Building Good Character: Planning Your Historical Whole Home Remodel

With respect for the past and old-world craftsmanship, a historic home has an original, one-of-a-kind character. Unlike today’s more open spaces, historical homes are often quite smaller than the modern norm and homeowners yearn for more expansive space. If you’ve decided it’s time for a whole home remodel in your historical home, here are some considerations:

Rely on experts to align with historical requirements.
Designing an addition or whole home remodel for your historic home that feels as if it has always been a part of the home requires dedication, commitment, and knowledge. There are also legal requirements to consider for remodeling historic properties (such as those outlined in the Mills Act). Historical registry designation required exacting attention to detail in the architectural planning of this extensive whole home remodel, which doubled the home’s original square footage. The front part of the home had to be preserved when additional space was added. The new build could not exactly match the existing historical structure; the connection point between “old” and “new” needed to be evident. The added space could not dominate the existing structure in mass or height. Working within these constraints and several others, the new design is a stunning extension of a classically appealing design.

Keep the elements you love.
If the original floors or ceilings are what made you fall in love with your home in the first place, your new design should respect those elements with careful restoration. In this 1920s home in an “Eclectic Mediterranean” style inspired by Old Hollywood, the original tongue and groove ceilings were retained and trusses were added to the ceiling to emphasize a historic feeling.

Design for your lifestyle today.
The owners of this registered historical home wanted to enhance family and dog friendly indoor/outdoor living and capture the amazing views of natural surroundings from the expansive backyard. The remodel was meticulously planned with the architects and designers to assure a home tailored to the clients’ needs while also following historical guidelines and creating a beautiful, colorful design.

A skillful whole home remodel of your historic home starts with decisions that a unified team of architects, designers, and construction professionals guides you through each step of the way. Your historic home can be transformed to beautifully enhance your lifestyle today while also carefully honoring and amplifying its essential character.