One of the great things about buying a home in the UK is that they’ve been built in so many different periods, so there are lots of architectural styles and period features. Whether you buy a Victorian terrace or a rustic country home, you’ll find that they’re full of charm, with lots of unique and quirky design features that make your home special. But while period features are lovely, they’re not always practical, so you might be looking to renovate your home. That’s why it’s important to strike a balance between the traditional and modern, so here’s how you can renovate a property without losing its charm.
Avoid over-modernising
When you’re renovating an old property, it’s common to want to take a sledgehammer and rip it all out, giving you a blank canvas to work with. But it’s important not to rip too much out in those early days. Keeping a few simple features will keep your property interesting, but still allow you to modernise. You can also look at adding new plaster moulding to replace things that are old and damaged, which can be made in the style of your home’s period.
Set goals before you begin
It’s important to set your design goals before you begin and decide:
- What you can achieve with your budget
- How much you want to modernise versus staying true to the style
- Whether you’re worried about resale value or want to create your unique vision
- How long you want the project to last and what you can achieve in this time
By setting some goals, you can decide to what extent you want to renovate your house, and what kind of overall style you want to go for.
Pick the right project
The house you buy is the canvas, waiting for your design, so it’s important to find the right home before you start planning. Look at the period of the home and the features it already has, from coving to bay windows. You can then decide whether you want to keep these features, or add more modern, practical versions, which helps you keep the character but also ensure your property is energy efficient and comfortable.
Look at the little touches
It’s often the little things that make a period property special, rather than any grand and opulent designs. Simply adding a ceiling rose to a room can instantly add a traditional, period feel, with little effort. When combined with using the right colours and textures, you can take a room back in time, without it being too over the top. From the accessories you use to decorative features, little touches can add character and charm to a home, ensuring it’s comfortable and cosy.
If you’re renovating a period property, City Crafts can create cornices and other unique design features to fit in with your style. Based at 40 West Gorgie Park Industrial Estate, Edinburgh, EH14 1UT, simply call us on 0131 477 2075 or e-mail sales@citycrafts.co.uk.