Top Trends in Preservation

Just like clothes and cars, old house styles and techniques change over time. The Preservation Alliance, in preparing for its March 15-16 Old House & Barn Expo, checked with some key sources to explore what’s trending and what’s classic. The best news, reports Beverly Thomas, program director at the N.H. Preservation Alliance, is that interest in preservation is on a steady upswing.  “The Alliance’s member and constituent lists are growing, thanks to your affection for special places, need for practical solutions, and “go local” interest.”  Here are some of the other trends we are seeing now.

Returning to old-fashioned living and stewardship:  Demographics and economic challenges are changing the way we live in our historic homes.  With older children or elderly parents to accommodate, old houses provide lots of space and flexibility. Heating a few smaller rooms, for instance, can be more energy efficient than an entire, open plan, house.  Converting basement or attic space is also popular right now.  But author Howard Mansfield cautions that being a good old house steward involves taking the time to appreciate what’s special in your home before making major changes. “We’re living in an era when too many people are doing too much,” he said, “tearing out walls for an ‘open concept’ floor plan, ‘updating’ every surface and window.  We have different expectations of comfort and safety, of course, but if we continue on this path of destruction-by-renovation we will be left with old houses that have the same countenance as a Botoxed face.”

Using local materials and salvage components also appeals to a growing number of howeowners.  According to Alliance member Lauren Collins, who is rehabbing an 18th century house, getting materials from salvage shops or using leftover material from prior renovations offers a chance to recycle traditional elements for a good price. The Alliance booth at the Expo will have a list of sources for such materials.

Improving energy savings: Andi Axman, editor of New Hampshire Home, said that energy efficiency continues to be a top priority for people renovating or restoring an older home. “There are so many new options available,” she said, that have minimal impact on the character of an old home.” Examples she offered include adding an exterior or interior storm and weatherstripping and repairing the sash so that historic windows can be preserved; maintaining hot-water baseboard heating by installing a geothermal system that takes groundwater to heat pumps; and, of course, adding appropriate insulation wherever possible.

Updating kitchens to reflect a historic appearance: Vintage Kitchens owner Sue Booth says that new products facilitate new solutions for “historic” kitchens.  If you want to keep the old layout of a kitchen but are challenged by lots of doors and windows and hard-to-light spaces, you can incorporate separate refrigerator and freezer units and add LED lighting. And old house owners are gravitating toward natural materials such as slate and soapstone for counters and sinks, said Booth.  Painted cabinets mixed with stained wood pieces, continue to be popular, especially paints in blue and gray tones. Another trend, Booth notes, is that “people are motivated by functionality and aesthetics and are less worried than they used to be about matching finishes.”

The New Old: Homes from the 1950s and 1960s are the newest historic buildings. According to the N.H. Division of Historical Resources, buildings 50 years old or older qualify for historic consideration.  That means thousands of post-World War II houses are gaining new appreciation for their distinctive style and use of materials, as well as their smaller size and clean lines. L Shop on Main Street in Littleton is a popular source for vintage furnishings for such houses. The mid-century modern style in public buildings is defined by clean lines, simple shapes and unornamented facades, and strong use of glass, steel and reinforced concrete. 

According to Sally Zimmerman of Historic New England, “mid-century homes can offer an affordable alternative to first-time homebuyers in established suburbs: younger buyers appreciate the open floor plans, retro look, and smaller footprints of 1960s ranch houses and often they’re the least pricy options in desirable neighborhoods.”  Interestingly, Zimmerman sees some of the preservation needs for these homes linked to their modern ambitions: “Radiant heating systems in the ceilings, asbestos floor tiles, and flat roofs are the kinds of challenges facing owners of aging mid-century houses.”

Donna Benson, Senior Vice President of Merrimack County Savings Bank emphasizes that there are still many financing options for clients, depending on the scale of your project, your home’s value and other factors. They encourage prospective borrowers to take the time to meet with an advisor and explore their choices carefully.   If you have a large project, refinancing your original mortgage for a larger amount at a lower interest rate, and getting the difference back in cash can be an option. As with any home loan, you'll pay closing costs and fees.

The Alliance’s Beverly Thomas notes that statewide use of the barn preservation tax incentive is also on the rise.  And a new tax incentive for qualified rehabilitation of historic buildings and energy improvements is a promising new source of assistance for historic homeowners. 

Do any of these trends fit what you’re thinking and doing? Let us know with any email to Beverly Thomas at bt@nhpreservation.org, and be sure to visit our many talented and knowledgeable experts at the Old House & Barn Expo, March 15-16 at the Radisson/Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students. For more information, visit www.nhpreservation.org.