Aug 10, 2011

Old house charm you can use in your home.

Even if your home is newer, you can have the charm and warmth of an older home with some simple modifications.









1) Paint your floors. Do a simple area rug in an entry or the entire floor. Patterns like these diamonds are period perfect.  Distress the edges using black or gray for an antiqued effect.


2) Paint moldings a crisp white. 


3) Use subtle hues of greens, blues and yellows on walls. Here the lavender is perfect with the ivory and black painted floor.


4) Black and white cabinets are stunning


5) Replace slab doors with salvaged ones or apply molding to the surface.





6) Add wide moldings to doorways and windows and create coffers on the ceilings.


7) Use bead board as wainscot and backsplash material. 


8)Swap out light fixtures for vintage styles.


9) Distressed or salvaged wood floors look authentic whether they are solid wood, engineered, or even a reproduction laminate floor.








10) Use hexagonal black and white or large marble tiles in baths. 


11) Subway tiles are an ideal shape for tubs and showers. 


12) Install a farmhouse sink in the kitchen and a pedestal sink in the bathrooms.


13) Replace single handle faucets for one with cross handles.








14) Change your switch and outlet covers to brass, antiqued silver or stained wood.


15) Use glass knobs and pulls on doors, drawers and cabinets.


16) Swap the plain glass in furniture and cabinet doors with seeded glass.
















17) Update your newel post and balustrades. You can purchase ready-made or have one custom made for your home.


18) Add molding detail to walls and stairs to create a warm, classic stairway.  The contrast of dark and light are ideal for period styling.


19) Use runners on wooden stairs.  You can even paint one on or cut remnants from a new carpet installation.  Textures and patterns work well.