If you ’re embarking on a home redevelopment , these are the character - defining elements you should emphatically consider maintain .
Brie Williams
Whether it ’s a result of the housing market or popularity of home makeover television display , more people arepurchasing fixer uppersand taking theDIY renovationroute than ever before . When it comes historic homes , decide what to keep and what to get rid of can be a challenge . How do you update a infinite and make it functional for a mod lifestyle while preserving its charm and fiber ? To find out , we wrick to the experts and asked them to partake their design doctrine when it comesrenovating a propertyor building an addition .
Credit:Brie Williams
“ When working on historic homes , we seek to retain as much of the original material and details as potential as they are often character - defining element of the design , " says Paul Clayton , principal ofClayton Korte . Whether it ’s astunning fireplacefeaturing high - quality materials and a beautiful silhouette , or intricate millwork that infuses the space withold - world charm , there ’s no substitute for these original home item . "
If you ’re embarking on a DIYhome refurbishment , here are the original dwelling house particular designer say you should always keep .
1. Fireplace and Mantel
" If you are interested in uphold original features during a remodel , we evoke not alteringfireplaces and mantels , " read interior designerAudrey Scheck . A fireplace is usually locate in a prominent dapple within a room and serves as a focal point . Historic homes often boast fireplaces made from eminent - caliber materials , boasting telling craftsmanship , and displaying intricate details and endearing silhouettes that would be a portion to reduplicate today . Keeping this original detail is an splendid way to preserve the home ’s character and taradiddle , as well as to set an graceful and elevated pure tone for the rest of the infinite . If theoriginal fireplaceis no longer functional or dependable to apply , you’re able to always keep the environment and mantle and have a professional update the internal components .
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
2. Millwork
Millwork is another original home particular that Scheck urge preserve if you’rerenovating a dwelling . The term ' millwork ' refer to wooden details such aswall paneling , crown molding , and ornamental windowpane anddoor trimness , all of which you ’ll often see in previous menage . Scheck state that this intention point carry the prop ’s original magic spell and fiber and is , " something that unexampled construction typically ca n’t replicate . " In the yesteryear , millwork was usually craft from luxurious woods such as mahogany , walnut , or cherry wood and stain a racy and dark color . If this look feels a little too lumbering for the update aesthetic you ’re going for , paint it is an option , but it does require heedful consideration .
3. Staircase
Anoriginal staircase , whether located in a grand foyer or leading from the kitchen to the upstair chamber , as you ’ll sometimes encounter in a historic belongings , is a invention component to keep . It often include flowery detail and attractively craftedrailings and banisterthat contribute to the home ’s historical personality . " Those timeless details tell your abode ’s story and are authoritative to hold onto whenever you could , " Scheck says .
Joyelle West
4. Hardwood Floors
If your home has originalhardwood floorsthat are in secure shape or can be salvaged with a small second — or a lot — of cubital joint grease , Scheck recommends hold on them . " run into those singular detail like creaky hardwood floor and intricate trimness , " she says . reanimate a fixer uppertypically comes with a parcel honest of surprises along the style , some pleasant and some not so pleasant , but finding originalhardwood floorsunder a covering of dirty honest-to-goodness carpet is always an exciting discovery . In cases where the home has original hardwood floors but they are too damage to economize , Clayton shares a style to hold the historical optical essence while replacing the floors . " If we do need to replace original materials and details , we will supplant them in kind to maintain the texture and feel of the manse , " he says .
Edmund Barr
5. Interior Brick
Keeping or uncovering originalexposed brick wallsfills an interior with warmth , historical charm , and a raw textile that adds a textural contingent . When it comes to paint over original exposed brick , Scheck enunciate it ’s all about symmetry . " While it ’s not necessarily a ' no , ' you certainly want to be aware during the planning process , " she advise . If the brick feels heavy and does n’t line up with your vision , a fresh coating of key provide an instant and cheap update . " But think twice : those rude , unpolished textures separate a story you just ca n’t bribe , " Scheck warn . " Before you reach out for the paintbrush , check that you ’re not covering a piece of the home ’s chronicle that ca n’t be undone . "
Credit: Tria Giovan
Credit:Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Credit: Helen Norman
Credit:Joyelle West
Credit:Edmund Barr
