While you may assume that Edwardian properties date back centuries, in Australia, they’ve only been around for one hundred years. The Australian twist on Edwardian style arrived around the same time as Federation homes began appearing. Of the two, many find Edwardian properties to be simpler to look at and to handle, despite the name.
That, however, doesn’t make renovating these properties any easier! It’s crucial to find a Melbourne builder who can blend period homes with modern design, specifically the renovation of an Edwardian home. These projects can take a lot of time and effort. What’s more, one mistake and you could lose centuries of charm without meaning to. Be careful!
Expand at All Costs
While Edwardian homes are seen to be a little more modern than many of the period homes you’ll see dotted around, they are still somewhat cramped for modern tastes. If you are modernising an Edwardian house for a family, you are going to need to maximise as much space as possible.
Don’t be too afraid to go open-plan, however, do make sure you consult the advice of period extensions and design experts before you do. While there may not be too many ornate flourishes hiding in these properties, you could still risk losing a lot of classic charm and architecture. That, unfortunately, can never be truly restored.
Go for Glass
When you are first learning how to renovate an Edwardian home, you’ll soon discover that you can use the material to your advantage.
Glass is seen as something of an ultra-modern, luxury commodity. However, it’s actually very affordable and accessible. With the Edwardian look already being relatively modern, at least by most period home standards, you will likely be able to get away with introducing sliding glass panels into gardens and yards. You’ll also be able to install glass walls and doors inside, too. However, it’s important you arrange for an expert to help with this.
Add a Floor
As with Federation homes, many Edwardian properties operate on a ground floor basis. That means you may already be looking at dealing with a bungalow. But for the modern family, two floors, or even three, are considered normal.
Therefore, do ask your builder or renovations expert for advice on putting in a new floor or two to expand the available space. We’ve already talked about space earlier; however, the best way to really introduce more of it into this kind of property is to build a facsimile layer on top.
How Experts Can Help
Edwardian homes may not be the most complicated period properties Australia has to offer. However, that doesn’t mean you should jump into a project headfirst. Take things slowly and ask an expert team on how you can best approach an Edwardian modernisation.
Our team is always ready to help with advice, practical support and more besides. Call us today on 03 9882 5225 to learn more.