(724) 459-0612 Visit the Gallery →
Victorian Home Restorations RESTORATION CHARM DÉCOR

Victorian Home Restoration

Volume IV · May 2026

Live with
what you love.

Joan and Jerry Hawk restored their 1889 mansion and a 1930 art deco home in Bedford, Pennsylvania. What they learned, about plaster, parlors, and provenance, lives here.

Read the Restoration Notes Visit the Bedford Gallery →
❦
Where to begin

Recent entries from restoration & décor.

01 3 min read
The Art of Brick Repointing: Why You Must Use Lime Mortar (Not Cement!)
Victorian Restoration

The Art of Brick Repointing: Why You Must Use Lime Mortar (Not Cement!)

Preserve your Victorian home's beauty with expert brick repointing using lime mortar. Learn why traditional methods protect your h...

Jerry Hawk · May 2026
02 5 min read
Navigating Historic Districts: A Guide to Permits and COAs (Certificates of Appropriateness)
Victorian Restoration

Navigating Historic Districts: A Guide to Permits and COAs (Certificates of Appropriateness)

Unlock the secrets to restoring your Victorian home in a historic district. Learn about COAs, permits, and expert tips to preserve...

Jerry Hawk · Apr 2026
03 4 min read
Cultivating the Past: Landscaping History and Garden Designs of the 1880s
Victorian Decor

Cultivating the Past: Landscaping History and Garden Designs of the 1880s

Transform your Victorian home with authentic 1880s garden designs. Discover key plants and landscaping tips to create a stunning,...

Jerry Hawk · Apr 2026
04 5 min read
The Hidden Lifeline of Your Victorian: A Guide to Box and Yankee Gutters
Victorian Decor

The Hidden Lifeline of Your Victorian: A Guide to Box and Yankee Gutters

Preserve your Victorian home's charm with expert tips on maintaining box and Yankee gutters. Learn essential maintenance and resto...

Jerry Hawk · Apr 2026
The Hawks' 1889 Victorian house in Bedford, Pennsylvania
OUR 1889 HOUSE — BEDFORD, PA
An invitation

Is this you?

A few quiet ways of knowing this site was made with you in mind.

  1. 01 I own an old historic home that I feel is just right for me.
  2. 02 I appreciate it when family and friends see my Victorian home restoration as a success.
  3. 03 I feel comfortable in a group of like-minded antique enthusiasts.
  4. 04 I always have a safe fun experience while searching for my Victorian treasures.
  5. 05 I like places where I feel welcomed and know that I have full control of my well researched purchases.
The archive

Explore our content. Choose your path.

01 Foundation Repair 02 Framing & Support 03 Roofing 04 Walls & Chimneys 05 Woodwork & Trim 06 Siding 07 Windows & Doors 08 Porches & Balconies 09 Flooring 10 Staircases 11 Walls & Ceilings 12 Fireplaces & Mantels 13 Electric Wiring 14 Plumbing 15 Heating & Cooling 16 Insulation 17 Paint Schemes 18 Fixtures 19 Wallpaper 20 Stair Runners 21 Garden 22 Fencing 23 Walkways 24 Sealing 25 Codes & Permits
How to Find Experienced Contractors to Restore Your Victorian Home
OUR 1930 HOUSE — BEDFORD, PA
The Editor's Letter

How to Find Experienced Contractors to Restore Your Victorian Home

Discover essential tips for finding skilled contractors to restore your Victorian home, ensuring a blend of modern upgrades and historic charm.

Read the full essay →
What you'll find here

What's in it for you?

We share your love of all things Victorian. We respect your unique journey in the restoration and beautiful décor selections you choose for your Victorian home. This site offers you:

  1. 01
    Restoration

    Tips, stories, and advice

    Some great tips, stories, and advice on restoring your Victorian home, drawn from eleven years of work on two houses.

  2. 02
    Décor

    A guide to the makers

    The most complete guide to enjoy all the various 19th century manufacturers of furniture, lighting, clocks, outdoor garden items, and bathroom fixtures.

  3. 03
    Fine art

    The crown jewel

    The best place to find what we believe is the ultimate in Victorian décor: original 19th century fine art.

A wall of Victorian decor and original 19th century artwork
A WALL HUNG, ROOM BY ROOM

Recent writing

All articles →
Bedford Fine Art Gallery · A Sister Site

The collection
itself.

Original 19th-century paintings, etchings, and decorative works, selected one by one from estates and small auctions across the eastern United States. Open by appointment in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

Visit Bedford Fine Art Gallery → (724) 459-0612
Original 19th-century work 1
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Joan and Jerry Hawk
About the Hawks

Two retired geologists, one careful eye for stone and time.

Joan and Jerry spent their careers reading rocks. They retired to Bedford in the early 2010s and bought a Victorian mansion that needed everything. Then they bought a 1930 art deco house and did it again.

The fine art gallery came after, a gathering place for the paintings they had collected along the way.

Read their story →
From the rooms
Berneker Pan w Woodland Nymps IMG 2347 full gall cr p4mfha
Flagg sheep at sunset IMG 1894 full gall cr aafsde
Hays Apples on Tabletop IMG 2218 full gall cr w1bwjf
a cabin by pond
ballvoine grid gallery crop
batcheller strawberries grid
earl lincoln poole grid gallery crop
hydrangia bush
new york harbor
reflections stream in spring
stand-off
uss constitution
woman on sunlit path