Everyone loves the idea of living in an old house until they realize that there’s only 3 electrical outlets in the whole place, everything is insulated with asbestos, and everything is painted with lead.
I stayed in an old house in the UK where the owner had to get the windows and doors adjusted every year because the house was moving so much all the opening size would change.
I’d love a modern house, with the detailed craftsmanship of old. Who wants a bland white wall? Give me some fancy wood details and comfy furniture with a bit of character.
Hang some shit on that wall. Paintings. Photographs. Random yard sale taxidermy.
Modern styles can still have plenty of personality. Yes, one of the modern trends is minimalism, but that’s not the only modern trend, and there are plenty of ways to explore your own sense of style within a modern sensibility.
I like having a house with really, really good insulation, with good plumbing and electrical up to 21st century fire/safety standards. I like having ducts for my central heat pump and air conditioning.
I can fill in the appearance and style stuff after that on my own.
You make a fair point, but there’s still sometime to be said about fancy parts that are a part of the house.
Instead of covering up the house with personality, I want the house itself to have personality.
(Of course, there’ll be some empty walls for whatever, gotta leave enough space for the family photos, but conveniently nowhere to hang that ulgy 5ft painting your great-aunt-in-law insited you take (she’ll admit, but she didn’t want it either))
Upgrading an old house isn’t much more difficult or expensive compared to doing a full renovation, the problem is that the two groups that tend to do these kinds of renovations - flippers and real estate corporations - are incentivized to target the “lowest common denominator” which means boring modernist minimalism.
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Everyone loves the idea of living in an old house until they realize that there’s only 3 electrical outlets in the whole place, everything is insulated with asbestos, and everything is painted with lead.
I stayed in an old house in the UK where the owner had to get the windows and doors adjusted every year because the house was moving so much all the opening size would change.
What
I’d love a modern house, with the detailed craftsmanship of old. Who wants a bland white wall? Give me some fancy wood details and comfy furniture with a bit of character.
Best I can do is wood paneling and furniture with mystery stains.
Hmm, that’s a hard bargain.
Are the mystery stains in funny shapes or are they just blobs?
As long as that furniture reeks of 50 years of cigarettes you’ve got a deal.
Heck, I’ll take a non-stinky couch if you throw in a wood-grain CRT TV and an NES
Hang some shit on that wall. Paintings. Photographs. Random yard sale taxidermy.
Modern styles can still have plenty of personality. Yes, one of the modern trends is minimalism, but that’s not the only modern trend, and there are plenty of ways to explore your own sense of style within a modern sensibility.
I like having a house with really, really good insulation, with good plumbing and electrical up to 21st century fire/safety standards. I like having ducts for my central heat pump and air conditioning.
I can fill in the appearance and style stuff after that on my own.
I want a picture rail so it’s easy to hang all them things.
You make a fair point, but there’s still sometime to be said about fancy parts that are a part of the house.
Instead of covering up the house with personality, I want the house itself to have personality.
(Of course, there’ll be some empty walls for whatever, gotta leave enough space for the family photos, but conveniently nowhere to hang that ulgy 5ft painting your great-aunt-in-law insited you take (she’ll admit, but she didn’t want it either))
But on the plus side, free ghosts!
Great roommates, also make sure you get an ouija board and remind them to pay rent every month.
Upgrading an old house isn’t much more difficult or expensive compared to doing a full renovation, the problem is that the two groups that tend to do these kinds of renovations - flippers and real estate corporations - are incentivized to target the “lowest common denominator” which means boring modernist minimalism.
Either that or I live in a new house thats already subsiding, outer walls made of cardboard, drafty, and the roof is not aligned correctly.
I live in an opulent old Victorian with all the associated trappings you’d expect from the era
It’s glorious