Keeping (Up)dated. A tale of two houses.

12 years ago

In the thread about the staircase there was some discussion about being a "purist" and removing an update to recreate what was there, vs. allowing the out-of-place to remain as the history of the house. There is no right answer really, but there are arguments against creating a facsimile of something already gone.

Pair this with the continual talk of what's trendy, what's dated and what will be dated, and the increasing speed at which changes are made makes me think. Do you really think the installers of that 1970s staircase in the 1850 house said "lets install a hideously inappropriate staircase that someone in the future will curse us for"(?)...I doubt it. But by the same token people espouse changing things in here all the time...don't you think that is going to make someone in the future wonder about us?

I made an offer on this house that has had two owners in 200 years with the exception of a 5 year period in the 1920s. Dull, dull, dull on the surface...but intact 1810 at its core. Get rid of the off white wallpaper and you've got a good one. Lets look at it...and the house next door. Keep in mind these houses were identical at one point. The family owned both until about 20 years ago.

This:

Becomes this:

This:

Becomes this:

This:

Becomes this:

And this:

This...

Maybe there is a reason that the one house was sold off. Perhaps they downsized into the one in the best condition.Maybe the updated one *needed* to be gutted. I doubt it, but maybe.

So we can't really have it both ways. We can update "however we want because its our own house" but then perhaps we shouldn't complain about how ugly and inappropriate the contemporary updates are that the last generation made to our own houses. *Everything goes through a period of "Oh...That" after its been popular...when we haven't had the temporal distance to appreciate it for what it was. Every permanent "update" we make has implications, good and bad.

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Comments (5)

amielynn
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Agreed. Both houses are lovely. I can't help but scratch my head at that odd mirror around the tub thing in the last picture though.
Fori
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
O my goodness! They added the fireplace my Realtor said I have to paint! (I didn't.)

On the other hand, I see why people do update. I just vacated a 1950s house for another nearby (same builder, subdivision, etc.). My old house had all the mahogany trim painted trendy white. The new one has it unpainted. It looks terrible. Sometimes I'm tempted to paint it because it would be sooooo much easier.

I can't imagine doing something as big as a staircase.

I even admit I've refinished half a staircase's treads and risers in a '29 Tudor revival and then put carpet back on. But at least it was that way when I got it and the original insult wasn't from me.

We should accept some changes and updates. I mean, if the French Quarter in NOLA hadn't been so stubborn and refused to add plumbing, the place might actually smell nice! :P
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roarah
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I do not think homes need to remain decorated as they would have been in their orginal day but i do not understand buying a historically older home and then taking down walls and making it look like a new open concept build. Build new or buy new if that is the style you like. But I think in urban areas with little land still available that is not always an option:(.

I was lucky to find a home with its orginal wood work and layout and even one of its baths still intact so i am only making cosmetic changes, ie strip 80's wallpaper refinish worn woods and add my own colors and fabrics to mondernize it. I have replace broken tiles with salvage tiles and i added marble to the kitchen. Every choice i have made in "updating" my home can easily be undone without changing the integrity of its era but my home none the less has a young fresh vibe( for now in 10 years it will be dated:()

We did however totally update the electrical and plumbing so not a true purist. I feel good about my choices and my home works well for my family but i know many would not live as well in this home's layout. To each their own:)
katrina_ellen
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I do hate to see an old home butchered for the sake of the current style. I think if you are buying an old home it seems you would appreciate the history of it, I don't understand, why not buy a new one if thats what you want? Maybe they believe they need to do it in order to sell it down the road?
Carol_from_ny
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
There's a huge difference in updating a house and making livable for the occupants and ripping it apart to make it into something it's not.
Despite what tv tells us it does matter what the exterior looks like in relation to the inside and visa versa.
Ever go house shopping and find a beautiful old house with lots of grace and charm on the outside. You walk inside and the place doesn't match the exterior at all. It can be disappointing and lots of folks walk away and so the house sits for sale for years till some brave sole buys it and tries changing it back.
It's a fine line between remodling and just muddling up the house.

Keeping (Up)dated. A tale of two houses.

Comments (5)

amielynn

Fori

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