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by Tom Ryan, Architect
Ten Commandments of Timeless Design for Houses of any Age
Ten Commandments of Timeless Design for Houses of any Age
Naperville Preservation, Inc. (NPI) is pleased to present Ten Commandments of Timeless Design for Houses of Any Age, a series of ten talks over two years presented by longtime Naperville architect and NPI Board Member, Tom Ryan.
Inspired by the "bible" of residential design "Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid" by Marianne Cusato, Ben Pentreath, Richard Sammons and Leon Krier, these entertaining talks will aim to distill timeless residential design into memorable bite-size chunks for use in remodeling, additions and new construction for projects of any age, budget, size or style.
After each talk attendees will be given a collectible postcard summarizing the commandment and be invited to "Walk the Talk" during a mini field trip the following Saturday morning to experience the topic live and in-person.
WARNING: By attending a Talk and 'Walking the Talk' you will most likely know more about that particular topic than your friends, neighbors, builders and maybe your architect...don't get cocky. 😉
Topics will include an overview of the series and the timeless design concept, transforming dated houses, site planning, creating a welcoming house, choosing exterior materials, roof basics, perfect porch construction, doors & windows, balconies & bays and interior tips and tricks.
The 5th talk will be Thursday, October 9th titled "Authenticity and Restrain When Choosing Exterior Materials". The talk will be from 7PM to 8PM in rooms A & B of the Naperville Muncipal Center, Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S Eagle St, Naperville.
Other events in the series are planned for these Thursdays*:
2026: Feb 12, Apr 9, Jun 11, Aug 13, and Oct 8
The cost per talk will be free for members and $10 for non-members.
Be sure you are on our email list to receive the most timely announcements about the series.
* Please note, unforeseen circumstances may cause the dates to be altered. Space at the Naperville Municipal Center from 7PM through 8PM has been confirmed for 2025.
Talk #5
Talk #5
5th Commandment: Authenticity and Restraint When Choosing Exterior Materials
5th Commandment: Authenticity and Restraint When Choosing Exterior Materials
Date: Thursday, October 9, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Place: Naperville Municipal Center, Rooms A&B
400 S Eagle St,
Naperville, IL 60540
Cost: $10 non-members, members free
Selecting materials and colors for the exterior of a house can be a daunting exercise. Using timeless architectural principles can make the experience simpler and more enjoyable.
Authenticity and Restraint When Choosing Exterior Materials, the fifth Talk in a series about timelessness for all things residential, will explore how and why exterior materials of the past have stood the test of time when it comes to durability, value and enduring beauty.
We’ll also wade through a small part of the sea of ever-changing exterior materials available today. We’ll explore which exterior materials might last the longest, look the most authentic, add true value and most importantly, be the least trendy. A Materials Petting Zoo will be open before and after the Talk to experience some of the most popular exterior materials up close and in person…no hand sanitizer required.
R.S.V.P./Get tickets. (Members, check your email for your free ticket promotional code to apply at check out.)
Walk the Talk #5
Walk the Talk #5
As a follow up to the Talk, we’ll Walk the Talk (short walking tour) the following Saturday morning (October 11th) to see firsthand how exterior materials have been used successfully on Naperville houses both old and new.
No separate tickets/R.S.V.P. for the walk will be necessary, but the details will only be announced to those attending Thursday's event or special inquiry.
Missed an earlier talk?
Missed an earlier talk?
Here are summations and videos from those talks:
Good as New — Second Lives for Dated Houses 2025.04.10
Use Scale, Balance and Proportion for an Approachable House 2025.08.13
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