Remodeling 1930s Homes

Start with the home's rooflines. Sketch the house from various angles to determine if an addition or new porch is needed. Keep new rooflines in harmony with the pitch and construction design of what's in place. Draw a home that is visually appealing from the curbside. Create a basic design with landscaping added to give the exact desired outcome. Plan to give the home exterior neutral coloring, such as shades of pale gray, pale yellow or medium taupe.

Design exterior materials by starting at the foundation. Use stacked stones or brick veneer around the home's foundational base. Plan to install an interesting combination of three materials, for example, on the exterior facades. Use this combination, which is popular in today's building designs for homes, to work well with multiple materials used in the 1930s. Install new shingle-type siding, stucco over brick in certain areas, and cedar tongue-and-groove boards in various places.

Remodel the interior rooms to preserve great features. Don't begin the interior revamp, however, until you've addressed insulation and other energy concerns. Install extra insulation in exterior walls and attic areas, but consult with experts for more ideas. Keep old light fixtures and rewire them, for example. Redo plaster walls and add crown molding. Keep interesting built-in vintage cabinets and add new cabinetry around them. Preserve old wood flooring by cleaning it and installing a wood sealer.

Upgrade the kitchen and bathrooms. Install new fixtures, faucets, countertops and cabinetry that harmonizes with colors used in the 1930s. Consult vintage home design books and magazines to see paint colors and flooring colors that were used in that period. For example, revamp the kitchen and bathrooms to reflect certain shades of blue or green used back then. Create tile floor designs that incorporate colors and tile work reminiscent of that era.

Invest in the porch areas and landscaping. Redo old wooden porches and add comfortable furniture. Create places to relax on the porches and in the yard areas, such as a covered patio space. Give the home's exterior a laid-back feeling similar to the less-stressed days of yesteryear. Add porch lighting and landscape lighting that harmonize appropriately with the architecture.