cheers to the weekend… and the honey do you actually look forward to.

this week we are talking about my principals when approaching design in a older home. while they are not intended to be law I hope they can guide your decisions as well!

Do no harm…

What do you want?

The first question you must consider is what do you ultimately want in a home. Location matters of course but what does your dream home look like? If you long for a wide open floor plan with simple molding use these to guide your home search. By choosing a mid century home instead of the old victorian you would be closer to the finish line from the very beginning. 

Support what you have.

So you may have already pulled the trigger and bought the home. If you have, regardless of the reason (location, architectural aesthetic, price?) you must put up your blinders and start exploring what your home has to offer.

Leave Walls Up

This one is very simple. Give up the notion that you should walk in the front door and immediately see through to the kitchen. It is not necessary (trust me, I have a two year old and make it work all the time). Think of your home as a beautiful jewel box, complete with layers that you and your guest can uncover and savor one at a time.

It’s Only Paint

Now, I have a general rule for my home. I wouldn't paint it if it wasn’t painted. You may notice that much of our home’s trim is painted. This was done before we moved in and I personally did not make the decision to strip the paint. We did strip one built in and I was content with the warmth that the exposed wood brought in.

Now, many of my old home loving enthusiasts may disagree with this statement but… it is only paint. While I’d prefer you leave beautiful wood work alone, I will always plead that it is much better to retain the woodwork, even if it's painted, then to rip it out. 
And everywhere else… it truly is just paint. So paint your ceiling green, throw up a crazy wallpaper and have fun. It is important to explore creativity in your space and through paint, you ensure that it can always be undone if needed.

Light it Up

Another favorite mode to inject your personal style is in lighting. Hands down most impact change you can make is adding a sleek, modern chandelier in a century old home. Or vice versa perhaps. The juxtaposition of the two make both sing just a bit louder. Making friends with a good electrician, one that isn’t afraid to go fishing (in your walls that is) is priceless. 

We added spotlighting throughout our second floor, added USB ports next to the bed, and even heated floors. All without taking away an ounce of our home’s historical context. Win win.

It’s Already Gone.

If there is absolutely nothing to retain  you can embrace the freedom to explore an aesthetic that is entirely different from the rest of the house, or you can build a room with details that are similar to elsewhere in the home. Either way if fair game but good craftsmanship is paramount, don’t ever compromise on that.

Turn off the TV and Seek out Real Life Help

Whether it’s talking to the neighbor, calling up your pops, or even booking a consultation with our firm. The fact is, our homes, like our home owners, are not a one size fits all. True home building is specific and unique. If you are making decisions for your home based on a one sided conversation that millions of others were fed you have to ask yourself “Would that really work for me?” 

open house!

One of my favorite weekend memories, and quite possibly the catalyst for the career I have now is going to open houses with my mom. Every Sunday after church we would jump in the car and scour our city eager to explore every open house we could find. Over the years we made friends with the realtors who graciously obliged our curiosity.

What this constant quest provided was an immense opportunity to discover how old home owners throughout our community were merging the gap between historical accuracy and modern appeal. We, of course would come across a home that had been stripped of everything holy like the home I mentioned in this week’s blog. But the really interesting homes, the stars of the show were the homes that did things their way. They were unique, they were bold, and they rejected the idea that we all follow the trend.

Check out a open house in your neighborhood this weekend and you may be surprised at what you find.

let’s meet the artist, andre petty

A local emerging legend Andre Petty is an unlikely artist, if there was ever such a thing. As a firefighter of over twenty years, Andre has used his unusual schedule of 24 hours on 48 hours off to cultivate a hobby that has recently took flight.

““I would love to do architecture and buildings around town. But I still want to do it in the exact same way. I feel like I’ve touched on something that is not only touching me, but other people seem to be enjoying it a lot right now.””

Petty’s work tends to highlight well-known figures in American culture. From The Notorious B.I.G. to Eminem, his unique style puts the pop in pop art. Along with his genuinely infectious smile, Petty’s friendly enthusiasm and generosity shine through in his paintings.

Petty began drawing as a child, meticulously attempting to recreate scenes from comic books. “My oldest brother, who passed about 20 years ago, was a huge painter and drawer,” Petty explains. “He was a big influence on me, especially as a kid. I thought he was the coolest thing ever.”

rescued from ruin!

Homeowner, or caretaker as he calls himself walks us through the beautiful Coxe Mansion that he has boldly rescued from ruin. Through his words you’ll see the true love these caretakers have for these homes and why it is so truly important to retain them for the future.

‘is raising a child easy? No. But is absolutely worth it? Of course’

Whether you are the doer who is just considering an older home, years into the seemingly never ending project, or a veteran with stories to fill a book I am sure you will find this interview with the power house duo refreshing and authentic in a world of gloss filled instagram feeds.