Have you recently purchased a historic home? Or have you owned a historic home for years, and are now ready to perform some renovations? Historic homes are usually those that are at least fifty years old and have some significance related to history, previous inhabitants, or distinct architecture styles. Many people gravitate toward these homes because they like nostalgia, or they enjoy the historic past of where they live. Unless you plan to register the house or turn it into a museum or other public entity, you have free reign to remodel your home as you see fit. Including granite in the project is an excellent way to blend the old with the new for a striking result. Here are some ideas on how to incorporate granite in your project.
Use It On Countertops
Many truly historic homes did not have countertops originally built into the kitchen areas. Countertops were usually reserved for the pantry areas as this is where food was prepared. If you do have built in countertops in your kitchen, it’s likely they are made of stainless steel, wood, or soapstone, all of which gained popularity when kitchen countertops became fashionable.
Whether you currently have no built-in countertops in your kitchen or have ones made of outdated material, installing granite countertops is a way to bring your kitchen into the 21st century. You can maintain the historic integrity of your kitchen by not altering the structure or general feel of it, but still benefit from the beauty and durability of granite.
Use It As a Backsplash
If you want to keep the ‘historic’ feel of your home by retaining the original countertop materials, you can still incorporate the gorgeous appearance of granite as a backsplash. Because it comes in so many different colors and textures, you can match granite to a wide variety of countertop materials, making a striking finished project.
Backsplashes can be used in bathrooms just as easily as kitchens. You may want a darker backsplash in a larger or more open kitchen and choose a lighter backsplash color for the smaller bathrooms that are usually present in older homes.
Use It Outdoors
Many people who are renovating older homes want to keep it consistent with the times and go with materials that were popular when the home was first built. If you’re interested in preserving the historical integrity of your home but would still like some granite touches, you may want to look to the outdoor areas for inspiration.
Due to its durability, granite can be used on porches, decks, yards, and walkways. You might want to consider an outdoor granite fireplace for your back yard, or a granite path that leads up to a fountain or pond. When you use granite in outdoor spaces, you still benefit from the beauty, but don’t alter the traditional feel of your actual home.
Use It in the Guest House
Many historic homes feature guest houses as transportation was not always as convenient as it is today and visitors would often need a place to stay for the night. If you’re lucky enough to have a historic home with a guest house, you might consider updating the smaller home with modern touches.
On the other hand, you could maintain the historical integrity of the guest home to impress and delight visitors while upgrading the main house with trendy and user-friendly features like granite countertops in the kitchen and baths.
The important thing to remember when you are remodeling an older home is that the choice is yours. While some people may be concerned with keeping materials consistent with the time the home was built, others appreciate blending old with new to create an atmosphere that is truly unique.