How to Add Square Footage to a Historic Home Without Losing Its Charm

When you buy a historic home, you’re usually smitten with its charm and enchanted by the opportunity to live in a piece of history. Then reality hits. You may be constrained by the size of the kitchen or the number of bathrooms. You might be frustrated by the lack of closet space. How can you boost liveability while preserving the fabulous features you fell in love with? A historically appropriate addition is usually our best bet. But it takes a skillful contractor and a set of guiding principles to make adding square footage happen the right way.

Why Are Additions to Historic Homes So Common?

People in centuries past lived very differently from the way we do today. With multiple children per bedroom (and even per bed!), shared bathrooms, galley kitchens and very little need for closet space, families lived close together in a few small rooms. In the 21st century, we want to enjoy historic charm without sacrificing comfort, privacy and personal space. We can add bedrooms and bathrooms to support a growing family. We can add modern amenities like upgraded bathrooms and wiring that support work-from-home technology. Finally, we want functional layouts that support the way we live now, like inviting eat-in kitchens and ample walk-in closets. The good news is, with a savvy contractor, we can achieve our goals without sacrificing character.

What Are the Key Principles For Successful Additions?

When we add on to a historic home, we want to respect its essential forms while bringing in the space and amenities we value in contemporary society. We want to honor the landmark structure and let its unique beauty shine while adding features that enhance liveability. There are a few rules of thumb that help us upgrade and expand successfully.

• Respecting original architecture and proportions is at the top of the list. We don’t want an enormous addition that will dwarf the original structure. An experienced contractor can help you get the space you need without creating an eyesore that won’t get past the historic review board. This usually means a rear or side addition, depending on your lot lines.
• Using appropriate materials that honor the original structure is another winning approach. For example, adding a minimalist concrete addition to your 18th-century brick home is not going to look amazing. Instead, clapboard siding is likely a better choice.
• Design and details: One essential consideration is ensuring that your addition fits in with the community. It’s important to take neighboring houses into account and keep things coherent. 

What Are The Most Important Design Elements?

In most cases, you have considerable flexibility inside your home, but you want to keep the exterior in harmony with the original structure and neighboring homes. Keep the surface treatments of your addition, including siding and windows, in harmony with its surroundings.

• Roof pitch is a telltale sign of the period. Historic homes feature a higher roof pitch, which decreased by the mid-20th century. Choosing the right pitch for the context is essential, and so is selecting a historic restoration specialist who is comfortable with these ideas.
• Window, trim and shutter replication can also help your addition remain harmonious.
• We usually have a degree of flexibility, since many historic homes have been added onto over the years. For example, a 1790s home with a 1910 addition. In some cases, you can choose the period that suits you best and still create a harmonious addition. For example, if your neighborhood saw a building boom in the 1920s, you can incorporate some elements from that time period into your addition and still achieve a cohesive look.

Adding Space: The Historic Review Board

Working with historic review boards can be one of the most frustrating parts of adding on to a historic home. These boards often focus on keeping additions at an appropriate scale and congruent with the community. When you have an experienced contractor, it can make things go much more smoothly. When you choose a historic restoration specialist, they have detailed knowledge of what review boards are looking for and can create drawings that are in line with community standards.  Your contractor should focus on following historic guidelines with appropriate scale, often preserving the front of the house with greater flexibility in the back.

Beauty On A Budget: A Case Study

When the owners of an 18th-century home in Waterford wanted additional play space for grandchildren and to take advantage of a stunning view of preserved farmland, they chose Carpenter Beach Construction. We successfully executed a lovely second-story addition, creating a light-filled playroom in the back of the house. Clapboard siding helped us preserve the community vibe while staying on budget. Meanwhile, the addition’s location in the back of the house allowed us to add windows along the entire back wall. The view is one of the best in the village, adding to resale value when it’s time to sell.

Getting Creative With History As Your Guide

Adding square footage to a historic home requires knowledge, skill and out-of-the-box thinking. Additions can blend beautifully with historic homes when you find a contractor with the right experience and approach. Using the structure’s history as your guide and inspiration, you can get creative and access all the features you need. At Carpenter Beach Construction, our team has extensive experience in working with historic review boards and state and local government agencies. And just as important, we have a true sense of the vibe and essence of our region’s historic towns and villages. We know what it takes to create the space you need without sacrificing historic harmony. Our artistry and craftsmanship allow creativity to shine while respecting your home’s history and community values.