While there are myriad benefits to moving into a new build that you designed alongside an architect, it often lacks the charm that is quite literally built into older homes. Those subtle architectural details that reference a bygone era where simplicity reigned are what makes historic homes so attractive to anyone who loves a project. After all, taking over a centuries-old space certainly comes with challenges—namely, making it suitable for contemporary living, which often involves ripping out oddly placed walls, replacing inefficient or rotten plumbing, and incorporating 21st-century appliances. But where do you draw the line between the renovation and the destruction of irreplaceable history in old homes?
We chatted with two architects—Diana Melichar, who runs her eponymous firm out of Lake Forest, Illinois, and Boston-based Patrick Ahearn, founder and lead architect of his namesake studio—to find out which architectural elements are always worth preserving in historic residences.
Monumental Stairs
We say “monumental” because that’s the word that pros typically use to refer to a home’s main staircase, but also because grand staircases are definitely a hallmark of the past. Think of the staircases you see in Gilded Age mansions throughout New York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Those types of artfully crafted staircases, which can sometimes span several feet wide, just don’t exist today. Melichar says, “Oftentimes in older, larger homes, there might be a back staircase that was reserved for the help, but they don’t usually have many defining features. Whereas the monumental (or main) stair will have decorative balusters, railings, and posts.” If your home happens to feature newel posts, which are the anchoring, lowest leg of a stair rail, you may want to enlist a restorer to bring them back to their former glory.
“An original newel post is one of the most special interior architectural features to keep in a renovation. They are often hand-carved, of significant scale, and impossible to replace without destroying the character of the house,” Ahearn adds.
Fireplaces
Older homes that weren’t built with furnaces or central HVAC systems tend to have more fireplaces than contemporary homes do. These days, of course, we aren’t really using the fireplaces to get and stay warm; we’re lighting a fire for the crackle, glow, and vibe. That’s reason enough to keep it. Getting rid of the original surround is a big no-no, according to the architects. “Especially in antique homes, a fireplace was the hub of the house,” Ahearn says. “To eliminate these fireplaces is to destroy the soul of a historic home. Simply put, they should never be removed.”
Plus, there are so many different types of fireplaces whose feel and aesthetic vary depending on the home. Some are grand and elaborate, and some are more pared back, as their sole purpose was based on function, not fashion. Melichar adds, “Fireplace mantels, firebox surrounds, and hearths will follow a prevailing style of a particular era, making them distinctive in their own right. Not to mention, fireplaces are relatively easy to maintain. Just be sure to clean out the burnt wood and keep the chimney clear.”
Antique Light Fixtures
There’s a reason why antique lighting sells so well on online marketplaces like 1stDibs and Chairish and at flea markets. These fixtures were handcrafted by artisans who spent their whole lives perfecting their work, making each piece unique and special. Yes, there are still artists and furniture makers whose studios produce beautiful chandeliers and lamps, but they don’t feature the same elegance as antique alternatives. “Although they typically need to be refurbished with new wiring, original light fixtures are very decorative. They can’t be bought right off the shelf today,” Melichar says.
Original Hardwood Floors
Sometimes the most tempting place to start your renovation is the floors. To get rid of them or spend a lot of time and money refinishing them? That’s the existential question anyone moving into an old house is faced with pretty much immediately. That said, both Melichar and Ahearn are quite steadfast in their argument to keep the original floors. “Wide-plank, older growth wood flooring in historic homes should never be replaced. Antique flooring from America’s oldest forests is denser, tighter grained, and stronger than today’s wood flooring. These floors don’t have the same volatility and movement that today’s new-growth wood has and should be preserved and protected at all costs,” Ahearn says.
Exposed Beams
Exposed wood beams had such a moment in the early 2010s that people building new homes sent their architects on a mission to find and install reclaimed beams in the ceilings or on the walls. So, when you buy a home with existing wood beams, keep them. “They authentically support a home’s historic narrative. Whether kept in their spare form or trimmed with a new, crisp white crown [molding], beams architecturally indicate the home’s history.” Not to mention the quality of the wood itself is nearly impossible to replicate. “Wood you’d find in a 100-year-old home is original growth lumber, as opposed to our managed forest lumber of today. The old-growth lumber was harvested from virgin forests, where the trees matured over decades and even centuries,” Melichar says.
Original Windows
If you’ve ever walked by an old house and noticed that it’s a little hard to peer through the windows due to an undeniable wobble, you can assume the glass is as old as the house. “The glass in the windows may be distinctive, as technology in the fabrication process has changed over the years. The older glass typically has more waviness and character than the ‘perfect’ clear glass we see and use today.” Historic glass is also typically so thick that it insulates better than thinner options too.
You may be tempted to replace old windows for energy efficiency purposes, but it’s not necessarily worth the investment. Unless you fully insulate the walls as well, your house won’t be airtight enough for new windows to make a significant difference. Consider also that new windows are designed to last only a couple of decades. Yours have already lasted twice that long, at least—a testament to their quality. Check in with a renovation pro to see what you can do to insulate the frame; weather stripping can make a big difference.
Secondary Structures
If a historic home is in a more suburban or rural area, it either has or once had additional buildings that complemented the main house—think barns, sheds, or even carriage houses. Instead of mowing them down to make space for a pool or bigger garden, keep them. “We work hard to incorporate these structures—repurposing or renovating them—because they simply can’t be rebuilt in their current locations if torn down,” Ahearn says. You may not use these buildings the way the original residents did, but what would be cooler than designing a home office or workout studio in an antique structure?
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Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s Associate Shopping Editor, a role she’s honed since joining the editorial team in September 2022. Since then, she’s been testing and reviewing , carefully curating timely , and tapping her vast network of interior designers to weigh in on that often have the Internet divided. Though most of her day-to-day is product-focused, every now and then, she manages to publish a few , which are the types of features she has written over the course of her eight-year career and in previous roles at 1stDibs and Architectural Digest. In her current role as a shopping editor, Jess has mastered the art of swapping decor in and out of her own New York City apartment to fulfill her seemingly never-ending quest for the perfectly styled space.
