A small change or improvement to a period home can change the overall look and feel of the home. You do not need to invest a major makeover to give your old home a refreshingly new look. 

Sometimes, a few tweaks and minor renovations are all you need to breathe new life into a classic home. Here are 5 stunning ways to renovate a period property without spending too much time and money.

Add Some Industrial Touches

Installing steel-framed windows may seem like an odd choice for a period home but the contrast can actually work well for the space. The stark contrast between the old and the new is a great combination to update the space without sacrificing the design and the integrity of the classic design. Industrial installations are also practical and add to the functionality of the space.

Adding industrial touches to the place elevates the beauty of the old design while improving the functionality of the home. Industrial materials are strong and durable so they last for a lifetime. They also require very little maintenance and they are cheap to repair or replace.

Highlight The Staircase

Period homes have intricate details like the stairway handrails. If your balustrade is made of an intricate hand-carved design, make sure you make that a signature piece in the house. 

Feature the staircase by painting it with a colour that contrasts the rest of the house paint. Choose a paint that will allow the special features of the stairs to stand out and get noticed at first glance.

Install Sliding Doors 

Installing a barnyard-style wooden sliding door will complement the classic look and feel of the period home. Sliding doors like this adds a rustic look to the space so it will not overpower the area and will blend with the classic style. It is still a great new feature but it will not take away from the classic aesthetics your period home offers.

Distinct Contrast

Do not try to disguise or hide the newly renovated space or extension. Let the new area shine and sit together with the old. By giving each element a stark distinction, you are keeping the classic look while highlighting the new addition to the period property. Let the new be new and the old be old. There should be no confusion as to where the modern extension starts and the old one ends.

Showcase The Existing Period Features

Embrace the charming character and features by highlighting them instead of hiding or changing them. Add modern extensions and features if you have to but do not take away what makes the period home beautiful. Exposed beams are beautiful. Let them stand out by painting the ceilings and walls with colours that will complement them.

Renovating a period property requires background knowledge and design experience. Do not compromise the design and structural integrity of your classic home by doing the renovations yourself. Hire professionals who have the expertise to handle the renovation of your beautiful period property without doing any damage and compromising the design.

Adding to or renovating a period home is challenging because materials may no longer be available and modern appliances may not fit in the current layout. 

At Period Extensions & Designs, we are renowned for our award-winning designs in home renovations and extensions. Let us know what the vision for your home is and we will help you make it a reality!

Please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.

Period homes are beautiful. Many homeowners look for the perfect, classic, period home and try to make it their home forever. However, choosing a period home means living in an old and outdated building that may not accommodate some of your current, contemporary needs.

Period homes usually also come with quirks and some structural or aesthetic issues that require some repairs and replacements.

In some cases, period home renovations can sometimes be a necessity for your safety and the safety of your loved ones. However, home renovations can be expensive. And when it comes to period homes, a renovation requires more planning, professional consultation and more money. 

The renovation process is very daunting and requires a lot of work, time, and money, but the results can also be very rewarding. 

Updating The Flow Of The Home

Period homes were designed during a time where modern appliances and modern comforts weren’t available. Most of the time, the floor plan, layout, and the overall flow of the space doesn’t really work in the modern household.

Renovating a period home so that it’s up to date and fits within your current needs and requirements is seriously important.

Improving Comfort And Enjoyment Of The Home

Period homes are usually closed in, dark and cramped. Renovating can mean freeing up more space and providing better flow and to also let more light inside the home. It also means creating more space for new appliances and furniture for your comfort.

It’s important to live in a home where you feel relaxed and comfortable. A well-planned renovation of your period home can help you achieve that.

Increase Security

We no longer live in a time where we do not have to lock our doors at night. Today, home security is a necessity. Period homes are not equipped with modern and top of the line security features.

Renovating a period home can increase the security aspect especially when it comes to the windows and doors and will also allow easy installation and integration of new security systems.

Improve Functionality

One of the major reasons homeowners renovate their period homes is to improve the functionality of the home. 

• Changing the floor plan or layout 
• Opening up rooms and walls for an open-concept home
• Rearranging the layout to accommodate modern appliances and furniture.
• Putting in new lighting fixtures.

