Reggie Young & Nora Johnson Biography Information & Associates

Howard Hall Farm Restoration Group founder Reggie Young

Reggie Young is a conservation consultant and project manager who specializes in green historic preservation and restoration. He has devoted his time and energy to teaching, researching, and incorporating green technology and sustainable materials into every possible aspect of his projects, and making this information available to encourage others to do the same. In 2000, he launched a restoration company devoted to dovetailing historic materials and processes with an acute attention to energy efficient design in all his restoration projects. Reggie continues to travel and study his particular interest and increase his expertise in historic lime mortar, as well as other aspects of historic restoration. He is trained and certified in brownstone restoration and lime mortar technology, and continues training in related fields of study.

In 2006, Reggie and Nora Johnson purchased Howard Hall Farm, a 1780s stone manor in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. The site, an ongoing historic restoration project, has been used as a learning laboratory for educating the community in the utilization of environmentally conscious restoration techniques. Reggie and Nora have brought in experts from across the country to train local homeowners and restoration professionals in new and innovative green restoration techniques.

Reggie continues to be inspired by the team of talented and amazing technicians and craft persons that he has worked with over the last ten years. Preservation of the historic fabric, as well as blending of new technologies is the focus of the work his company is involved in. Reggie currently divides his time between Brooklyn and upstate New York, where he continues to take on environmentally conscious projects that allow him to train and create jobs for green collar workers, and educate the community in new ways to live, build, and restore green.

Prior to his career in restoration, Reggie lived in New York City where he was a restaurant designer, builder, and operator, as well as owner of several food-related businesses. In 1990, Reggie was one of the founders of an innovative program called "Fresh Start," a program affiliated with the Riker's Island Correctional Facility. The program was developed to keep ex-inmates off the streets and out of prison. Reggie also assisted in the founding of the James Beard Foundation by running all the events there in its first year of operation and eventually staffing the house with a service team. For many years Reggie taught a service and management program at the Peter Kump New York Cooking School, now The Institute for Culinary Education in New York City. Reggie has owned and operated restaurants in New York City and Litchfield County, CT.

Howard Hall Farm Restoration Group founder Nora H. Johnson

Nora H. Johnson is an accomplished painter and sculptor. She is known for her mural paintings and for her decorative finishes, including glazing, gilding, venetian plasters, Moroccan plasters, lime plasters, custom plaster effects, custom stencils, color washing, faux bois, chinoiseries, marbleizing, stone effects, antiquing, painted furniture and a lot more.

Nora works mostly on custom projects, tailored to fulfill her clients' needs and vision, or to compliment specific architectural environments. She has developed a team of talented artist-collaborators, each known for their unique abilities to create a wide range of decorative effects to the highest standards.

She is committed to the preservation of traditional and historic artistic practices and utilizes green and sustainable products whenever possible.

A prolific artist, Nora H. Johnson has created more than 100 major commissions for public, corporate and private spaces, on four continents. Please visit Nora's website to view her murals, sculptures and fine arts work.

Howard Hall Farm Restoration Group has been lucky enough to work with dozens of talented craftspeople and restoration businesses throughout the many projects they have tackled. Below is a list of some of the people we have had the pleasure of working with.