Historic Homes and Why They Still Manage to Capture Our Hearts

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• Historic Homes and Why They Still Manage to Capture Our Hearts
• SWASH: The Revolutionary 10‑Minute Home Clothing Care System
• Unusual Family Residence Design Overlooking the Massive Andes in Chile
• Baffling the Mind: Hippopotamus Chair by Maximo Riera
• Barn Converted into Minimalist Holiday House in Ayent, Switzerland

Historic Homes and Why They Still Manage to Capture Our Hearts Posted: 17 Jul 2014 07:37 AM PDT Across the housing industry nationwide, more and more homeowners are opting to buy and restore a historic home over buying or building a new, modern, home. One might find it a bit curious that there would still be such interest in 100 year old objects in an age with unprecedented electronic connectivity and technological innovation, and yet it endures. What is it about historic homes that has captured our hearts and our wallets? Even if you never thought of yourself as a fan of old homes, be prepared to fall in love with the magic and mystery behind these historic gems. Source: Historic Edgewood Home Renovation via Pine Street Carpenters Heartfelt Connections Many believe the widespread interest in historic homes is simply the natural state of the human condition to strive to connect to our past. "I think it goes back to a basic human desire to feel connected to our roots." says Elizabeth Finkelstein, founder of the curated historic house marketplace and fan club, Circa Old Houses. The feeling of walking into an old house is an unmistakable sensation in itself. Elizabeth explains, "it’s as if you’ve suddenly become part of a larger story. It’s very powerful. You can honestly feel the love of the home that has come before you". She thinks the popularity of historic homes arises from the fact that people crave a return to something more authentic and one-of-a-kind, in an age of fast fashion and fast food, filled with instant results. Lisa Hassler, owner of Historic Homes of Cape Cod, explains that for her clients, the emotion is as genuine a love as there ever was. They truly care for the house and their connection to it is real and visceral. She has found that it is the character of the house and the historic home's story that they seek out to most. "The history of real people and real lives connects the current homeowner to the craftspeople who built the house as well as to the generations who have lived there before them" Lisa explains. It seems that people's interest in historic homes is also overwhelmingly driven by their quest for an authentic connection. As Lisa says, "it isn’t just the house – it is a lifestyle that people are after". The soul-touching connection is more than just a spirit of the house, it's something you can feel and hold in your hand. Just imagine running your hand down a banister that generation after generation of people have held before you. Source: Pink Historic Victorian via House Crazy Sarah Historic Craftsmanship Another huge appeal of historic homes are the unique high quality materials that simply do not exist anymore.The materials used in historic homes are much sturdier than anything used in today's buildings. As the decades have worn on, more efficient and cheaper construction methods have overtaken traditional building techniques. For example, as lumber prices increased over the years, stud dimensions became smaller and plywood became the default building material. As Dave Radleman, CEO of home renovation firm Heirloom Design Build explains, the high end materials used in historic homes like solid brick, old growth hardwood floors have unmatched beauty and integrity that is nothing short of true craftsmanship. Nowadays, most builders just want to build the home fast and large, and forgo many of the small, decorative touches. These ornate, decorative touches are what Dave loves most about working with historic homes."There else is nothing like the incredible details you'll find in historic homes" he says. Dave also told us that one of the biggest things his Heirloom Design clients like about historic homes is that the scale of historic homes is just right; the proportions all seem natural and organic, unlike today's "McMansions". Historic homes tend blend together nicely as a picturequest streetscape, with consistent design and styles amongst the homes. Historic homes also have front porches and the surrounding yard most likely has very old grand trees, and the surrounding street is more likely to consist of friendlier scaled houses. Source: Historic Restoration of Lincoln Cottage by Timberlane Shutters Historical Treasure Hunt Restoring historic homes is something of a hobby for enthusiasts. Many describe feeling abundant joy from uncovering your home's secret past, step by step. Many historic home inhabitants are simply delighted to tell you all about their latest discovery, or the research they've uncovered about their home to date. Many of the historic home experts we spoke with described the experience as being similar to a treasure hunt for them and their clients alike! One Hometalk member recently shared his excitement over uncovering a secret walkway under a few inches of dirt in their yard. He immediately laid his yardwork aside and spent the entire rest of the day uncovering the walkway piece by piece, which ended up mysteriously leading out into the woods behind his house. The fabulous discoveries one can come across at any moment in a historic house is the stuff of great novels and ghost stories. Source: 1880s Massachusetts Home via Thorson Restorations Historic Business Opportunities   There are also, of course, monetary reasons for people's love endures for historic homes. Properties within designated historic districts are worth more than their newer counterparts, appreciate faster, and retain more of their value. In an often turbulent housing market, a home inside a historic district provides much more price stability. Historic homes also have a much higher return on investment when you remodel, so you not only have the potential to dramatically increase your home's value, but you can also feel confident you'll get substantial bang for your buck. State tax credits also make historic preservation more attractive; 24 states now offer some form of credit for historic rehabilitation of owner-occupied homes. Yet even the most avid old home lovers must still deal with the budget limitations of purchasing an actual historic home. Luckily, there are unique details you can identify in a for-sale new home or add to your home yourself to get the historic look! Historic home decorator and appreciator, Colleen Stevens of 58 Water Street, has a few suggestions of often overlooked details to keep your eyes out for: "many new construction homes will have tall, double front doors made of solid wood, hexagon tile in the bathroom, and other charming ornate details". The true beauty is in the details, according to Colleen. Other historic details or renovations you can add yourself include front porch trim, crown molding, decorative ceiling tiles, and antique hardware like door handles or cabinet knobs. At their core, historic homes evoke a sentimental, emotional response as well as a deep appreciation of a true, genuine quality that has been lost to the ages. As this appeal will endure for generations of homeowners, historic homes are well-equipped to stand the test of time. Check out Hometalk to learn more about historic architecture or to browse more beautiful historic homes. The post Historic Homes and Why They Still Manage to Capture Our Hearts appeared first on Freshome.com.

