An old house can be easily restored to its old glory or transformed into a more modern property if you know the factors to consider in the renovation. Here are some tips from experts on renovating an old house.
Architectural Digest was able to talk to designers Reed and Delphine Krakoff on how to successfully renovate an old home. The duo managed to give a circa 1917 property a contemporary overhaul but at the same time preserve its historic details. The said property is the summer childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
The first home renovation tip that the designers gave is to have an inspector check the structure of the house. This is important so you can conduct repairs in the house's systems such as plumbing and roofing before working on the aesthetics.
The duo also suggested decorating the old house with "new old things." "What's interesting to us is the mix," Delphine said. "We wanted the house to seem as if it had been furnished over time."
It was also suggested to "dig deeper" into the house because you may find interesting items from the past that you can highlight in the remodeled home. This will help you preserve the old details of the house even if you decide to have a new contemporary design.
Meanwhile, Houzz has enumerated eight lessons from renovating an old home, and it was said that "you really cannot know what a house needs until you live in it."
"No matter how carefully you plan, there will be complications. (This is multiplied by infinity if you are buying an old house)," the publication noted. Therefore, it's important that you have the patience to go through the entire process of renovation until completion.
