When building a new home or renovating an old one, there are innumerable
choices in commercially produced building and finishing materials; but
when you want to restore an old home, particularly one built before
standardized building materials were widely available, you may need help
from a custom millworks. Stairways in old houses are narrow and steep,
rooms are off square, and dimensions vary tremendously from home to
home. How do you incorporate a modern, functional kitchen, for instance,
into the design of a home restored to its original 1850s design?
|
|
|
|
|
|
You may have the expertise or the research
capability to make the design decisions yourself; otherwise, hiring an
architect who specializes in the restoration of antique buildings is a
must. Many antique buildings, particularly in New England, were built
and renovated over a period of centuries, with additions in different
styles (sometimes compatible, sometimes not) tacked on to the original
building. You probably don't want to remove the additions, particularly
if they're a substantial part of the building; but do you restore them
to their original state, or do you impose the style of the original
building onto the addition? If embellishments were added to the original
structure, do you keep them or get rid of them? |
|
|
|
If your house is a hodge-podge of different styles from
different eras, can your architect incorporate a new design which will
blend the warring styles together? And do you want him or her to do
that, or are you enough of a restoration purist not to want to add
modern elements to the design?
Antique buildings were most often created using materials locally
available at the time of its construction; but some materials may have
been imported from far away; by the nineteenth century, New England
ruled the seas, importing goods, including exotic woods, from places as
scattered as Ireland and Southeast Asia. Whether originating locally or
abroad, these antique materials may or may not be readily available from
local sources now. Maple, oak, walnut, cherry, ash, hickory, mahogany -
all may be found in an antique home, and all may need to be specially
purchased. You or your architect will probably need to communicate with
manufacturers of custom building materials; so be sure to choose a
millworks company which has experts on staff who can provide design and
specification assistance. These millworks companies should be able to
provide custom milled wide plank flooring, individually designed stairs,
historically accurate reproduction moldings, and special lengths and
widths of lumber.
Antique homes offer a fascinating look into the history of a region and
the lives of people who lived through various eras. The story of a
particular house may span centuries of building, rebuilding, and
renovations, making each home a unique connection to the past. Restoring
one of these gems to its original beauty can not only extend its life to
another generation of residents, it can contribute to the legacy of a
region.
About The Author
Aldene Fredenburg is a freelance writer living in southwestern New
Hampshire and frequently contributes to Tips and Topics. She has
published numerous articles in local and regional publications on a wide
range of topics, including business, education, the arts, and local
events. Her feature articles include an interview with independent
documentary filmmaker Ken Burns and a feature on prisoners at the New
Hampshire State Prison in Concord. She may be reached at
amfredenburg@yahoo.com .
|
