How to Renovate a Historic Home—and Keep Its Character—According to Designers

Live In It to Learn the Space

You might be tempted not to live in your new-old home before you begin renovations, but Haywood suggests giving yourself at least a month of living in the home so that you can really understand how you'll use your space. "See what makes the most sense with the way you use the space versus your intention for it," Haywood says. "They may differ, and that's where the best design decisions are made—when you know the purpose of the space and how to maximize it for your needs."

Use a Phased Approach

Guess what? Rome wasn't completed in a day, as the saying goes, and neither will your historic home renovation. "Don't let Instagram fool you!" says Haywood. "Most design projects are not full of instant gratification." Using a phased approach to a project limits disruption and helps you make well-informed decisions about what the spaces will become, she says.

Rethink Your Storage

As you're renovating, remember that you aren't beholden to the home's original storage features, which are likely small closets and inefficient kitchen cabinetry and storage areas. "There are new interior storage features that make each cabinet 'work harder' and more efficiently," says Hauser. "Consider adding a walk-in pantry and consolidating your storage through a zoned layout—everything is stored at point-of-use such as cooking, prep, food baking, beverages, cleaning, etc."

Embrace Natural Light

Always look to include more natural light in your design plans, says Hauser. "Use natural light whenever and wherever possible to nurture the space," she says. "Consider adding windows if possible." Hauser also recommends adhering to the idea of biophilic design, which looks to connect spaces to the outdoors as much as possible, natural light being part of that. "Biophilic design is the biggest trend in design [right now]," she says.

Consider an Alternative Appliance Layout

Think outside the box when you have to because you might come across features in your historic home that can't be changed. For instance, to adhere to an existing historical layout in the kitchen that included a window that couldn't be moved, Hauser split up the placement of the column freezer and column refrigerator. "The freezer was placed across the room. Then, a 30-inch column refrigerator was installed to the left of the existing historical window," she says. "We had to keep the existing window location per the Historic Committee in Evanston, which didn't allow for a conventional refrigerator/freezer option. So, we split up the appliances. This created a great open layout and easy access to both appliances while keeping the integrity of the window location."

Use What You Have From the House

According to Hauser, most homes have an architectural point of view and the details to support it, so use those to your advantage when planning your renovation. "In this renovation, we replicated the exact details of the newel post in the front foyer from the 1890s and carved it to install as an arch at the entry of the pantry," she says. "That detail pulled together the front of the house to the back of the house because it was an original detail reflecting the architecture of the home. It was such a beautiful detail to copy, and it was already there!"

Don't Let Your Footprint Fail You

Historic homes were built very differently than homes are today, often featuring an architectural footprint that is out of line with modern living. But that doesn't mean you can't change things (where allowed). Hauser notes that if your home is over 50 years old, it likely doesn't have an open space to easily gather with friends and family, so for your kitchen space, you might want to consider altering adjacent rooms to fully meet your needs.

In other instances, you might want to knock something out entirely. "In the Queen Anne Landmark kitchen, there was a large block, the original chimney that was 2-feet-by-4-feet long," says Hauser. "While this was expensive to demolish and structural accommodations were necessary, it completely transformed and modernized the kitchen visually and functionally. It was worth it in the long run."

Try Wallpaper

Wallpaper has come a long way and can be found in several bright, trendy, and stylish options that work wonders in a historic home. "Don’t be afraid of wallpaper," says Haywood. "In fact, wallpaper a room floor to ceiling like we did in the sunroom! Wallpaper can be a true wow moment in spaces big and small." Here, they used a Robert Kime botanical wallpaper with Farrow & Ball Suffield Green trim.

Pay Attention to Sight Lines

You'll want to create a cohesive space throughout the home, so don't overlook the home's natural sight lines. "Make sure the color palettes blend seamlessly throughout the rooms to define, yet highlight each," says Haywood. "It’s a huge opportunity to master the flow between spaces."

Consider Time Period True Touches

Haywood and Hauser's clients were enamored with a mid-century modern feel, which, at first glance, doesn't naturally flow with a Queen Anne Victorian-style home from the late 1800s. Haywood notes the complexity of balancing preferred styles with the style of the house, but it can be done through thoughtful curation. "In older homes, the mix of old and new is even more critical," she says. "Vintage rugs, vintage fabric recreations, and unique touches are a great way to strike that balance."