5 Steps to a Renovation: Before All Else, Preserve
At the 140 Year Old House, it’s now down to architectural plans for the renovation. Specifically with an older home there can be irreplaceable finishes that you would have to go to great lengths to create from scratch. And, on the other hand, there will be items that may not justify refurbishing if they’re not in good shape.
Here’s how we generally attack a renovation.
Before all Else, Preserve.
Draft the Ideal Floor Plan
Get The Systems Updated, Smartly.
Find Ways to Tie the Old With the New
Execute a Cohesive Design
We’ll start with #1: The Keep List and the Dumpster List
There may be a good reason to buy a 140 Year Old Home and remove all the historical detail. But if you don’t love any of that, you might want to move on to the next house because you’re likely going to be dealing with at least some plaster walls, marble mantels, parquet and/or inlaid floors, elaborate woodwork and millwork, and more. It may not be worth the bother if none of that suits your taste.
Our strategy was to determine the elements we love and want and can preserve and the elements that don’t add much value to the look and feel.
That preserve list is:
All the original floors on the parlor floor and the master bedroom
The original main staircase, banister and spindles
All the original interior doors on the parlor floor and the hardware
The original shutters in the front windows of the house
The crown molding
The plaster decorative ceilings on the parlor floor
And, of course, the 3 original marble mantelpieces
Maintaining all these elements will allow the lower two floors to feel rich in materials and elegant details.
Next we’ll attack the floor plan for these floors. Stay tuned!