These reasons and more are just a few of the reasons why you renovate to improve functionality. 

Improve The Aesthetics And Style Of The Home

Keeping the natural charm of your period home while improving the look and style inside the home can be achieved by mixing the old and the new. Just because you are living in a period home does not mean you have to stay in that era.

Renovating a period home gives homeowners a chance to improve the style and put their personal touches all over the home. When you renovate, you do not change the theme of the home, you just improve it and make it better.

Improve The Home’s Efficiency

Period homes are mostly out of date. This means they are no longer energy-efficient which means higher utility bills. By renovating, you get a chance to install new windows, a new heating system, and other ways to minimise energy consumption. 

Increase The Overall Value Of The Home

Renovation work can significantly increase the value of your period home. A simple kitchen or bathroom update can change the look and feel of the home.

If you are looking to sell, we recommend you make a few tweaks here and there and do a small renovation project before you put your home on the market. By doing so, you can demand a higher selling price and have a better chance of selling the property quickly.

Period home renovations is almost always an advantage. When done right, you can sell your property at a higher price or live in a beautiful house that you can call home for many years to come. 

What is important in renovation projects, especially for period homes, is to plan and do it right. Consult professionals like architects, engineers, designers, builders etc. If you want fewer mistakes without going over budget and also stick to your timeline, quit DIY-ing and hire professional builders.

Get a company that specialises in period home renovations and designs so you can count on their expertise and experience to turn your visions into a reality.

If you are planning to renovate your period home, Period Extensions & Designs is an award-winning home extensions and renovations company in Melbourne. We are here to help you turn your period home into your dream home!

Please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.

Adding a new extension on a period home can be tricky. It requires a design that is sympathetic to the period features whilst giving you the comforts of a contemporary lifestyle.

Furthermore, recreating or imitating period styles can be tacky if not done right. However, with expert knowledge and craftsmanship, it can be achieved.

Here is a list of extension ideas for period homes that will work perfectly in keeping with the modern-day lifestyle and still respect the period details of the home. 

Choose Complementary Materials

You do not necessarily need to use matching materials, just ones that will complement the look and feel of the original building. An extension does not need to mimic the existing architecture of the home, it simply needs to respect the traditional features.

For example, try and maintain the ceiling height of the original house so that the old and the new will meld seamlessly together, rather than lowering the ceiling in the extension, because this may cause the extension to feel claustrophobic.

Consider A Modern Contrast 

You may want to consider a striking contrast from the old to the new. This may make the extension ‘pop’ whilst drawing attention to the original features of the house as well.

A good example would be to have polished concrete floors in the extension whilst the older part of the house still retains the floorboards which could be polished to enhance the look.

You may also want to consider skylights in the extension to bring in more light to the new area.

Go Rustic

A rustic look can work with period homes too. Use timber windows in the extension to complement the timber windows in the original part of the house. Or perhaps match the timber flooring throughout the house, matching old and new for a seamless finish.

Connect The Indoors With The Outdoors

A contemporary glazed design can flood the room with natural light while adding a modern touch to a classic house. Glass doors will give you access to natural views, without the need to go outside. You can enjoy your garden without having to open the windows or doors. 

Open Up The Place With More Doors And Windows

Modern extensions can totally transform a period style home with the addition of large glazed sliding doors that will flood the new area with light and give you a connection from the house to the garden with an idyllic indoor-outdoor space.

Be generous with the size of the windows and the doors. Period homes typically do not have big windows, but modernising and upsizing them can bring in more light and will certainly be a worthwhile decision.

Use Steel and Metal

Modern industrial style extensions are practical and can elevate the aesthetics of your home. It is all about planning the space and making sure the finishing and paint colours complement or contrast the original building.

Designing an extension to a period home may seem limited by the original architecture of the old house. But a modern extension to a period home does not need to be constrained. 

