A well-known period home are from Victorian and federation era that grace Australian architecture, these amazing dwellings require specific restorations and regulations to keep with building codes.
Restoring the period features in your home involves a careful balance of research, preservation, and skilled craftsmanship. Here are some steps to help you restore and maintain the historical character of your home:
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Research and planning
A. Historical research
- Investigate the era in which your home was built to understand its architectural style and typical features.
- Use local archives, historical societies, and libraries to find old photographs, blueprints, and documents related to your home.
B. Planning
- Create a detail plan outlining the features you want to restore.
- Set a realistic budget and timeline.
- Consider consulting a preservation specialist or architect with experience in historic restorations.
2. Assess existing features
A. Inspect and document
- Conduct a thorough inspection of your home to identify original features that need restoration, such as mouldings, fireplaces, floors and windows.
- Document the condition of these features with photographs and notes.
B. Prioritise
- Prioritise the restoration of structural elements and features that are most critical to the historical integrity of the home.
3. Restore architectural features
A. Exterior
- Windows and doors: restore or replicate original windows and doors using period-appropriate materials and designs.
- Siding and roofing: repair or replace siding and roofing with materials that match the original as closely as possible.
- Paint colours: use historical paint colours appropriate to the period of your home.
B. Interior
- Mouldings and trim: repair or recreate original mouldings, baseboards, and trim using historically accurate profiles and mantels, and consider reintroducing period- appropriate tiles or inserts.
- Floors: restore original hardwood floors or install period- appropriate flooring if the originals are beyond repair.
- Fireplaces: restore original fireplaces and mantels, and consider reintroducing period appropriate tiles or inserts.
4. Source authentic materials
A. Salvage yards and antique stores
- Look for authentic period materials and fixtures at architectural salvage yards, antique stores, and online marketplaces.
B. Custom reproductions
- When original materials are not available, work with craftsman to create custom reproductions that match the period style.
5. Utilise traditional techniques
A. Craftsmanship
- Hire skilled tradespeople experienced in traditional building techniques.
- Use period-appropriate methods for plastering, wood working, and other restoration work.
B. Tools and materials
- Use tools and materials that are appropriate for the period, such as lime-based mortars and hand tools for woodworking.
6. Maintain and preserve
A. Regular maintenance
- Regularly inspect and maintain restored features to prevent deterioration.
- Use gentle methods and avoid harsh chemicals that could damage original materials.
By following these steps, you can successfully restore and preserve the period features of your home, ensuring that its historical character is maintained for years to come.
To keep you informed with Victorian and federation styles TTF have created mood boards to inspire you with your selection process. We capture the character and elegance of these time periods. From intricate tessellated patterns to crackle ‘craze’ Victorian subways there is a style to entice you, giving the spaces fresh life in today’s contemporary setting with a twist of history.
TTF Victorian themed mood board captures the essence of the Victorian era, characterised by its opulence, elegance, and intricate details. Our goal is to transport you back to a time of grandeur and sophistication, where every element speaks of history and refinement. The chosen tessellated pattern is called ‘Annandale’ a beautiful, symmetrical design. Interest is created by reversing the use of colour, and introducing decorative tiles within the frame. Paired here with a Norwood border.
The colour pallet includes vibrant rich colours, and dark hues such as deep brown, light pink and white. These colours evoke a sense of luxury and warmth, typical of Victorian interiors. They also create a dramatic and inviting atmosphere, perfect for capturing the era’s opulent essence. By adding brass or white metallic fixtures and fittings to this design scope creates an authentic style and design to this mood board arrangement.
A quintessential Victorian design are craquelle ‘craze’ subways, seen here in white and brown. These are perfect wall tile solutions that are highly versatile and durable, where diverse patterns could be applied to walls. Craquelle Victorian subways are typical in bathroom spaces and can include capping and listellos to frame bathroom walls. Annandale can easily be applied in interior spaces an even more so in exterior application, this pattern goes a long way in design and capturing audiences attention.
This federation themed mood board captures the essence of the federation architectural style and theme, which was prominent in Australia during 19th and early 20th centuries. As a tile supplier TTF aims to showcase the distinctive elements of this style, characterised by its ornate detailing and blend of Victorian and Edwardian influences.
This mood board is a monochrome design using varying shades of black, white and grey to highlight the contrasts and intricate details of federation architecture. The tessellated pattern design is called ‘Liverpool’ a bold design featuring the repetition of squares and stars, shown here with a Norwood border. This pattern presents a decorative tile to add further detail to this tessellated design. Liverpool tessellation can be applied to exterior pathways, entryways and verandas, whilst your cobble stone can be added to your drive way.
Other elements present in this mood board is the bathroom monochrome design, where craquelle Victorian black subways can be applied to walls with embossed capping and listellos to frame the bathroom walls, matched with a potential checkered tessellated pattern or a monochrome porcelain mosaic applied as a flooring solution. The colour palette black, white and grey creates a sophisticated and timeless look. These colours highlight the intricate details and patterns characterised of the federation style, ensuring a visually striking yet cohesive design.
