Today a c. 1745 farmhouse from my home state of Connecticut. I absolutely love the twelve over twelve windows. In the 17th and early 18th centuries, glass making was extremely difficult, dangerous, and expensive – so panes were smaller. As glass making techniques improved and costs decreased, larger panes were made and you begin to see nine over nine, six over six, two over two, and so on. Often, 18th and 19th century homeowners would replace their twelve over twelve windows with six over six because being able to afford new windows with larger panes was a sign of wealth. Especially as it relates to the Glass Tax of 1798 … but that is a story for another time. In this picture, note the twelve inch width of the floors, the exposed beams, and the ship lap wainscoting. Although this room may look old, it is new. The homeowner wanted the sunroom to look like a brick terrace that had been enclosed sometime during the 19th century. The windows in this room were all salvaged from the butlers pantry of a rundown Victorian in the neighborhood. Finally, everybody’s favorite – the kitchen. Check out that cabinet in the far right corner on an angle. As a preservationist I love to see people using creativity to work within the historic space. This cabinet is a wonderful example. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Story & photos via Country Living, check out the rest here!