Historic Homes

There is a renewed consciousness in maintaining the integrity of historic homes. They reflect the architectural integrity and quality workmanship of a specific period. It is then up to you whether you want to preserve or restore these marks of distinction while remodeling your kitchen. You will want to do some research so that you can weigh the esthetic, economic, and historic options carefully.

According to the standards of the Secretary of the Interior, "Preservation" is defined as "The act or process of applying measures to sustain the existing form, integrity, and material of a building or structure, and the existing form and vegetative cover of a site. It may include stabilization work, where necessary, as well as ongoing maintenance of the historic building material." In comparison, "Restoration" is defined as "The act or process of accurately recovering the form and details of a property and its setting as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of later work or by the replacement of missing earlier work."

For recommended preservation guidelines, "how to", product suppliers, shopping, and numerous articles and tips, check out the web sites of This Old House or the Old House Web.