How to Renovate a Home While Maintaining Its Character

There is a fine line to tread when it comes to updating a home and preserving its original character. If you’re embarking on a home renovation, it’s likely because your home is in need of repairs or modernization. But especially with older homes, you don’t want to remove too many of the original details that make your house unique.

To find the right balance between renovation and restoration, we talked to interior designers who specialize in combining traditional and modern elements. These are their top tips for updating a space without changing the original integrity of a home’s architectural design.

Restore, Don’t Replace

“Instead of gutting everything, find ways to make it shine,” says interior designer Audrey Scheck. To strike the right balance between modern updates and historic charm, she suggests restoring the elements you can, and opting for modern finishes on any new items you need. “Restore, don’t replace, and mix in modern touches with older decor that is charming and classic,” she advises.

Choose the Right Color Palette

Another way to achieve this visual balance is through the color palette you choose. “Use soft colors to let those vintage features do the talking and allow room for natural light to be present,” Scheck suggests. A modern all-gray color palette likely won’t blend well with a home’s traditional warm wood features, so it’s important to consider the undertones of your original elements when selecting new items.

Embrace New Features

Sometimes a home renovation includes building an addition next to a historic home, which does mean you are starting from scratch, but you still encounter the same old-meets-new design dilemma. “When we design an addition for a historic residence, we tend to set these volumes back from the original home and use new, modern materials to distinguish the old from the new,” says Paul Clayton, principal of Clayton Korte.

Clayton Korte’s Ridgecrest Residence is a recent project that preserved the character of a midcentury home while incorporating modern design elements. For this particular residence, expansion and preservation were the central focus for the homeowners. Clayton’s firm takes a similar approach to designing interiors. “When working on an interior where historic details are significant and character-defining in the space, we approach the projects in a similar manner,”‘ he says.

Keep Original Elements When You Can

Clayton and Scheck suggest keeping five original elements whenever possible: Fireplaces, millwork, staircases, hardwood floors, and interior brick. “These are the heartbeats of your home’s history, and preserving these elements will enhance the overall elegance of your space,” Scheck says. Of course, you might need to refinish old, scratched wood floors or install a new staircase due to structural reasons, but you can choose new elements in similar architectural styles when possible.

Preserve the Character

No matter the size or style of the home you’re renovating, finding the right balance between what to change and what to keep is key. Update or change the home elements that need to be brought up to current standards and aren’t compatible with your lifestyle, but as Scheck says, “Don’t strip the soul out of the home.” Take the designers’ advice and always keep the above original home details for a space that’s modern yet unique. “Keep the character—that’s where the magic is,” Scheck says.