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Preserving Unique Architecture When Renovating Your Home

Written by Posted On Wednesday, 08 November 2017 08:51

Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of a gorgeous older home. As you prepare for renovations, you should be taking notice of the unique architectural designs that make up your home.

While we all enjoy having a blank canvas to work with, older homes are already wonderful pieces of art that can be added to. Therefore, if you're in renovation mode, here are a few ways to preserve the architecture that makes your home stand out.

Making It Sustainable

You can go green without compromising the historic or creative value of a home. You can rebuild damaged wooden window sashes while keeping the original glass and make the home more energy-efficient. Lighting can be upgraded, but you can add personal touches to make the lighting right for the mood of a room.

Selecting the Right Paint Colors and Stains

If you are living in a historic home, consider which colors and stains are most appropriate for your home's unique exterior. If you are living in a historic district and receive grant money for up keeping a historic home, you will likely encounter some limitations when it comes to redoing the home's exterior.

If you don't have this issue, you should still consider what will look most appropriate for your home. Homes with asymmetrical outer shapes and complex wooden or metal trims will require that you carefully consider color choices. Brighter colors can sometimes make the asymmetrical shapes look gaudy or awkward.

Make Problems Into Opportunities

Older homes often have architectural quirks that don't make sense. This is where some out-of-the-box creative thinking is required. These quirks don't need to require more time and money just to be erased. Embrace them!

Uneven floors can be the centerpiece of a fun room designed to be a bit off-kilter. Extra nooks and crannies can be used for housing knick-knacks. Extra bathrooms or closets can be added into oddly-shaped open spaces.

Hire the Right Contractor

Hiring the right contractor to work with your home is crucial if you aren't the do-it-yourself type. Find a contractor who specializes in historic homes if you are living in anything built in the early 20th century or before.

If you own an older home, chances are that your heating and cooling system could be in need of a serious update. That's where a refrigeration company like Universal Refrigeration steps in. There are experts out there that can assess your current system and help you decide whether it just needs repairs or to be replaced altogether.

Your home is already a work of art. As its current owner, you can choose to add new details and layers to an already-beautiful canvas without compromising its uniqueness or historic value. Don't be afraid of embracing your home's eccentricities! Those quirks can make for great talking points with friends and family who come to visit, and they can make a house feel like home.

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Meghan Belnap

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