Heating a 100+ year old house this winter

By brittanyskelton

I'm about to move into an old brick Italianete row house that was built in 1900. It has forced air heat. The main area of the apartment consists of a kitchen/dining area then a living/bedroom. Each room has two large windows. In addition to putting plastic on the windows, I would like the best possible drapes to keep the cold out and the heat in. (I'm posting now, incase really good drapes are pricey and I need to save up!)

The other area of the apartment is a 16' x 24' "studio"/attic, a floor above the other part of the apartment. It has three sky lights and 7 or 8 medium sized windows. I have no idea what to do here.

Two years ago I lived in an old brick rowhouse (about 800 sq feet) with forced air heat, the apartment was usually 50 - 55 degrees F inside, and the heating billwas $200 - $300 a month. It was my first experience living in an older building and I had no idea how to keep the place warm. I did have plastic on the windows, but no drapes, just sheer panels.

Any tips would help so much.

Tagged:
heating winter old-house drapes window-treatments

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July 15, 2007

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asilnnigcm

September 14, 2007

Oh, and I forgot to add that you can look at this websitewww.windowquilt.com

asilnnigcm

September 14, 2007

you can buy some inexpensive decorating fabric, and a Simplicity pattern for a Roman Shade, and line the shade a ThermaSuede lining fabric, which can be found at most fabric stores. I do hope this will help.

megrockstar

August 18, 2007

I am inthe exact situation but my floor plan sounds a tiny bit different. i actually read that keeping the heat turned lower to maintain and using a ceramic plus in heater is the way to go, they save you tons of money and give offthe most bang for their buck. I would suggest that

925studio

July 16, 2007

How about locating your drafty spots and making a couple of snakes...

http://rustybobbin.com/inklings/sew-draftsnakes.html

flachsbluete

July 16, 2007

We had the same problem, but without the sky lights.

We turned to IKEA curtains in a denser cotton quality for the living room windows as well as for some of the doors. It gives a cozy athmosphere in winter, shades in summer, is adjustable to personal style and taste - and inexpensive.

Another favorite is cushioning and decorating walls by hanging quilts.

Is their any chance wall-insulation with wallpaper or layers of appropriate material (sometimes they use flax fibres...)

Concerning the sky lights, some kind of sails a special or second glassing might be an idea.