There are many beautiful features of a period home. The charm and character of an older property are inimitable but there’s no need to miss out on a more contemporary style if that’s what you desire.
There are many ways to stylishly and considerately incorporate some modern design into your period home that won’t compromise its original aesthetics. In fact, mixing a touch of modernity into a traditional setting can produce stunning results.
Neutral Colours
A modern home should be clean, airy and light. To achieve that contemporary feel, keep your walls pale and neutral and the lines clean and sharp. This is particularly effective for bringing extremely traditional details like cornices and mouldings into the 21st century.
Remove Brass
For a quick and easy upgrade trick, replace the brass accessories that accompany a traditional panelled door with fixtures that exude a more modern finish. Consider items made of stainless steel or chrome, and make sure the shapes are clean and simple.
Open Plan
One of the biggest changes brought about by modern living is the open plan arrangement. If you’re feeling brave, then why not knock down the partition wall (providing it’s not load-bearing) and open up the eating and living spaces? It could revolutionise the whole house.
Wooden Floors
For instant interior style uplift, get rid of patterned or richly coloured carpets and replace them with ultra-modern pale wooden flooring. If you’re worried about everything becoming a little cold, warm it up with a good rug – perhaps in a graphic contemporary print.
Wood effect laminates are another option you can consider and many can be fitted with underfloor heating too. Opt for realistic-looking oak designs which mimic real wooden flooring perfectly but are easier to maintain and cheaper to fit.
High Tech Lighting
From spotlight LEDs to skirting board light strips – any kind of non-traditional lighting will bring a space right up to date and also help to achieve the bright and airy feel you need to pull off this look.
Use these techniques to create a unique and personal space that reflects your style and makes the most of your period home.
Window Dressing
Authentic sash windows are a very valuable and rapidly diminishing feature of a period property. Despite being one of the most distinctive indicators of a building’s age, they can easily be dressed to suit more contemporary interior tastes.
Rather than weighing them down with heavy drapes, opt for simple, sleek blinds. Alternatively, look into sheer voiles for minimalist elegance.