Renovating an old house can be an exciting time, but it can also be incredibly
stressful when figuring out what to keep and what to get rid of.
Plenty of
old homes have been around for years in Chicago and need refurbishing and
remodeling. Whether you’re looking to make the interior or exterior more
energy-efficient or want to replace the carpet with a polish hardwood floor.
You’ll need to make some tough decisions along the way during old home renovation in
Chicago. When
you’re remodeling an old house, especially one with historical significance or
one in your family for generations, you might not want to change it too much.
This can be a tricky balance to strike, though, since many of the things you
keep may seem outdate or impractical compare to what you would put in if you
were building from scratch.
Old houses
are often one of the most expensive homes to remodel, not just because they’re
old. But also because there’s usually so much wrong with them on the inside.
However, there are plenty of old home renovation projects that keep the house’s
character without completely gutting it and starting over from scratch, which
can save you some time and money when making changes to your home. In this
article, we’ll give you suggestions on how to decide which features of your
home are worth keeping. So that you can create a beautiful home that reflects
your tastes and personality while still respecting the history of your old
house.
So, before
you start ripping up the worn-out carpet or chipping away at the old paint,
take a moment to consider which pieces of your home you should keep. And which
pieces you can replace with something new and improved.
The Floor Plan
In Chicago,
most older houses were built so that the flow between the most important living
spaces, such as the kitchen, the parlor, and the entrance hall, is logical and
convenient. New additions in older homes sometimes confuse more than they
clarify things. When possible, try to preserve the home’s original plan as best
you can when planning a home renovation Chicago project. Sometimes that may
even mean bringing back parts of the home that were altered by previous
remodelers.
For
instance, in the 1970s, nobody wanted a dining room, so the trend was to turn
them into open-plan kitchens to create kitchen
remodeling or other multiple-use spaces in an open plan. It’s worth the
initial trouble; today, the dining room is back. At first, a more traditional
floor plan may not seem flexible enough to accommodate your planned
renovations, and a wholesale reorganization may seem necessary. It’s worth
another look.
Woodwork
Moldings
were key design components even in modest dwellings until the years following World
War II. Baseboards and casings surrounding windows and doors were typically
broad stock, with applied moldings to provide shadow lines and a stronger,
three-dimensional look. Cornices were particularly weighty and dramatic in the
late nineteenth century. Save as much original woodwork as possible during your
old home renovation. Especially any early paneling, built-in casework, spindle
work, and other beautiful wood treatments.
Consider
such timber pieces to be both worthy of preservation and a source of
inspiration. Try to mimic existing aspects if your proposal includes new
elements such as windows, doors, or cabinets. Using existing excellent work as
a source for additional details will assist in giving the new area a sense of
belonging to the rest of the home.
Staircases
As the
expense of great workmanship has risen. So it has the quality and character of
the traditional staircase. Restore them if you have original balusters, rails,
and newel posts on your stairway(s). If they’re made of hardwoods or are so
heavily painted that the turnings, panels, or other features are no longer
sharp, strip them. Find strategies to stabilize them that don’t distract from
their attractiveness (if required). Badly worn treads can normally be replaced
without too much effort. But make sure the features, such as the nosing returns
(where the rounded edge extends around the open end of the tread), are restored
as well.
You may get
new balusters to replace broken or missing ones for a fairly low price if you
hunt about. Staircases are important to home design features and are well worth
the extra money to preserve and refurbish. Staircases are especially expensive,
sometimes costing as much as $20,000. So if you’re planning an old home
renovation in Chicago with a beautiful staircase, keep them.
Doors
Some old
home doors are built with particular hinges or latches that are no longer
available, making it difficult or impossible to modernize them. If you’re not
looking to keep a vintage door, take it off its hinges and build a new frame
around it. You can find replacement hardware at any home improvement store in
Chicago. Replace your frame every few years if needed (and remember to update
your threshold). It’s hard not to consider keeping a door that you love. But
there are plenty of reasons why it might not be feasible.
Besides its
weight and size, there could be construction issues, like how it would fit into
your new space. Or if it wouldn’t work with your floor plan. Older doors may
also have square footage than you need for any single room. So even if you like
them, cutting one up and incorporating it elsewhere probably isn’t worth your
time. Before deciding whether to keep a door, make sure you don’t have an
emotional attachment or a good home renovation Chicago contractor to convince
you otherwise.
Walls Are Great, If They Can Be
Repurposed
Before
gutting your old home and starting from scratch, consider what walls will be
worth keeping. In most cases, you’ll want to keep anything that divides rooms
or serves as structural support (think hallways, main rooms, and rooms
containing load-bearing beams). Once you’ve removed everything else, try
imagining how you might like your space arranged if it were brand new. What
size room would you want? Which pieces of furniture will you want in each room?
What kind of layout appeals to you? Can any walls be removed or moved around to
better suit your needs? Getting those mental questions down on paper can help
give your plan home remodel some direction.
Storage Space
Ask yourself
if you want your new space to fit your current lifestyle. If you want to keep
most of your furniture, don’t let space constraints hold you back from home
remodeling. If you want a more open floor plan that invites people into all
areas of your home and gets rid of any cramped feeling, then go for it! Whether
you choose existing or new furniture pieces is up to you. But make sure
everything fits into your room. If anything doesn’t fit now, try storage
solutions like extra storage ottomans or built-in desks underneath elevated
beds. These are just some ideas to get you start on your home renovation
journey.
Plaster Surfaces
If you’re
planning on turning your plaster surfaces into more modern materials, keep in
mind that not all of them can be painted over. Plaster walls are typically
created with lath (thin wood strips). And lath can damage by paint strippers,
which means repairs will be necessary before attempting a new coat of paint.
Other materials like wallpaper or paneling may also have a special finish requiring
delicate sanding or painting prep work prior to applying color. If you’re
unsure whether your old plaster walls are up for revamping. Consider having a
professional home inspector come out and give their opinion.
Windows
New windows
can be put on any wall, and you can add light by putting large pictures or
mirrors on walls. If your old windows are still functional, clean them up, hang
some new curtains, and have a brand-new look. While many people think their old
windows are too small if they aren’t leaking, then leave them alone. And put an
elegant window seat in front of them for additional seating space. If you’re
lucky enough to find some big, beautiful antique windows at a flea market or
garage sale. Keep those as centerpieces of your Chicago home renovation while
replacing old windows with new ones.
Hidden Structural Issues Can Cause
Big Problems Later On-Why Not Fix Them Now?
If you’re
going through with an old home renovation in Chicago, consider taking care of
hidden structural issues while you’re at it. You may want to start with a
foundation or structural engineer. Because any work that does need to be done
will cost more upfront than cosmetic fixes. Renovating an old home is
exciting—and, if done right, can be extremely rewarding. Just remember, keeping
your cool and working methodically will help you navigate unexpected issues as
they arise. If something feels like a big risk or outside of your comfort zone.
Talk it out with your old home renovation contractor first so you know what
lies ahead and what you can expect down the road. Then move forward knowing
that each decision has been carefully considered!
If you need professional help to manage and monitor your old home renovation Chicago project, contact Homednb! We make the home renovation process transparent and worry-free with reliable and trusted contractors in Chicago!
