Original period features add timeless elegance to a house and instantly give a home character. They add warmth and softness to a contemporary home where clean lines and minimalist features can create a stark setting. Setting a home into a period context can also add thousands onto your property value.
Explore the era your home was originally built in and look to add subtle key features from those years. Incorporate elements that were strong influences in that era and stay with them. Don’t just raid your local antique store and add lots of objects as this will make your home look like a history museum.
Returning your home to it’s former glory can be expensive but knowing how to remodel certain aspects of your home can give the whole ambience a period feel. Attention to detail is vital when giving your home a period feel. Ceilings with cornices, roses and walls with dado rails, add extra character and can give the home a period feel. However, when you have budget and time constraints, go for features that have a maximum visual impact that you will notice on a daily basis such as flooring, doors, a fireplace.
In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, floor boards were visible in most homes, so consider lifting back your old carpet and see what’s underneath. Typically oak and mahogany floors were a feature in this period, so a good polish will lift the wood and give your floors a gleaming finish.
Many salvage yards will be offering reclaimed oak doors that will tie in with your period property. Doors are a great way of giving your home a period feel as they set the tone of the room before you’ve entered. Reclaimed doors, flooring, beams, fireplaces and staircases add contrast to a modern home but don’t look out of place.
When it comes to furnishings, less is more. If you’re home is from the Georgian period, lay a large rug in the lounge as this is akin to this era. However this will be enough of a feature on it’s own. The Victorian era saw settees which were like “love seats” for two people which were made of fabric which was tufted with an arm rest in between. Just one furnishing feature such as a rug or chair will give the home enough of a period feel.
Fixtures and fittings such as traditional radiators, will add a rustic feel to a modern interior and complement the contemporary features. Victorian cast iron radiators will act as a classic period feature without looking intrusive as it is a functional fixture, rather than purely an aesthetic feature.
