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Renovating a Period Home and Staying True to the Original Design by using Suitable Architectural Moulding
Period homes have such incredible history that preserving certain aspects of them can really benefit your new renovation. By honouring the period and style of the house, it can enhance its appearance rather than completely altering it. Respecting old craftsmanship, details, and the character of the building is so important: make your changes compatible with the home's original intentions!
Go into your period home renovation with an open mind. Become educated on the history of its era so you can keep the character of the home alive. Here are a few tips on how you can do that...
1. Don't Over-Modernise
Unless your aim is to have a contemporary house set in an old frame, you should really consider keeping a lot of the original detail so that the frame and the interior harmonise. If your desire is to live in a modern home, then it will take much less time and money to purchase one rather than to alter a period home.
Successful period home renovations intertwine modern ideas with the original ideas: to enhance the building. Repair as many old finishes and features as you can and replace the others with replicas. Don't incorporate too many contemporary elements or character can become lost.
2. Think About the Long Term
Period homes have been around for extensive amounts of time. When renovating them, consider how you can continue to prolong their lives! Only complete major work if it is structurally necessary.
Additionally, you should think about how your decisions will affect you and the home in the long term. If you rush into making a decision about alterations and renovations without considering the future, then you may find yourself renovating the home again in a few years. Take time to experience the home for what it is before you begin changing it.
3. Use Suitable Architectural Moulding
Similar to other traditional features of a period home, architectural moulding is so important in keeping the style and the character of the home consistent throughout every room. Whilst current moulding in the house may be rotting away or broken due to the older materials used, new extruded polystyrene alternatives can be the perfect way to bring modern ideas into the house but keep the traditional appearance. Polystyrene mouldings are waterproof and durable and come in a huge variety of styles. They are relatively inexpensive, lightweight and super easy to install! No matter the era of your period home, there are architectural mouldings that will stay true to its original design.
Featherlite Mouldings (www.featherlitemouldings.co.uk) have a huge selection of moulding profiles to suit all projects. Visit their website and take a look for yourself at the range of internal and external profiles available!
