white house with picket fence
CategoriesPeriod Homes

5 Colour Schemes to Consider for Your Period Home

As we’ve already discussed in our longer guides to period home renovation, colour is essential. If you want to keep the charm of a period property, you should never go over the top with intense shades and hues.

With that considered, what are some of the best colour schemes to use for typical period properties? Some period homes are more practical than they are visually stunning. Therefore, it makes sense to give aesthetics a helping hand. Here are some ideas to get started with.

white house with picket fence

Whites and Greys

Going for whites and greys is a safe option. These are the most neutral shades, and what’s more, they can help to bring out a lot in a property. If you aim to stay loyal to a period design, you may wish to draw attention to features with simple, neutral touches.

Black and Dark Colours

It may seem a bit daring to use dark colours in period homes. However, these shades can help add to the sophistication and depth of your property. When used sparingly, darker shades can bring out some of the brighter tones in fixtures and fittings, too. It’s a great choice if you don’t want to be bold with your home design.

Pleasing Blues

Blue is one of the most popular colour choices for properties. However, you should be careful about the shade and depth you opt for. Too bold, and it will clash with furniture and other features. Too mild, and it won’t leave any impact at all.

Discuss your options with an expert in period home renovation. They will help you find shades of blue which are pleasant, complementary, and which won’t distract attention.

Going Green

Green is a brilliantly versatile colour. That is, of course, when used in the right way. Bold, deep greens can help to evoke feelings of nature. However, too sharp a green can clash with even the most neutral of fittings.

Green isn’t always going to fit in well with practical period homes. However, it may help them stand out for the better. As with blue, think about using muted shades. Don’t leap headfirst into imposing, striking greens unless the period demands it. Again, an expert will help you pick the right tone.

Browns and Coppers

Brown is a colour which has plenty of great uses. It evokes natural images, again, which will work well with modern upgrades to period homes. It is also the colour of many metals. That means you can complement metal touches in your home with copper colours, moving into orange and terracotta as you wish.

Picking Your Palette

Ultimately, the colour scheme you choose will depend on the period of your home. It’s time to think about period home colour schemes which stand out in a good way. However, it is also worthwhile honouring your existing features and fittings.

Don’t go into period home renovation alone. Let our experts lead the way for you with brilliant colour schemes and ideas. Call us today on 03 9882 5255 to learn more.

buckets of paint
CategoriesPeriod Home Renovation

From Tired to Terrific: Practical Period Home Exterior Renovation

Many period homes in Australia were built to serve a purpose and this was all well and good for the time; however, this has left many properties looking a little too similar to one another. Therefore, many Australians are taking the chance to renovate their traditional properties completely. But how can you do this without spoiling the original charm?

It makes sense to want to bring an old property up to code. You may have found a simple period property which has fallen on hard times. Sprucing up a period home in need of a little TLC can be very rewarding, but when it comes to making the outside of a purely ‘practical’ home stand out, where do you start? We’ve already covered a few points in some of our other guides, so now let’s focus on the nitty-gritty.

Paint is Popular

buckets of paintOne of the easiest ways to bring an older property back to life is to repaint it completely. A period home renovation expert will be able to show you how. While it’s tempting to completely re-paint the exterior of your home in an allowed colour, you’re going to need to think carefully. Are you using a colour which stands out in the wrong way? Are you honouring the original look and design of the property?

We generally advise that you consider mild, muted colours, even for exteriors. An expert in period home extension and design will help you pick your palette and stay within local council rules. There are lots of ways you can recolour your property without turning it into an eyesore!

Do Your Homework

One of the best ways to revive a period home is to be true to its intentions. Yes, a practical home may not look the prettiest, but there is such a thing as over-modernising. Working with a renovations and design team, be sure to emulate design choices from your property’s given period. Whether this means uncovering flourishes or creating new touches, it makes sense to research.

Adding unique, faithful design touches to a period property will help it to stand out from the crowd. However, do make sure you have permission from your local authority. It’s also worth consulting with neighbours, too!

Rethink Your Front Garden

As we’ve explored elsewhere, gardens can do a lot. A well-cared-for lawn or yard can help to turn a tired property into a stunning, vibrant home. Again, consider some of the traditional styles and choices made by designers based in your specific period, and ask for help from landscapers.

Build lush flowerbeds and take on some creative topiary. Without going overboard, you should be able to create some truly stunning greenery. The aim here is to complement as well as to stand out.

If you’d like to know more about renovating a classic home to modern standards, our design and build team can help. Take a look at our guides on renovation, or call us on 03 9882 5255 for more details when you need them.

home interior with white walls
CategoriesInterior Design

Painting Your Period Home: A Guide to Colour Schemes

Period home colour schemes will always vary. That’s because no two period properties are ever quite the same. However, colour choice makes a significant impact on how your interiors and exteriors will look in the long run. What’s more, the right colours can help to honour a property’s character, while modernising it all the same.

home interior with white walls

In this quick guide, we’ll take a look at what you can expect from period home colour schemes. While we won’t go into detail on each type of period home in this piece, we will at least give you a broad overview of the importance of paint.

Go For Tradition

When choosing the right colour scheme for your property, think about the shades and hues popular to the period. A period home renovations expert will be able to share ideas with you. While brighter colours may be a hallmark of mid-20th-century housing, pre-20th may look better with muted shades.

You should look to complement your property with colour. It’s tempting to splash your favourite shades over your project. However, to keep authenticity, try and stick to the traditional palette. You can do this and still modernise the look of your home.

Go Neutral

Along the same lines, don’t be too afraid to pick neutral colours. Anyone well-versed in period extensions and design will tell you that pure whites and greys can be very powerful. What’s more, they help to create a broader sense of space.

In period properties which may feel cramped or tight, this is a big plus. Don’t be too tempted to go for bright, bold colours. It’s fine to splash some personality around; however, do consult a period design expert first. They will help you to define your palette.

Be Sparing

The urge to brighten up an old property with a new colour can sometimes be very strong. Our best advice to give in this regard is to try and exercise restraint! Colour is fantastic as it can be used to enhance space or even create greater intimacy. However, there is a risk that you may end up completely overdoing things.

Only ever use colour that is appropriate to the look of your property, and use it where it needs it the most. Unsure where this might be? Consult a design expert and never start splashing colour and paint around until you have an expert opinion.

Be Creative

It may be easy to think this guide has warned you off going too creative with colour. However, we believe a balanced amount of creative paint goes a long way. It’s all going to depend on the balance you want to strike between traditional and modern.

Want to modernise a property completely? You can afford to be more creative. Want to stick to the old traditions? Think creatively about how to emulate period colour schemes and touches.

Above all, always make sure you have a period renovations expert by your side. Call us on 03 9882 5255 to learn more.

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