Extensions and renovations to old houses have as many options as a knockdown and rebuild option or building a new home. There are creative ways to go about it. Before you go and dive right in on your extension project. Consider the following:

• Consult a designer and draftsman
• Set a budget.
• Hire a builder
• Plan the tiles, fixtures, and fittings in advance.
• Shop around for best prices.
• Source materials locally.
• Set a schedule or a calendar of tasks.
• Set a reasonable timeline.
• Consult the local council for permits

When planning for a period home extension, it is important that you get enough support from the experts. Going at it alone without consulting an expert or a professional can cost you money and potentially compromise the integrity of the build.

If you are looking for some period home renovation ideas, then please speak to us at Period Extensions & Designs. We understand how delicate the process of renovating or building an extension on a period homes is.

Our award-winning designers have a plethora of experience when it comes to designing extensions and renovations to period-style homes. Our designs complement the old whilst giving you the modern-day comforts you are accustomed to. We will work with you and for you from start to finish.

We will listen to what you want and use our knowledge and experience to turn your vision into a truly exquisite design, which we will then bring to life. 

Whether you need help with the design or the actual extension and renovation itself, please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.

Designing a home extension is an exciting venture especially when you are dealing with a period home. Trying to make the old and the new work seamlessly is possible but it takes a lot of thought, planning and an expert eye.

Modern extensions can work well with the classic period look. The modern addition can complement or contrast the original building and can enhance and elevate the overall look and functionality of the property.

However, it takes a lot of planning and design consultation with professionals to make it work. And when it does, you do not just end up with a uniquely beautiful home, you will also increase the monetary value of your property.

Modern extensions are practical and will bring your period home up to date. It can work as long as you pay attention to the following:

• It does not alter the historical features of the period home that makes it classically beautiful.
• It can be executed seamlessly and will work cohesively with the original building.
• It is strategically located.
• It will add additional living space.
• It will add functionality and value to the property.
• It will not damage the structural integrity of the original building.
• The shape, scale, and proportions of the period home is kept intact.

When thought through carefully, a modern extension can work beautifully alongside the existing building. A cohesive look can be achieved when the materials and the style are planned thoroughly.

Both the practicalities and aesthetics must be considered.

Defined Difference

Modern extensions are suitable for period homes if you set a clear distinction between the original and the modern.

It is better to distinguish the modern extension and make it stand out from the original building, however, it needs to blend in seamlessly. If you can achieve this, the original period home can retain its design integrity. 

Pay Homage To The Old

Paying reverence to the original home will help achieve a cohesive look and a good balance between the old and the new.

For example, you can use comparable materials in contrasting colour or aligning roof pitches or use zinc cladding to mirror lead roof flashings.

The secret is to identify the important historic features of the period home so you can enhance and complement it with the new addition, not challenge it.

Find A Link

Finding an unobtrusive link between the original building the adjoining room is a good way to execute the extension. For example, you can leave old brick walls exposed as you build the extension.

This can make a clear break between the two, creating a stark contrast at the same time, still linking the two together. Imagine the beautiful contrast between the old stonework and modern plastered walls!

Focus On The Practicalities

The number one consideration is foundation support. The extension must be self-supporting so it will not add any structural strain to the original house. Period home foundations are not future proof. 

The best thing about living in a period home is its character, charm, and history. When renovating or building an extension, you want to keep these intact. These are the things that make your period home a classic and unique.

Your modern additions should not diminish or downplay these characteristics. It should elevate and complement the home instead.

Unlike modern homes, modern extensions need careful planning and research to make a modern extension suitable for a period home.

In fact, it is highly recommended that you get professional services to make sure your project is executed in the best possible way. 

You need delicate hands and design expertise to handle a period home renovation. You also need excellent builders to make sure the original building and the new additions are structurally sound. 

Final Thoughts

At Period Designs & Extensions, will not only guide and assist you from design planning, but we also offer a ten-year structural guarantee on all our builds and a three month maintenance period after completion of every project.

Our team will be there for you even after the work is done because we are dedicated to helping you achieve your design goals and are not satisfied until our customers are satisfied.

Are you planning to renovate your home? At Period Extensions & Designs, we have adjusted the way we do business amid the COVID-19 crisis so we can keep you safe while continuing to serve and make your design and renovation goals come true. 

Whether you need help with the design or the actual renovation itself, please call us today at Period Extensions & Designs on (03) 8658 1340 or contact us through our contact form.