Interior Design for Period Homes

Congratulations, you are the proud owner of a fantastic period property, whether that be Victorian, Edwardian, Art and Crafts, but chances are if you’re reading this blog you potentially have some renovating to do, I know it can be an overwhelming time, but I have put together this blog post to help you understand what steps to take next and help you out along the way. 

Get to Know Your House

I always advise my clients to take their time when beginning a renovation, I truly think it helps you know so much more about your house, you know where the best light is, and you understand the nuances of it and all of these will really help. Especially when it comes to space planning (more on that later). It isn’t just how you experience your house; it is the history of it as well.

Understanding what the original features are and what has been added over time, sometimes isn’t easy but take your time and look at old records to understand your homes story and what has happened to it throughout the years. If you want to explore what is possible in terms of extending you can also look at planning portal to understand else has been done in the area maybe even what neighbours have done and it is helpful as you can see what has passed through planning permission and what got stuck or refused, Planning Portal.

Consider Space Planning for Period Properties

Space planning is basically the process of determining the purpose, functional requirements and layouts of specific areas of the home and it is a vital part of the Interior Design process. Interior design isn’t just about making your home look pretty; space planning requires interior designers to consider how the home will be used by the owners and how to optimise the functionality of the space. Period homes come with all sorts of different nuances and in particular floor plans. They can be all extremely compartmentalised with tricky little space and much boxier than modern home, but with some creative thinking you will be able to get extremely creative and design something truly fantastic. If you are looking for professionals here are a couple of websites that can help, My Builder and Find a Craftsman.

I will caveat this by saying always be cautious when it comes to renovating a period property as I truly believe that we should be planning around the traditional features in order to preserve them rather than thinking of them as an after-thought. As a good rule of thumb, it is usually a good idea to restore any original plaster work, fireplaces, or tiling – it will be extremely cost effective, but these features have already stood the test of time and that will only continue.

Restoring or Reinstating Original Architectural Features

If you have cornice or picture rails, always consider incorporating them into your designs rather than ripping them out. As a good rule of thumb, it is usually a good idea to restore any original plaster work, fireplaces, or tiling – it will be extremely cost effective, and these features have already stood the test of time.

There are lots of companies out there to help you restore or reinstate if they have been damaged, EAH Mouldings can help with traditional features. If you are looking for radiators, lighting, bathtubs and other replicas or some originals, Period Home and Interiors is a great place to look for all things period home.

Blending the Old and the New

At Studio Smith part of my interior design studios ethos is blending the old and the new by mixing the cosiness of traditional with the freshness of contemporary. It can be hard to get right, and it does take time to make sure you are using the correct pieces in the correct way, but with some research I think you can deliver a scheme that marries vintage with modern providing a room that looks as though it has developed throughout the years.

I always talk to my clients to understand what it is that they love, nobody starts from scratch and why would you want to there are fantastic pieces in so many people homes that mean so much to them and I love finding a way to incorporate that into clients’ design schemes. If you can’t find a suitable place for a piece in a room it’s already in, try to think outside the box, there is nothing wrong with moving it into a different room in your period home. Antique and charity shops are often the best places to go to get a great find at a fraction of the cost, although you may have to be prepared to buff it and give it a bit of love, alternatively if you are looking for pieces that have already been cleaned, Vinterior is a great option or 1st Dibs.

Layered Lighting for Period Properties

Interior Designers, like me so often get carried away using language that isn’t always clear to clients what we mean, so when I talk about a layered lighting plan, what I really mean it creating depth in the lighting through a particular space. A great place to start would be an overhead light on a dimmer, with the natural light from windows. Next you would look at the other tasks that might take place in that room, if you might be entertaining in the evening, it is really important to mix in some floor’s lamps, wall lights and lamps to really create an atmosphere.  

Special Touches for Period Properties           

Little things, make a design scheme truly exceptional. In interior design these are called ‘gifts from the designer’, it could be complex joinery, clever cuts in the marble worktop, attention to detail in the most impressive places that are not yet clever, but are well-designed. If you are really looking to take your period home interiors to the next level, I would pay attention to a few things, door handles, doors, light switches, locks, windows and front doors.

Renovating a period home can feel like a big task and understandably you want to get it right for you and your family, my best advice is take your time, don’t just jump in to getting quotes from builders and architects before really understanding what you want and how you want to live in your space.

If you’re renovating a period home don’t forget to explore my services I offer remote and in person consultations which work best if your looking for some light advice or I offer bespoke full service interior design services which is perfect if your looking for a more hands on approach.

I focus on creating a solid client brief, so your voice is central throughout the design process, understanding how you live and how you want to live.

Jessica x