As the world constantly changes with time, it’s easy to forget that you might be living in a historical building or home that was built to last. But even the best-built homes need some TLC as walls crumble, fittings and furnishings are replaced and renovation work obfuscates the charming period decor and design of the property.
A current property development trend is to restore the authenticity of historical buildings so that they mostly resemble their original nature as much as possible, and while this is difficult, probably expensive, and needs to be done properly by professionals in most cases, it can add as much value to your home as it can charm.
Expensive de-renovation and restoration aside, some of the best methods of restoring some original authenticity to a property are:
- Period Accurate Materials
- Antique Furniture
- Appropriate and Proactive Care
Modern and cheaper materials meant that something was lost when designing new homes and installing period-accurate fittings can revive a mismatched exterior while going out of your way to finding antiques that would have been placed in an older home will add the charm you are looking for and all of your hard work should be maintained by proactively looking after your home.
Period Accurate Materials
There are many materials that are no longer used in modern architecture stylings like they used to be as the American industrial boom in the 1950s gave rise to synthetics such as Formica, acrylic, and aluminum. This meant that age-old traditional materials for home decorations and fittings such as wood, iron, and (thankfully) asbestos were effectively sidelined because of the skill and dedication required to work with them.
But the property authenticity boom that has been going on for several years now practically demands that such things as external wrought iron doors, gates, and fences be at least restored or replaced if possible, alongside hand-finished wooden veneers and fittings inside the home as part of an authenticity overhaul which is guaranteed to bring Victorian, Colonial and Georgian mansions back to life.
Antique Furniture
Of course, when you think of a Victorian, Colonial, or Georgian property you probably think about expensive antiques, sweeping staircases, and hanging portraits but the sad fact is that most of these properties have been fitted with modern furniture and renovations that have only served to hide the glamorous features that were built into the homes rather than highlight them.
This is a terrible disservice to the architects and designers as well as the property itself but luckily, acquiring period-accurate antiques isn’t as expensive as you might think and modern copies are also an effective way of invigorating an older home. Contrary to popular belief, not all antiques are expensive, just vintage ones that are in spectacular condition so damaged ones can be obtained at a great price and restored relatively cheaply.
Appropriate and Proactive Care
All of your hard work will hardly be worth it if you don’t maintain the property to the highest standards and some maintenance might require specialist or professional knowledge. Original wooden features for example will require regular cleaning and you will need to use appropriate polishes and solutions as some might corrode or damage the wood.
This goes for antique furniture too, as many of the older woods aren’t accustomed to modern cleaning techniques and any important home repairs or restoration work could be undone by improper cleaning. You should always consult a professional about cleaning old wooden furniture and iron fittings but once the property is restored you could think about opening it up to the public, provide it has some historical significance.
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