Let’s be honest, historic homes are great but sometimes they do need a makeover. Rather than do away with classical features though, you can add subtle modernizations and renovations that revitalize the property’s historical presence.
Modernizing or renovating a historic house should not be about trying to make the home conform to the standard houses of today. That would utterly defeat the purpose of owning a historic house and mar the features that make it such a unique property. Bear in mind that the less original a historic house is, the less value it’ll retain or, at the very least, be less attractive to buyers interested in a historical home. No, revitalization should mainly focus on refinement and improvements. Let’s explore the best ways to revitalize your historic home.
Restore Core Structures
The first step to revitalizing your historic home is to make sure that the house is properly supported. You should always be sure to check the foundation of the home before you buy it, but of course, small areas of decay are natural over time. Be sure to also identify specific features of the house that might need attention, such as the stonework or the original plastering sites. These are things that can and should be maintained rather than replaced, so be to monitor the key features of your historic house consistently.
Perhaps you can’t find critical areas in need of repairs, great! This means you can focus purely on refinement and enhancing the historic features. Perhaps the masonry needs minor maintenance and cleaning, or the original windows might need replacement. Focus on ways to highlight and attention to the significant historic features, not only will this make your house stand out but also increase the home’s appeal home buyers.
An easy modernization option could be to simply paint your house. While the structure remains historically the same, adding new color will give your home a personal touch and make it seem fresh to the eye. If you want to retain a rustic look there are several paints and stains on the market to help you capture a more traditional design.
Customizations and Remodeling
Whether you’re interested in selling or keeping your historic house, customizations and remodeling will enable you to have the best of both historic structure and modern convenience. Consider remodeling the kitchen, one of the key areas of any house. If your kitchen cabinetry is in very poor condition or you’re not pleased with them, go ahead and plan a remodeling project to revitalize the space. Having custom cabinetry installed as part of the remodeling process will give you more creative control over the overall design of the kitchen and add value to the house. You can even have the cabinets built in the original style of the previous cabinets to remain consistent with the inherent design of the kitchen.
Remember, a historic house is still a house. If a feature of the house is damaged to the point that will not serve the homeowner, it’s immediately time to restore or replace. The house still needs to be practical.
Add Modern Utilities
New dishwashers, washing machines, heating and cooling systems, and other appliances can easily be incorporated into a historic house without sacrificing the original design or structure. In addition to having an aesthetically pleasing historic home, you’ll be able to enjoy the new technology that’s highly convenient too!