How to Transform Older Homes for Modern Living

How to Preserve Old Portland Homes

Oh if only older homes could talk, the stories they would tell! There is a special feeling many people get when they walk into an older home. Some say these structures have more soul than new construction.

Historic homes are certainly charming, but they were designed for an era when daily living was radically different than it is today. They also bring with them a host of electrical, plumbing and structural issues. For all these reasons, and some more, many people would rather tear down the old houses and start fresh.

We love the older homes of Portland and think they’re worth preserving! With an excellent architect and contractor, you can completely update these old beauties for modern living, while retaining their vintage charm.

If you’d love to own one of Portland’s many gorgeous vintage beauties but you’re unsure where to begin, talk to one of our skilled Urban Nest agents. They can walk you carefully through the process of how to buy an older Portland home and how to find the right contractor and architect for your historic Portland home.

Freshen up the Kitchen

The kitchen is the one area of a historic home that is most likely to feel dated. Remodeling the kitchen is a smart way to instantly add freshness and modernity to your historic home. From countertops to cabinets, you may just need some aesthetic and cosmetic changes to liven up the space.

If the kitchen is small, consider knocking out a wall or creating an entirely new house layout. It’s not unusual for vintage home remodels to involve completely shifting rooms in order to achieve a room flow that matches how we live our lives in the home these days.

Open up the Space

Older homes often have a lot of divided space. An open layout, where rooms flow from one to the next, is a more modern approach.

Often you can begin by simply removing walls between rooms and opening up spaces in between. This creates a loftier, airier environment, which immediately makes the home more livable. You’ll turn fewer corners, open fewer doors and the new layout will offer a broader view of the entire space.

Some of the rooms in older homes have low ceilings. Sometimes these are simply drop ceilings, meaning there is room above them. A higher ceiling makes for a much fresher space.

Add New Spaces

Architects that specialize in older homes can find lost space within the home and carve out new rooms. In Portland, it’s a great idea to add a mudroom or broad foyer where you can store rain gear and muddy shoes. This is especially helpful if you have a busy, active household (think kids, dogs, adventurers).

Think about what new spaces you’d like to have in your home, and talk with your architect to see if it’s possible. Sometimes even adding a small nook for a specific purpose (such as a micro office) can make all the difference on the home’s functionality.

Preserve Your Home’s Historic Charm

A skilled architect and contractor can remodel your home for modern living while retaining the historic charm that drew you to the home in the first place. Here are some ways to do that.

Update the colors, but retain or match the original style of fixtures knobs and handle. Many companies offer new options that harken back to an older time. It can be fun to spend time at a store like Restoration Hardware or Rejuvenation where you can hunt for vintage treasures and new designs that have a historic feel to them.

Highlight the unique features and details. Paint or otherwise draw attention to nooks, built ins and the ornamental details that make your home unique. Victorian homes, in particular, often benefit from a complex exterior paint job that draws the eye to detailing.

Vintage homes have often had many owners in their lifetime, and each owner brings a different set of style choices and home living desires. That can result in a hodge-podge of remodels over time. A good contractor may be able to unearth exciting features and elements that have been covered up by remodels over time, such as higher original ceilings, vintage wood floors and more.

Your Urban Nest real estate agent can help you find an architect and contractor in Portland that knows how to work with historic homes. Sometimes you will need to abide by special permitting and guidelines, so having a skilled architect and contractor will make that entire process easier.