insults beyond mere inconvenience and discomfort. I refer to the additional 10 years winter air can add to our age as a new facial topography emerges. Wrinkles appear...
