Modern Surroundings that Honor the Past: Planning a Whole Home Remodel for Your Historical Home

If you are the owner of an historic home, you appreciate that elements of its original character are irreplaceable. There’s a sense of continuity, a respect for the past, and an admiration of old-world craftsmanship that comes from owning an historic home. On the other hand, historical homes involve unique challenges. Their scale is often quite smaller than the modern norm, especially in areas that families use most, such as the kitchen and bathrooms.

If you’ve decided it’s time for a whole home remodel in your historical home, here are some considerations:

Be clear about why you love living in a historic home. Before beginning your remodel, think carefully about what makes you love your historical home and which aspects of its design and overall character are most important to retain.

Now think about what you need for your lifestyle today. Usually you will need more space. A unified team of architects, designers and construction professionals can help you determine whether you need an addition or simply better space planning, working within your home’s current footprint. Are there modern appliances you’ve been daydreaming about? Do you need more storage space? What changes do your kitchen and bathrooms need to better suit your lifestyle?

Work with a remodeling company that understands historical homes. Preserving the original character of your home, while adding modern convenience and scale, requires a high level of design skills, careful research and meticulous attention to detail. There are also legal requirements to consider for remodeling historic properties (such as those outlined in the Mills Act) that your contractor needs to be knowledgeable about. Missing these details in the initial design process and then having to correct them later can be costly.

Above all, a whole home remodel in a historical home should appear natural and historically accurate. A successful outcome honors your home’s essential character while adding new energy and a modern approach to space planning.