Old House, New Tricks: See How 3 Gorgeous Old Houses Were Outfitted for a New Century

Old houses filled with period furniture are lovely, of course, but that doesn’t mean that they all have to be a museum. Homes are allowed to grow and change with their owners and with the times, and sometimes that results in a pastiche of old surroundings and new furnishings that’s even more delightful than the sum of its parts. Check out these three old houses whose owners have embraced modernism, with beautiful and unexpected results.

Above and below: Roger and Chris preserved the facade of their 160-year-old Victorian in upstate New York — but they did freshen it up a bit with an unexpected coat of black paint. The entire exterior of the house is painted the same color, but a semigloss finish on the windows and trim adds a bit of dimension. Inside, unusual decor choices, like a polka-dot entryway and a gallery wall of vintage paint-by-number pieces, add a funky touch to the home’s graceful lines and elegant mix of modern and antique furniture.

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Josh and Helen live in a beautiful Charleston single house that dates to 1845. Although the home’s exterior is as traditional as they come, inside the aesthetic is a little different. Their decision to leave bits of the interior (like the ceiling beams, the wall in the kitchen, and the fireplaces throughout the house) unfinished makes for a rustic, storied feel that’s a perfect backdrop to the couple’s collection of modern furnishings. See more at Charleston Mag.

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This Victorian home in Australia was previously in use as a men’s retirement home. The designers at Hecker Guthrie stripped down later additions, like dropped ceilings, to reveal the home’s true beauty, and added a skylight to the atrium, which is now the heart of the home. Balancing out all the Victorian detail are modern touches like steel-framed room dividers and encaustic tile floors, and a collection of very minimal and very lovely modern furniture. See more at D Pages.

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