You can add many beautiful decorations, renovations, design practices, and investments to a household, but nothing can replace history and character. You can’t artificially add years to a property, as well as the character it had when it was built. Maybe your cottage used to be the local mill, for example, or an older forge. In the UK this is quite common, especially in more rural areas.
If you’ve moved into a household with such history and you’ve fallen in love with its unique character or historical properties, sometimes the best thing you can do is preserve that. This shouldn’t limit your own taste or wish to modernize certain elements of course, but there’s no reason why such principles have to clash with the natural character of the home.
But how might you go about that balancing act? It’s not always so clear. Well, in this post, we hope to help you figure that process out. Without further ado, please consider the following:
Identify The Specific Strengths Of A Property
It’s interesting what you find in an older property if you really inspect it. For instance, exposed wooden beams in the kitchen could show the craftsmanship of their era, or wide-plank floors that creak in certain spots have a warmth that vinyl might not give you, and it’s your choice to see which one of those you highlight. You might also notice the way light falls through original mullioned windows differently than it would through more modern replacements, or how amazing a fireplace is when you unblock the chimney. Be sure to go around and identify these measures so you can decide what to possibly make use of in the future.
Speak To Experts About Unique Structures
A lot of trades work from a playbook that doesn’t always apply to older homes. So when something needs repairing or restoring, it’s often smart to bring in someone who’s worked on properties of a similar age before. Some experts are absolutely going to have a specific capability on top of that if you want to restore a unique characteristic, such as expert roof thatchers who can completely renovate that part of your house and boast a finished product that lasts for a good few years.
Dig Up The History & Significance Of The Building
It’s fun to explore the history and character of a property. Your neighbors might remember stories passed down from their grandparents about the blacksmith who once worked in your converted forge, or the local library could have archived photographs showing your street during different eras, which are worth finding. You could even find local architectural surveys performed for insurance purposes decades ago to reveal original features that have since been covered or changed over the years. If anything, they might just inspire you to change the name of a house back to its original.
With this advice, you’re sure to restore the character of an older property for good.
