Antique or New House?

Dear Melissa:

I’m house-hunting and the unthinkable has happened. I’ve fallen in love with an antique house with crooked walls and slanting floors. My friends are advising me to buy “new”, but my heart says this is the one. What should I do? N.K.., ME 

Dear N.,

Go with your heart, as long as your head agrees.

Of course the antique house has crooked walls and slanting floors. Goodness knows humans settle, too! However, that’s part of the charm. Talk to some owners of antique homes to get a feel for the lifestyle. Wonderful old homes often require concessions to modern living. They can be drafty and noisy (those creaks in the night and clanging pipes.) They require diligent ongoing maintenance, which can be expensive. Of course, if you truly desire an antique home, this is a labor of love.

Make sure you hire a qualified home inspector who specializes in old houses. He/she will understand the peculiarities of such a home’s wiring, plumbing, heating and structural systems. If there are significant problems, consider whether you have the financial and emotional wherewithal to correct them. I recommend waiting at least six months before considering any structural changes that may impact the home’s historical value. Get a feel for how you live in the house first, and always remember why you bought it in the first place. Good luck! M.A.K.

Dear Melissa: 

You have been so helpful in the past and I thank you for that.  Here I am again with 2 other questions/problems.  (1) Want to install a rope hand railing (instead of normal wooden one) in a small, narrow & steep stairwell.  I know I've seen these in historic homes in the past, but can't remember where.  Where can I find information? (2) Want to put a door at top of stairs to master bedroom.  (Not same staircase as previous question.)  It's a unique situation in that this 2nd floor only has this one room; it's kind of like a loft, although no overhanging balcony.  I probably need an interior architect.  Is there such a designation?  And how do I find one? Thanks in advance.
"Decorating Novice"Lyme, CT

Dear Decorating Novice:

It’s always nice to have a repeat customer. (1) In my opinion, safety comes first. Are you sure you want to install a flexible handrail in such a challenging stairwell? If you decide to proceed, you will need a large diameter rope from a marine supply or building supply store. Then you will have to find railing brackets that will fit that diameter rope. Some potential sources are: Baldwin Brass, Renovators Supply, R. Christensen, juliusblum.com, and atrtechnologies.com.

(2) Any builder, interior designer, or architect can help you. (And yes there are people who call themselves interior architects, as a subspecialty.) Try the yellow pages or local professional organizations. It may be difficult, however, to find someone for such a small project. M.A.K.

Traditional vs Contemporary Kitchen

Dear Melissa:

My husband and I are trying to renovate our turn of the century kitchen and butler’s pantry. Unfortunately we can’t agree on a style. Neither one of us likes Victorian, but my husband likes a more traditional look and I want a more modern look. Can we have different cabinets in the butler’s pantry and kitchen? Could we combine the two styles somehow? We’re under enough pressure with the costs and construction and everything related to it that we really don’t need this. Plus I’m right and he’s wrong. Could you please give us your opinion? Closer to Divorce

Dear C2D:

Now, now, children. Play nice. You’re creating unnecessary stress. (For me.) Construction is bad enough. You two are going to need a united front to deal with the contractors, so don’t turn on each other. It’s your house. You can do whatever you want to it. It’s just tricky when a couple has different tastes.

If you are sticklers for historical accuracy, the two rooms have almost always been treated differently. The pantry was a staging area for the staff, and usually contained wall-to-wall cabinetry for storage of dishware, flatware, and serving pieces. Sometimes there was a utility sink. The kitchen was more of a workroom and larder, with free-standing workspaces. If the two rooms are open to one another, you might consider some type of continuity, but it’s not necessary to make one area a direct extension of the other. It’s more authentic not to.

Having said that, whether or not you have both rooms match, you can create a highly customized vision of a kitchen. Styles are not mutually exclusive and I feel very strongly about personalizing a kitchen. In fact, I get a little crazy seeing the same kitchen everywhere I go. They cost too much to be ordinary.

It doesn’t take a lot to mix styles. Choose a door style that you can both at least live with. Recessed panels can go either way. Simple traditional cabinetry looks great in unusual colors with funky hardware. A modern take on historical accuracy is to use one stain or glaze on the upper cabinets and another on the bases, or at least use a different finish on the island, if you have one. Consider a more unusual backsplash or countertop. Copper, zinc, quartz or cement countertops are very cool and work with both traditional and contemporary styles. Open shelving is very big right now and can also go both ways. If your modern sensibility requires empty counters, use built-ins and organizers – or make good use of that butler’s pantry.

Life is compromise. So, too, are kitchens. M.A.K.