Let me come clean right from the start. When it comes to original features in house design I'm team protect and preserve! So if a home still has its authentic period details in situ, my view is they should be maintained for the next generation to admire and enjoy.
So what are the original features you should never replace? We spoke to interior designers, who almost without exception agreed that well-crafted, aesthetically pleasing period features should be preserved.
What happens, however, if the original details are not to your taste or don't fit in with your plans for the home's interior design? Is it okay to to remove or replace them? The interior designers are a reasonable bunch and their advice in that case is, rather than ripping them out, to adapt and update original features to suit the overall room scheme.
What are the original features you should never replace (and the ones you maybe should)?
In the interiors world, the term 'original features' is generally used to describe the doors, windows, staircases, fireplaces, floors, and even the smallest details, such as door handles, that were fitted when the house was first built. They might be highly decorative and individual, or simply functional and typical of the home's era. Either way, these items are part of a home's story and jointly contribute to its character and style.
Think carefully about how to preserve them and make them part of your room schemes, and think very carefully before replacing them.
Here's what the experts have to say about the original features you should never replace (and the ones you maybe should).
1. Do your best to keep the original doors
In a house that's between 70-100 years old or more, it makes sense to keep the original internal doors intact. By all means repair or paint them, or even strip them back to the original wood, but don't replace them unless they're damaged beyond repair.
Similarly with door furniture, the original hardware will be of its time and all adds to the character of the doors.
'Doors made of solid wood with intricate designs should be cherished for their craftsmanship,' says Lauren Lerner CEO and founder of Living with Lolo. 'These qualities are a rare find in modern options.'
Where street-facing front doors are concerned, if you live in a historical property or in a historic district, check local rules and regulations regarding the replacement of original doors and windows. It's wise to engage with local historic preservation officials and building departments from the outset to understand specific requirements and guidelines. If you do still intend to go ahead and replace, whether that's for aesthetic reasons or to improve energy efficiency, speak to architects, contractors, and artisans experienced in historic preservation to ensure that replacements or renovations meet both historical and modern standards and that they are appropriate to the area. Avoid ugly and costly front door mistakes, and be sure to keep on the right side of any regulations.
2. Repair and retain authentic windows where possible – they're the eyes of the house
Think of a classic child's drawing of a house: the windows will always look like the eyes of the property, and somehow that image stays with us into adulthood. Original windows go a long way to giving the house its character and for that reason they should be preserved, or repaired, as far as possible. Like original doors, they will have been designed in keeping with the era of the house and its architecture and keeping that historic and aesthetic balance is important.
'Unique windows with original glass or shapes elevate a home's aesthetic appeal,' adds Lauren Lerner. 'Stained glass details in transoms or decorative panels are artistic pieces that introduce color and visual allure, making them truly irreplaceable.'
There are other factors to take into account, however. Extreme heat and damp weather will take its toll on old wooden window frames, and they may have become rotten or brittle over time. Then there's the question of how energy efficient – or not – the originals are.
Interior designer Vani Sayeed says: 'Windows original to historic homes are often single pane not energy efficient and need to be replaced for proper functionality. Technology has come a longways and we can get historically accurate windows that are high functioning.'
Although double-glazing first started to appear in the early 1930s, it's rare that a home built before 1970 would have it as standard. If heat loss and energy efficiency is what's driving you to consider replacing historic windows there are plenty of options on the market that conform to heritage regulations. Do your research, and consult with local historic preservation officials and experts, as you would for replacement doors (described above).
3. Preserve period fireplaces
Nothing sums up the feeling of 'home' quite so well as a roaring fire in a beautiful traditional fireplace. Warmth, comfort, welcome, nostalgia – all positive associations we make with an original fireplace at the heart of the home.
The individual craftsmanship that went into these classic period pieces makes them more than worthy of preservation, and there's another element to consider, too, as Lauren Lerner adds: 'Original fireplaces with mantels and hearths are focal points, boasting unique detailing that enhances a room's charm.'
LA-based interior designer Tancred Vilucchi agrees, but doesn't rule out updating these period features to suit more contemporary tastes. 'A very simple and old fireplace can be partially restored while refinishing its mantel or installing new surrounding stone,' he says. 'We recently remodeled a living room where the clients were not sure whether to keep the existing fireplace. We came up with a design adding casings around the mantel for the fireplace to become more substantial; we then painted the wall above in a deep rich blue, installed a mirror on top of the mantel and it changed everything.' You can see the beautiful results of Tancred's fireplace remodel pictured above.
