Our homes are not just a place of habitat. It is our residence and more.

Agree? 

We share a very precious and intimate bond with our homes. After all, it has seen us at some of our best and worst selves. It knows a great deal about us.  No wonder why we are so articulate about the place we live in. 

It is safe to say that, in a way, it is reflective of our personality, an extended self. And if this home happens to be a pre-war home, the dynamism of this place grows even more lively. There's no surprise why pre-war homes are gaining steady popularity in the 2021 interior design trends. 

There is an added archaic charm to your pre-war home, something you would not see in other houses. It has its charismatic personality. 

But there's a small chink in the armor. 

Living the archaic pre-war drama comes with shortcomings. There is so much you can potentially miss out on when it comes to the facilities and amenities of the modern-day world. 

So what could be the probable solution? 

What is the thing that can make your archaic building suitable for modern-day living?  Take a wild guess. 

You need an upgrade. Keeping the essence of your pre-war home intact,  a renovation process is what you need. 

Here's what you can do?

Start with a high-level recce

It is essential to start your renovation planning with an inspection of your house. It will ensure to complete your project with the least hiccups. Take a tour of your residence. But this time, stay alert. Look at every single little detail of your house and make a master list of them. 

After you do so, create two lists from the master list: "love it" and "change it.” 

The "love it" list will contain every prop and element that made you fall in love with your house—for instance, the floor, the wallpaper, and alike. 

The  "change it" list will contain elements that either you aren't a fan of or want to give a more modernized look- for instance, the furniture, the wall color, and others.

Now let's drill deeper into each of these two lists. 

List out every element that makes your home unique

To prepare the "love it" list, you can take help from some questions. 

Ask yourself?

What are the things that add to the personality of your property? What are the elements that you first noticed instantly when you took the tour of your house?

Ensure to keep this stage meaty. Be very specific about the elements. 

Having a rough list of eight to ten items is good to go in this initial shortlisting process. 

But if you are still confused, here's a list of things you can watch out for a while planning the remodeling:

• Woodwork

• Crown mold

• Built-ins

• Flooring

• Wall plaster

• Pocket doors

• Hardware 

• Cedar siding

Pro Tip: Sometimes, this step might get a little crazy.

A few of your most loved elements about your pre-war home might be beyond repair. 

So what should you do in such a situation? 

Find out.  

What if your home's original features are dilapidated? 

In an ideal scenario, you would want to restore every detail of your house that makes it unique. But it is essential to keep your one foot in reality while planning your 'la-la land.’ 

Estimating the rough cost of repairing each element is crucial. If the expenses grow steeper and outstrip your budget, it can create a lot of turbulence in your renovation venture. For instance, if your wooden flooring is exclusive in design but extensively damaged, going for entirely new flooring is the smartest move. 

Now that you know what you want to keep unchanged. It’s time to list what you want to change. 

List out every element that demotes your property's performance and appearance. 

To complete the "change it" list, you need to collate all the elements required for massive upgradation or don’t go with your taste. 

This list usually would include internal plumbing and fixture design, ducting and wiring architecture, and others. 

However, sometimes it may happen if your house’s particular component may end up in both of your lists. For instance, you may be entirely in love with the design of your wooden wall, but it is damaged when it comes to functionality. You can keep them highlighted to work on later.  

Pro Tip: Taking help from a professional designer can alleviate this particular issue very fast. They can come up with creative yet functional ideas to resolve the dispute. 

Now that you have a complete idea of what you want to do with all the elements in your home, it’s time to brainstorm design ideas for your home saga. 

2021 interior design trends show a significant dominance of pre-war homes. Here are a few ways you can give your pre-war homes the desired modern zing. 

But to experiment with the design using a few software like SketchUp or Floorplanner can give you a realistic view without making a hole in your pocket. 

1. Start with your foundation

Any work of renovation shall start with fixing your foundation. No matter how strong is the foundation of your pre-war house, no building can withstand the weathering effects. Thus, it is always good to have a few things fixed and updated. Infact, you can go ahead and build another supporting column if needed. 

Pro Tip: this stage is only for ensuring that your hard work stays strong for a long time. Aesthetics aren't a primary concern here. 

2. Replace plumbing and fixtures

An archaic home is highly susceptible to have pipelines and drainage systems that aren't in good shape. Sure they have the original charm. But that is of no use if they don't allow you functionality.  It's better to change old fixtures with modern ones that are made to look traditional. This will ensure that you do not encounter maintenance troubles daily. 

3. Non-open floor plans

Closed floor plans are one of the most raging design interests of modern homes this year. And with the right reasons. Closed floor plans tend to be more private and noise-proof. Implementing such a design adds coziness to the archaic charm of your pre-war home. More importantly, densely segmented floor plans render a sense of formality and individuality to space.  

What's more, it makes room for bolder and massive design chances while composing distinct looks for every room. Also, separate spaces create more opportunities for storage into corners and walls. 

4. Hardwood floors

Hardwood floors of yesteryear are making a comeback in contemporary interiors. 

Although it is not difficult to figure the why?

Well-worn hardwood floors can add warmth and visual depth to spaces like no other. Also, they act as an excellent neutral backdrop to both contemporary and traditional furnishings, rugs, and artwork equally. Your pre-war home setup can utilize the USP of hardwood floors to the fullest. 

Pro Tip: Consider refinishing before replacing the floors so you can preserve the innate rustic charm of your home. 

5. Decorative moldings

Decorative moldings like the crown and box panels are the most significant interior design elements that exhibit pre-war style. It adds charm, history, and character to spaces almost instantly. Mostly found in white, it can be the most fitting choice for contrasting with modern furniture. But this transitional style can be achieved by carefully choosing transitional furniture and accents to incorporate the new within the old sections of your house.

6. High ceilings

There is some innate capability that a tall ceiling bears within. It can make any room feel grander, bigger, and taller than it is. Archaic high ceilings create more air volume for light to travel through a room. Thus, it gives the space a sense of fun and lightness. But if you want to create a look that feels even taller, you can use vertically printed wallpaper to create an optical illusion. Painting the ceiling with a color little lighter than your walls can also achieve this effect.

7. Stone fireplaces

Marble fireplaces are the most charming and sophisticated elements of the pre-war era.  The decorative stone details offer a refined contrast to contemporary furnishings. Moreover, marble is another way to bring in an earthy, natural touch, so you get the best of both worlds with this material.

8. Beef up storage area 

Custom home library systems are also very popular in urban pre-war homes. Take many walk-ups, or even Trinity-style homes in Washington DC or NYC for instance – they have several flights of stairs with landings. These landings don’t have much square footage, but they must be utilized. A custom closet contractor can often transform these stairway landings into comfortable book nooks, work-from-home office systems, or other cozy areas by building out a built-in shelving system. Along those lines, under-stairway storage systems are very important for urban families. You can add a reach-in closet beneath the stairs, built-ins, or even a bike rack. A wood-working expert can help you utilize your space perfectly.

Ending Thoughts

Remember, it is your home. So while you are busy preserving the archaic property’s personality, don't miss out on putting yours. 

More importantly, do not compromise on the utility of the space for aesthetics. Functionality must outweigh what pleases the eye at all times. 

Find a middle road. Be creative in approach to blend both utility and aesthetics.