 |
...Continued - Page 3 of 3 (
1
2
3
)
Related Showrooms
• Renovation Experts - Put your home in good hands. Get FREE estimates on your project.
Judgment calls will have to be made along the way, and Wickstead says this can be less stressful for everyone if you’ve planned in advance for the eventuality. “Renovation is not an exact science; modifications will have to be made in the field,” he says. “On my projects, the team meets weekly. This adds a little cost but makes sure alterations are made efficiently and inexpensively.”
 |
A 1920s American Colonial that had been chopped into a triplex brought back to her original charm with a complete systems modernization. Photo credit and copyright: Frank Wickstead.
|
Find Colors that Work for Your Home
Color is a critical part of any historic home, and while you will want to stick to an appropriate paint palette, don’t go overboard with the historic accuracy of the colors. “Sometimes people adhere too much to the rules dictated by a time period and the home can wind up looking like a museum, not a home,” says Ann McGuire, Valspar color consultant and founder of Beehive Studios of Buckhill Falls, Pa.
Looking to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s palette, available from Valspar, can be a good guideline, says Trent. “By going online and researching the style of a home, it is easy to discover the popular paint colors and techniques from its era. You can also call your local preservation organization or historic zoning commission for recommendations or requirements,” she says.
Choosing exterior colors is its own adventure, says James Martin, founder of the Denver-based color consultant firm, The Color People, and specialist in historic home exterior colors. “Color completes the historic statement,” Martin says. “It can really explain a home’s architecture.”
Martin says one big mistake people often make when choosing colors for a historic home’s exterior is overstating the details. “Too often, people jump to the fussy details of the home instead of looking at it as a whole and achieving balance,” he says. “But it’s not unlike dressing yourself: You choose your main outfit first, then accessorize. Houses are the same way.”
|
Interior shot of the 1920s American Colonial. Photo credit and copyright: Frank Wickstead.
|
Pick Materials that Match
While you may not want to use materials that are literal throwbacks to your home’s time period, you should make sure you choose materials that complement your home’s character rather than stand out as “modern.”
“When modern elements are added without trying to blend them with the existing character it can be jarring to see and negatively impact the value of a home,” Trent says. “There are ways to have the latest in modern amenities and style while maintaining the things that make an older home feel special.”
McCormick agrees, noting that she had to correct this mistake when she purchased her home. “When I bought my 1730s home, a bad bathroom remodel included mauve wall-to-wall carpeting, Formica, cultured marble and other incongruent materials. It stuck out like a sore thumb and was almost enough to keep me from making an offer on the house,” she says.
Looking at what is already in the home and using materials that would have been available at the time is one way to make your home mesh with old and new. Wickstead notes that while it is a controversial idea within restoration circles, he advocates making historic homes more energy-efficient with the use of greener HVAC systems and newer windows. “These can all be dramatically improved without devastating the architectural integrity of the home,” he says.
Enjoy the Results
Renovating a historic home will inevitably be a stressful experience. But for most people, it is truly a labor of love. Lantz recommends taking lots of photos and keeping a journal to remember the renovation journey.
“Document the process of your renovation because one day—many change orders and depleted funds later—you will enjoy your viewing scrapbook while sipping a nice glass of wine in your beautifully restored home with a smile on your face,” she says.
And when the going gets tough, Trent says the key is to step back and really consider everything in the context of your unique home. “You need to be able to listen to your house,” she says. If you take the time to understand how it was built and how your plans can mesh with that history, the house will let you know how to proceed.”
|
Text by Alyson McNutt English
© 2008 BobVila.com
...Continued - Page 3 of 3 (
1
2
3
)
< Previous Page
- Add To:
-
 Del.icio.us
-
 Digg
-
 Google
-
 Y! MyWeb
-
 Reddit
-
 Technorati
|
|
Related Articles
Related Tips
Related Videos
