33 bhgrecollection.com | 32 | THE DISTINCTIVE LIFE® Volume 14 STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW You don’t have to commit to restoring a historic home to exactly its former glory. Part of the fun of renovating these properties is infusing a bit of your own flair into them. So, while staying true to a home’s floor plan might be wise, playing a little with paint color can make the home better suited to you. REPLACE IT IF YOU CAN’T SAVE IT As much as you might want to salvage a historic home’s core features like flooring or molding, installing newer versions may make more sense, even if you have to distress them to make them look old. Sometimes, it costs too much time or money to restore something that would look just as perfect in replicated form. CHECK FOR POSSIBLE TAX CREDITS Many municipalities offer incentives for prolonging the life of an older home. Do your research to find out what tax credits might be available and what restrictions may be in place for those who want to take advantage of these benefits. IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY You may not be able to improve the energy efficiency of some structural elements of a home while maintaining the property’s integrity as a historic place. But you can likely swap aging insulation, windows, and lighting for periodappropriate alternatives that reduce utility bills. BE PREPARED FOR SURPRISES The most important tip to remember when renovating a historic home is that surprises will likely occur. You may have done all the right research, hired the best team, and put meticulous care into every aspect of your restoration, but there’s always the possibility the unknown will creep in. Plan for these moments and ensure you’re willing to take them on. INTERIOR DESIGN
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