I’m sure many of you can conjure up a moment when a beautiful room wowed you. Oftentimes, it can be hard to put your finger on what exactly about the room elicits this feeling. I’ve found when this is the case, it’s usually historic architectural details like plaster moldings or an original marble fireplace. These details aren’t the first thing you might notice, but they make all the difference. I always say a beautiful shell is easy to decorate.

If you’ve been following along, you know our team loves nothing more than bringing an old house back to life and honoring the history of the property. While there is nothing wrong with a new house, I’ve found they are often missing architectural cohesion and a sense of character. I’m not naive enough to think that everyone wants or needs an old home. It’s equally special to work with builders and homeowners on dreaming up a newly built home, and infusing it with charm. It’s actually more challenging to add character in my opinion! Today, I’m sharing what to look for in older homes and how to incorporate these details into a new build or home renovation.

MORE: Watch Brent Hull's video series "New House, Old Soul" and "Fixing Old Homes" 
MORE: Read "Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use and Avoid" 

Evaluating an Old Home

Exterior Considerations

In our design process, we like to work from the outside in. The first thing we ask is the year the home was built and then identity if it falls within a significant style (Colonial, Georgian, Italianate, Tudor, etc.). Many times the home has a blend of styles, so it’s all about which should be the dominant style moving forward. This is usually based on the scale of architectural details and the homeowner’s personal style.

Interior Considerations

Old homes don’t have to feel “old”. What we love most about an old home are the intricate details and the cues from the exterior style to interior details. Since old homes usually have been through a handful of renovations, we search for clues as to what is original and worth saving. Salvaging historic elements can be a huge savings. In a recent project, we refinished and relocated four 1910s fireplaces to create focal points in various rooms. Not to mention, the home’s original staircase and railing is such a statement. The unique detail and authenticity are so special to our homeowners. Sure you can try to source something similar, but that comes with a higher price tag. These original elements make a home truly “storied”. We can’t wait to share more of this full project soon!

Even if some elements of the home can’t be saved, they can often be recreated. An example is architectural trim like baseboards, crown molding, and window and door casings. We like to use trim that references the period of the home, or in some cases we will even replicate existing historic trim. That often means constructing the molding out of multiple pieces of trim to achieve a more classic, layered look. For interior doors, we like to use solid wood doors as opposed to hollow-core. We also recommend using 1-3/4″ thick doors instead of the typical 1-3/8″. This gives the doors a little more heft, and has a more historic feel. 

Other things we always look for in old homes include:

• Original Fireplaces
• Original Windows
• Millwork Profiles to save or recreate
• Original Floors to save or refinish
• Original Door Hardware
• Stained Glass
• Original Built-Ins
• Pretty Radiators
• Original Beams or other ceiling details to save
• Stair railings, spindles and balusters
• Unique or unexpected details that make the home special

Honoring Historic Architecture in Our Portfolio

1930s Colonial Renovation

There was so much to save in this classic colonial home in Wilmette, IL! Our designs highlighted classic architectural elements such as the staircase and baluster, egg and dart crown molding, and dramatic wooden tresses. With a full kitchen gut renovation, we chose timeless and simple profiles to create a new space that felt fresh and modern but still in keeping with the home’s history.

New Classic Georgian

While this house was only built ten years ago, it was beautifully designed to feel like a traditional Georgian. It won a Historic Preservation award in Lake Forest, IL, for its thoughtful details. The brick exterior features a millwork-encased entry door and classic double-hung windows. Inside, notice design choices such as symmetrical French doors with mullions, substantial moldings and casings, ceiling details and medallions, and wall paneling. This new traditional home is a perfect example of intentional design choices, which bring immediate charm and character to a newly built house.

1920s Colorful Craftsman

We embraced color to bring this old home some new life. We chose to highlight the original coffered ceiling detail in the dining room and used a contrasting trim detail in the kitchen. This punctuation of the millwork is typical of Craftsman homes, as are the clean lines of the trim pieces.

Historic Pre-War Lakeshore Co-op

Sometimes, the bones are so good you don’t touch them. That was definitely the case in this pre-war condo on Chicago’s lakefront. In this project, we played up the historic architecture with rich colored furniture and symmetry. This space was a dream to decorate. A perfect shell!

Do you share in my love of historic architecture? There are so many different styles and approaches to renovating an old home or building a new home with storied character. I’m happy to share our free download Five Design Principles for Creating a Storied Home. Keep us in mind for your next project, old or new!