148: Christopher Brandt - Architect by Day, Preservation Hero by Night

In this episode of True Tales From Old Houses, Stacy and Daniel discuss practical solutions for damaged wood floors in a folk Victorian farmhouse and chat with preservation architect Christopher Brandt.

First, Stacy and Daniel offer some personal project updates, including the mad scramble to complete outdoor tasks before the cold weather arrives.

Then, During listener Q&A, Stacy and Daniel explore the practicalities and aesthetics of refinishing and living with gappy wood floors. They discuss the historical accuracy of finishes and creative alternatives like passive restoration and painting, all while weighing the balance between preserving historical integrity and ensuring modern livability.

Next, they are joined by Christopher Brandt, a preservation architect at Bero Architecture in Rochester, New York. He discusses his passion for restoring old buildings, including his modest 1920s Tudor Revival. The conversation explores the unique history of his house as a master model home and the quest to balance preservation with personal style. 

He shares his experiences in researching and documenting the history of his house, as well as the challenges and rewards of preserving its original features. Christopher also talks about his role on the Historic Preservation Commission and the effort to establish a National Register Historic District in their town. He highlights the importance of community support and the impact of historic preservation on the overall character and identity of a neighborhood. 

Finally, Christopher discusses his work as an architect at Bero Architecture, specializing in historic preservation projects.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Restoring Your Historic House (affiliate link - book)  by Scott T. Hanson
• The History of Splatter Painted Floors (with photos)
• The History of Fred P. Tosch and the Model Master Homes (Blog article by Christopher Brandt)
• James H. Johnson Mushroom House (article)
• Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse
• Association for Preservation Technology International (APTI)
• Follow Christopher Brandt on Instagram
• Learn more about Bero Architecture 

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Thank you for listening to True Tales From Old Houses.

Until next time,