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People will do whatever they want, that's true. But I don't have to agree with their choices. Personally, as the owner of several antique houses and a real estate investor who havs restored many an old home, I don't agree that it's a good thing to "open concept' an old house because it's the current HGTV trend. You can't replace original features. If people don't like old houses then perhaps they should rethink living in US major urban centers where the housing stock is old. It goes with the territory. That's why historic districts exist in many cities.. so people don't tear down gorgeous old buildings because of some passing fetish for all guests being able to watch one cook.
Yes, they will do whatever they want. And they don’t need to rethink where they want to live either. People can live wherever they’d like and renovate however they’d like. You don’t have to like it. I don’t have to like it. It’s not our property, it’s theirs and as such they can blow away all the original features they want.
It's easier and cheaper to demo walls than it is to replace them. And you cannot replace 200 year old plaster. Or hand planed woodwork that was tossed in the dumpster. Unless you have deep pockets.
I hope historical districts start to regulate interiors as well as exteriors. Too many houses have been completely ruined by recent trends.
Regulation of interiors will never happen. Nor should it. If you can’t afford to buy and restore an updated home to its original condition and that’s a deal breaker for you, then don’t buy one.
I'm all for saving truly historic things. And there are some gorgeous older homes that I hate to see gutted around here.
BUT there are also a ton of old homes that don't really meet that criteria of being untouchable simply because they have been around a long time. And a lot of homes out there from the 40s and 50s were already remodeled once or twice. The 1949 home we are getting was remodeled once in the 80s (this home needed it bad from the pics I've seen. It was old...but that was about all it had going for it) and again around 2000 and then again in 2011 from what we know from the current owners and what they knew from the previous owners. It's not like this home has (or ever originally had) had any super architectural features. It was a well built (foundation etc.) budget home in a then-cheap area that has been modified by owners to fit their use over 70 years. I see nothing wrong with that.
Regulation of interiors will never happen. Nor should it. If you can’t afford to buy and restore an updated home to its original condition and that’s a deal breaker for you, then don’t buy one.
What, you don't want to deputize an army of inspectors to judge the interior of hundreds of thousands of homes?
I'll give you that many 90s Mcmansions were built with the kitchen open to the living room to varying degrees...but they still mostly had formal living rooms, formal dining rooms, traditional architecture etc. which is not really in line with open floor plans. PLus, the 80s & 90s mcmansions were some of the worst from a design and finishes standpoint in my personal opinion. Drastic shift to less craftsmanship and poorer quality materials while still trying to maintain some sense of grandeur. It's a very bad combination - hence why they get ragged on so much.
I wouldn't know.
I'm considering the point missed.
Truly you did miss it
Open concept belongs in modern architecture. If people like it great. I don't care. My objection is to those who destroy beautiful old homes to get "sightlines"' and a kitchen island near the sofa. It just doesn't belong. There's plenty of choices for both camps without razing historic houses.
Open concept belongs in modern architecture. If people like it great. I don't care. My objection is to those who destroy beautiful old homes to get "sightlines"' and a kitchen island near the sofa. It just doesn't belong. There's plenty of choices for both camps without razing historic houses.
I've wanted to rep your last half dozen posts but CD won't let me - so here you go
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sunbather
I'll give you that many 90s Mcmansions were built with the kitchen open to the living room to varying degrees...but they still mostly had formal living rooms, formal dining rooms, traditional architecture etc. which is not really in line with open floor plans. PLus, the 80s & 90s mcmansions were some of the worst from a design and finishes standpoint in my personal opinion. Drastic shift to less craftsmanship and poorer quality materials while still trying to maintain some sense of grandeur. It's a very bad combination - hence why they get ragged on so much.
Same thing in my area - quality is horrible from that era unless you bought super high end.
Quote:
Originally Posted by UNC4Me
Regulation of interiors will never happen. Nor should it. If you can’t afford to buy and restore an updated home to its original condition and that’s a deal breaker for you, then don’t buy one.
It has happened and it should in some cases. I was just told of owners that were given a cease and desist on interior renovations in my own state. Unfortunately it was too late for most of the house.
I've also seen way too many houses that have had renovations started but then the owner runs out of money or knowledge and they put the now-gutted house on the market, nearly always for more money because, you know, they did SOOOOO much work to it.
I have no issue telling people that I have zero interest in their new windows, exposed beams and missing 250 year old paneling.
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