When we bought our 1840s home much of its period charm had already been stripped out. Its high ceilings and large, airy rooms remained, but molding, fireplaces, and original floors had mostly been covered over, ripped out and replaced with practical but personality-free alternatives.
I missed the molding most. I love how it's the decor equivalent of lipstick, finishing off a look with a little extra magic. But it was easy to add back in, researching the styles that were typical of when the house was built and choosing sympathetic options. My husband was cross about the lack of flagstones. Top of his wishlist, and typical of the area we were buying in and period of the property, had there been any they were now replaced with graying linoleum and tacky fake-wood floorboards.
