Toronto is full of historic neighborhoods, where the charm of the past meets the convenience of the present. Preserving the heritage of older homes while incorporating modern comfort is an art, and in this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process of achieving that perfect blend. Join us as we explore the unique challenges and exciting possibilities of marrying history with contemporary design in Toronto’s cherished homes.
While Toronto is full of homes that were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, not all of them have been kept up in the same way. That in itself can be a part of the home’s heritage. Its story is as unique as you and your family living in it. Some have been lovingly preserved with all of their original flooring and woodwork intact. Others have had their character stripped and inexpensive renovation solutions used for crumbling interiors. Some may have been split into apartments or rooming houses. A lot can happen in a hundred years. It’s important to have a plan for the next stage of your historic house’s life phase as what you do will become part of its heritage too.
Building mechanics have come a long way in the last hundred years. The types of insulations, high efficiency windows and furnaces can reduce the costs of heating and cooling as well as eliminate any drafts and energy leaks. Older homes may also have hidden surprises like the presence of lead in water pipes and knob and tube wiring which can be dangerous for your health and your life. Upgrading the systems in your historic house will impact the quality of life for you and your home and you don’t necessarily need to eliminate the Historic Aesthetics to do so.
When first undertaking a renovation like this it’s important to ask yourself about your end goals? Do you want to turn back time and restore? Do you want to rehabilitate? Or do you want to renovate to look new? Most people choose to the somewhere in the middle, the option of rehabilitating. This means you can do things like put in those high-efficiency systems while maintaining some of the charm and character of the original home. In this case it comes down to having a strategy for your renovation with a clear plan on what’s worth saving and preserving and what can be replaced. Original moldings in great shape? Then save. Original flooring that is stained, warped and creaky? Then replace. An experienced professional can help you factor in the costs of saving original items, as preserving what’s there isn’t always the cheaper option.
Your choice must also be greatly dependant on the house itself. Where it is located, the style and its previous renovations all are important factors to consider before starting your design. If your house has been previously stripped of all its original features, maybe that’s an invitation to start a contemporary renovation with a focus on minimalistic design, instead of trying to recreate what was once there. If restoration is your end goal, there are some good architectural salvage places in the city to find pieces that would suit the age and design of your home. Or, you can have your existing moldings custom matched to produce new materials that look the same. NOTE: One of the biggest mistakes I see in home renovations is people choose moldings that are builder basic, don’t match each other, and don’t match the time periods of the house. The moldings will make the biggest impact in the overall look of a room so it’s important to get it right!
Preserving the heritage of Toronto’s older homes isn’t just about maintaining the past; it’s about crafting a living space that honors history while embracing the comforts of today. With thoughtful design choices and a passion for preserving the unique character of each home, we can create spaces that tell a story while meeting the needs of modern life.
Take a look at some of these before and afters of historic homes to see how I’ve blended the past and present before!
