Building renovations: How to mix old & new tastefully

It is often the case that what one person considers tasteful, another will find quite obnoxious. The old axiom that you can't buy 'taste' is all too true. In general terms when looking to renovate there are some simple rules to adhere to. The most important is that any new building work should blend with the existing architecture, especially if your house belongs to a particular architectural period. Understand the existing home's character, and make the new parts of your home blend harmoniously with the old for the most tasteful renovation.

Building renovations: Old & new in your home

If your home is form a previous era, renovations present the extra challenge of blending existing architecture with newer work. It is worth researching this and gaining an appreciation of the styles, colours and building materials that fit with the era your house belongs to. It is also generally true that new construction should merge with the existing building and not physically dominate it. Nor should the colour scheme clash. For those who are uncertain, fortunately there is no shortage of help available.
In renovating an older home, planning is particularly important. Here are some tips:

• Do some research on the era in which your home was built. Investigate typical building materials and style, and which new materials would fit comfortably with that
• Check recycled building material sellers for samples of materials from your home's era, if it is not in the too distant past. Ensure the materials are sound, and incorporate them into the design of the new building. Wooden window frames or beautiful old doors, for example, can make all the difference
• Seek advice! There is no shame in seeking professional advice on designing your addition. It is tricky to tastefully blend two different buildings, and a sympathetic architect or even a real estate agent or designer may save you from making a costly mistake
• Look around - check how others have tackled the same problem. Your neighbourhood may have similar buildings which have been well or badly renovated. Learn from others' mistakes and successes
• Ensure that your new addition does not overshadow the old. A key to successful blending is subtlety
• Be aware of all the subtleties of your existing home. Note shapes, colours and materials and be sympathetic to these in the new design. Walk around and write, measure and draw
• Ensure that the existing building is structurally sound enough to withstand the building works and to support the new additions. A builder will need to check this

Renovating: Blending old & new

The trick to creating a successful blend of old and new in your renovation is simply taking the time to assess and plan. No renovation project should be rushed into without proper planning, but this one in particular requires care to avoid ruining the beauty or at least the character of the original design. Seek help if you are not certain of success, and remember that subtlety and a sound understanding of and sympathy with the original design are the keys to success.