Historic Design Consulting LLC

Historic Design Consulting LLC Historic Design Consulting, LLC. is dedicated to assisting homeowners, museums and businesses preserve and restore historic architecture.

We offer both consulting and hands-on restoration services. Historic Design Consulting LLC assists home and business owners preserve and restore their historic buildings. HDC offers a variety of consulting services, including developing authentic exterior and interior color schemes, interior decoration, and the selection of millwork, including doors, windows and molding, that are appropriate for t

he age and style of your building. We can also help design period appropriate porches and exterior ornaments as well as develop maintenance plans that will address the special needs of older homes.

06/09/2026

Today we are back at the Hormel Historic Home in Austin, MN to jack up a column so we can remove the base for repairs. The wooden column base is rotten and saturated with water and needs some help. Our first step is lifting the column slightly so we can slide the base out.

Hotels and boarding houses were fixtures in every small town that accommodated salesmen, itinerant works and railroad em...
06/06/2026

Hotels and boarding houses were fixtures in every small town that accommodated salesmen, itinerant works and railroad employees. This ca. 1900 building was a hotel, boarding house and brothel (according to local legend) in Ruthven, IA. Ruthven was founded in 1878 and had two railroads (the CMStP&P RY and the M&StL Ry) with a busy commercial district. I can imagine this building must have been a busy place.

Today’s “just because it’s cool” photo is a bit of plaster from the 1868 Philo C. Bailey House in Waseca, MN. Someone du...
06/06/2026

Today’s “just because it’s cool” photo is a bit of plaster from the 1868 Philo C. Bailey House in Waseca, MN. Someone dumped a number of cut nails into the lime plaster mix. Whether on purpose or by accident is unknown to me. I suppose it would strengthen the plaster, although there must have been cheaper way to achieve this. Has anyone else ever seen this??? The Bailey House is owned by the Waseca County Historical Society and now houses their Bailey Lewer Research Library.

I stopped in Waseca, MN today to take a look at some windows and had a moment to take a photo of the EACO Mill warehouse...
06/06/2026

I stopped in Waseca, MN today to take a look at some windows and had a moment to take a photo of the EACO Mill warehouse. The EACO Mill was founded by William Everett and John Aughenbaugh, who had started a general store in 1868 and built a flour mill on the shores of Loon Lake in 1870. The mill complex was located just north of downtown on the Minneapolis & St. Louis RY and this brick building was used as a warehouse. It has been recently renovated and is now a rental/bed and breakfast.

05/31/2026

As I wait for some shellac to dry I thought I’d start sharpening the iron on this 1840s cornice plane. The first step is lapping its back dead flat on a diamond stone. I’ve got a ways to go. 🫤

05/30/2026

Our shop warming party is ready to roll!!! Stop by between 1 and 5 and celebrate our new shop with us! 626 Armstrong Ave W in St. Paul. It’s near the old Schmidt Brewery just off West 7th. Don’t miss out, because it’s going to be epic!

Well, here it is. If I were grading, I’d give it a C-. My handy tool for making the medullary rays is in a box somewhere...
05/29/2026

Well, here it is. If I were grading, I’d give it a C-. My handy tool for making the medullary rays is in a box somewhere, so I had to use a rag instead. It needs a coat of varnish, and that’ll be it.

Wood grain is done in layers, and I have the first layer on. I’m disappointed TBH. It’s awful, actually. The cheap, big-...
05/29/2026

Wood grain is done in layers, and I have the first layer on. I’m disappointed TBH. It’s awful, actually. The cheap, big-box paint is a bit too glossy, even after sanding. This means the bottom paint layer won’t grab the glaze and cathedral grainer smeared rather than leaving grain. I will see what I can do.

I’ve been asked about the brushes I use for wood graining and if I use feathers. I do use feathers, but only for creatin...
05/29/2026

I’ve been asked about the brushes I use for wood graining and if I use feathers. I do use feathers, but only for creating marble grain. I use lots of brushes for cresting wood graining, and here are a few. There’s a badger softener, a horse hair flogger, a splatter and a variety of smaller, specialty squirrel and badger hair brushes. Wood graining was very common in 19th and early 20th buildings, and I am called upon on occasion to repair or reproduce these finishes

I thought I would do a quickie demonstration of faux bois or wood graining for our big shop warming party this Saturday....
05/28/2026

I thought I would do a quickie demonstration of faux bois or wood graining for our big shop warming party this Saturday. First step was painting a base color on a piece of plywood. Tomorrow I will mix up my glaze and see what I can come up with.

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Saint Paul, MN
55101–55175

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