TIPS FOR RENOVATING A PERIOD HOME

Darren has a broad portfolio, having studied fine art & graphic design, originally working in advertising and owning his own graphic design company. After succumbing to his true passion, Darren now operates his own interior design studio and has been a judge on numerous seasons of The Block.


Where to save and where to splurge?

SPLURGE

1. THE FOUNDATIONS

One of the most important things to splurge on when renovating a period home is the building’s stability. Ensure the home is stable, solid and has no issues in the footings and no rising damp. Each of these elements should be addressed and resolved up front. Typically quite expensive to fix (if necessary!), these issues should be your first priority when restoring an old home. Whist they don’t yield visible results, issues with a home’s foundation will ultimately impact your cosmetic updates.

2. RESTORATION OF PERIOD DETAILS

Casting panels of your existing ceilings to repair and patch areas of damage is another expensive undertaking within period homes, however yields an amazing and historically faithful result. If your ceilings are beyond repair, be sure to research the same patterns and detailing so that your ceilings come back to life naturally. You don’t want to end up with Frankenstein’s monster, with incorrect detailing slapped together quickly.

3. WIRING AND PLUMBING

Starting afresh with your wiring is a great safety precaution to take when renovating old homes, and ensures that old copper cables can’t cause your beautiful renovated home to burn down. Replacing original plumbing also saves expensive bills on repairing water damage. Addressing these two things means patch and repair to walls won’t be necessary. Again, although these splurges aren’t visible, they are necessary.

4. SKYLIGHTS

Old homes can be notoriously dark; however, a few well-placed skylights can transform
dark hallways, bathrooms or lounge rooms. Where possible, open up the space with a light, bright and more modern skylight within the typically closed-in space of a period home. The expenditure is well worth it.

SAVE

1. LIGHTING

Create some great looks using store bought fittings that are either period appropriate or contemporary in style. A new light fitting can transform a ceiling, especially if there is a beautiful ornate ceiling rose as its centre piece. You don’t have to spend big bucks to get big impact from feature lighting if you buy well.

2. FLOORING

You don’t need to go overboard when it comes to flooring, with so many stunning, low-cost options available. Sand and stain existing flooring if they’re in good condition or use any number of great products available from the Carpet Court range to cover old floors and create a consistent, coherent look throughout the entire home.


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