4. Look after characterful moldings and decorative plasterwork – these are important details
Decorative plasterwork, ceiling decorations and moldings were fairly standard features in historic houses. Some, like chair rails and picture rails, served a specific purpose, namely to stop wooden framed chairs marking the walls or damaging costly wallcoverings, and to hang paintings. Others were purely decorative, like the ornate ceiling roses and cornices pictured above in a Brooklyn apartment updated by Jason Saft of Staged to Sell Home. Whatever their intended purpose, if a home's original moldings are intact they are features well worth retaining, particularly since they can easily be updated to suit a more contemporary scheme.
Tancred is a great advocate of transitional design, mixing old and new to create a harmonious scheme, and finds such original features lend themselves well to modern partners in design. 'The beauty of old crown moldings in a room where contemporary furniture or cabinetry is being installed is nothing less than charming,' he says.
Interior designer Fitore Syla of Kosovo-based Muza agrees: 'You can be very creative by recoloring or adding new elements,' she says, 'but by preserving these features, you will pass on a story to future generations of designers, helping to keep old treasures in memory.'
5. Step up to keep the original staircase
Of all original features in a house, the stairway is perhaps the least valued or noticed. Yet replace it with a style that's not in keeping with the home's architecture and it will soon draw attention to itself. The wrong kind of attention. For such a functional piece, there are many design variations. Contemporary open-tread steps won't look so great in a craftsman style home, nor will an opulent curved stairway look the part in a traditional Cape Cod hideaway. It's about choosing the right stairs for the right setting, and that usually means sticking with the original.
Original definitely doesn't mean boring, as even in the most humble settings you will find embellishments. 'Staircases with ornate railings or banisters are essential structural and decorative elements that showcase craftsmanship and design integrity,' adds Lauren Lerner.
Chisana Hice-Smith, interior designer at In Site Designs, agrees: 'Original staircases, can be breathtaking works of art featuring detailed woodwork, bannisters, and newel posts,' she says, 'and often form a central element of the home’s architectural style. If a staircase is unsafe or structurally unsound, replacement may be necessary. However, efforts should be made to replicate the original design to preserve the home's character.'
In Julia Dempster's 1920s Mediterranean-revival home in LA, there was no question of replacing the original tiled staircase (pictured above). 'In a world captivated by modernity, this staircase stands as a testament to timeless elegance and craftsmanship,' the designer says.
6. Retain the original flooring, it can add so much character
When antiques dealer Holly Clements was renovating her village home in the south of England, she uncovered the original 300-year-old, wide plank wood flooring in the main bedroom (pictured above). There was no question of replacing them. Instead, she gently cleaned them with wire wool and white spirit and their timeworn patina is reflected in the room's original ceiling beams, also discovered under a false ceiling and layers of insulation. With her thoughtful restoration of these period details, Holly truly allowed the original character of the house to shine again.
It's an approach close to Fitore Syla's heart. 'As long as any of the old features don't lose their function, they should never be replaced. The history, years, and style they embody are always unique to me because they represent an era of design and architecture. The fact that they were used in a different time and era fascinates me.'
And if the flooring's damaged or badly worn? 'Flooring can be easily re-finished,' advises Vani Sayeed. 'Or if its damaged in places we will feather in similar wood so it blends in seamlessly.'
7. Replace damaged or dangerous original features
Is it ever ok to to replace original features in a property? Well, yes. If a property's original staircase or windows are unsafe no one's going insist they remain untouched. However, with characterful features inside or out it's worth trying to stay close to the original design even when you're replacing them.
'Aesthetic improvements may be made to align with the homeowner's taste or increase market value, but preserving the property's character is vital. Seeking advice from preservation specialists or architects can ensure replacements complement the original design and enhance the property's appeal,' says Lauren Lerner. With doors or windows it might be a matter of heat retention and saving on fuel. Upgrading to energy-efficient alternatives can enhance comfort and reduce energy costs.
'It’s crucial to balance the preservation of historical features with modern needs and comforts,' adds Chisana Hice-Smith. 'While retaining these elements is important, your home should also be practical and comfortable for everyday living.'
One area where the design experts were firmly in agreement is that of safety first, particularly where structural and electrical safety are concerned. 'Outdated electrical wiring, plumbing, or heating systems should be upgraded to current safety standards,' says Lauren Lerner.
There can also be some design benefits to replacing electrics. 'Electrical switches and their finish plates are a must to replace,' says Tancred. 'For a long time these were considered as functional features only. But in recent years, different companies have been offering great options from reproduction pieces to new designs. Consider replacing switches and finish plates to complement and elevate any type of decor and atmosphere.'
So where does all that leave us in terms of a home's original features? Personally, I hope I've persuaded you to join team protect and preserve. If you are going to replace period details, perhaps because they're beyond repair, it's worth checking local rules and regulations first, before seeking out similar heritage replacements. Preserving original features helps to preserve the character of a home, and isn't that what we're all looking for? A characterful home full of interest and talking points, and if there's history attached so much the better.
