Am I a hypocrite?
One could argue that I am, and sometimes I think so too. And here’s why…
1909 Victorian lost to dumpsters in 2012.
I say I love old homes and strive to save them along with the historical detailing within their walls. But what about my 1930s bungalow? Why open up the floor plan on the first floor? And why, for the love of God, are my walls gray?!?
Our 1931 Bungalow in 2016 prior to renovation.
In 2006, real estate inventory was low, and the height of the “bubble.” My soon-to-be fiancé and I were looking for a four-bedroom, two-bath home, but all we could afford in our desired location was a two-bedroom, one-bath bungalow. That was fine because I saw the potential as a young designer. I started thinking of how we could add two more bedrooms almost since closing.
2006 - a few months after we moved in
While I have always believed that old homes deserved saving, I didn’t think much about maintaining our home's original character. Having been renovated in the early 1990s, most of that character was already gone. I would keep the original wood floors and brick chimney (with the witch's bend), but I also wanted to open up the closed-in kitchen and turn my bungalow into a farmhouse. I would use classic and timeless subway tiles but also vinyl siding. I would mimic the original window trim, but I would paint almost every gosh darn wall… GRAY!
Similar view in 2022
Do you see where I’m going? Do you now see how I’m such a hypocrite? In the ten years it took us to start our renovation, I couldn’t see the forest for the trees. The “HGTV-ification of America blinded me.” More on that in another post. Even though I am a certified and licensed Interior Designer - more than can be said for TV show designers - I only saw trends. I only saw shiplap and barn doors. I only saw gray walls and white trim. And now I am kicking myself for being so foolish.
Yes, my new bathrooms are timeless and classic. Yes, my white subway tile backsplash is timeless and classic. But that backsplash lives in my open concept, gray kitchen with open shelves and barn-like pendant lights. How could I be so stupid?
If I could go back in time, would I keep the layout? Yes, this two-story layout works for our family, minus a few tweaks - like a vestibule/mudroom. But now, I will spend the rest of my days in this house, figuring out the easiest (and least expensive) ways to bring back more of the 1930s aesthetic, to include so many historical details that should have been part of the design from day one.
Hindsight is 20/20.
I’m not saying that every home should be a museum, but we are losing so much history and craftsmanship to dumpsters. As an architectural designer, I appreciate architecture and design in all its forms, from all eras. I understand the current design trends. But I also believe it is essential to maintain any existing historical character in a home over 50 years old. Every design aesthetic has its time and place. And it will be my job to keep it where it should be.