SWASH: The Revolutionary 10‑Minute Home Clothing Care System Posted: 17 Jul 2014 03:49 AM PDT Two of the most known laundry companies in the world- P&G and Whirlpool- have joined hands to create the SWASH Express Clothing Care System. This new revolutionary design is said to reduce wrinkles, restore the fit lost after wear and preserve clothing, in just ten minutes with the push of a button. The SWASH™ system, developed to fit into a living space such as a bedroom or closet, allows users to reduce or eliminate ironing, save on dry cleaning and better care for clothes that commonly require high maintenance. Have a look at the video below to see just how it works: The product is the result of an intricate research process and is said to meet the requirements of a modern lifestyle: "We have talked to thousands of people over the years that have told us they are yearning for a better way to care for clothing in between laundering and dry cleaning. Until today there hasn't been an effective solution. I am thrilled to share that SWASH is just that and more", said Charles Pierce, group president of P&G New Business Creation. “In the amount of time it takes one to shower, clothing will be ready to wear." The SWASHTM system plugs directly into a standard 120-volt wall outlet and requires no water, plumbing, pipes, vents, special hook-ups or professional installation. Is this new home product something that you would consider having in your own crib?     The post SWASH: The Revolutionary 10‑Minute Home Clothing Care System appeared first on Freshome.com.

Unusual Family Residence Design Overlooking the Massive Andes in Chile Posted: 17 Jul 2014 01:08 AM PDT Overlooking expansive views of the massive Andes and the awe-inspiring valley of Santiago, this House in Vitacura, Chile, send shivers down your spine. Massive in scale and showcasing a fascinating focal point rounded to shape the interior courtyard, the hillside family home gathers panoramic views of the surroundings with every chance it gets. Spreading over 983 square meters, the brainchild of Izquierdo Lehmann architects flaunts an inspiring sequence of spaces imagined for relaxation when not socially entertaining. Photographed by Roland Halbe, the 2,000 square meter property is large enough to shelter the older couple and their large family when they visit. The living space, dining room, kitchen and bedroom were all placed on one floor, while the game room and indoor pool open up to stunning views of the city in the valley below. The outdoor pool and lounge area was built within a circular patio that transcends our knowledge and concept of a modern dream home. Showcasing the natural and man-made spectacle unraveling before their eyes, this unusual family residence rests on a reinforced concrete base. This rooftop level communicates to the pool area via stairs descending in this partly covered patio that shapes the background for your next dream. We’d love to know how this home ranks in your dream home list.   The post Unusual Family Residence Design Overlooking the Massive Andes in Chile appeared first on Freshome.com.

Baffling the Mind: Hippopotamus Chair by Maximo Riera Posted: 16 Jul 2014 01:47 PM PDT Spanish artist Maximo Riera‘s extravagant and almost surreal furniture pieces makes us constantly wonder what the designer will come up with next. After his former hits Walrus Chair, Rhino Chair, Octopus Chair and Elefant Chair (featured on Freshome a while back), the Hippopotamus Chair adds up to the line of majestic seating units. Just like  the rest of the animal pieces envisioned by Riera, this creation seems to baffle the mind with its impressive volume and accurate detailing. Here is a statement from Maximo Riera regarding his latest work: "The Hippopotamus is a semiaquatic herbivore mammal, peculiar for its barrel-shaped torso, and is one of the most aggressive and unpredictable creatures in the world. For this design, its tremendous size and volume has been preserved, evading any sections or partitions along its body, in order to accomplish an entire life-size piece. The seat was mounted on top of the animal's upper body, having two different hemispheres, one is functional and the other creates the illusion of the animal's imposing presence." The price tag for this extravagant chair? $95,000. What are your thoughts on Maximo Riera’s latest design? The post Baffling the Mind: Hippopotamus Chair by Maximo Riera appeared first on Freshome.com.

Barn Converted into Minimalist Holiday House in Ayent, Switzerland Posted: 16 Jul 2014 09:42 AM PDT This minimalist holiday house completed in 2013 by Savioz Fabrizzi Architecte in Ayent, Switzerland has an interesting history behind. Back in 1882, its location in the middle of the fields made it perfect for housing during the pasture season. In 1980, the addition of a floor and the roof work converted the barn into a holiday escape. The architects at Savioz Fabrizzi further enhanced its design: “Our new intervention reveals the history of this building by showing all the materials used for the façade over the years. The original stones, the bricks added in the eighties and the contemporary concrete modifications are disclosed and a dark painting makes all these raw textures uniform. The grey shades of the inner materials reinforce the framings and contrast with the landscape.” Savioz House displays a rather austere exterior, but the emphasis on the surroundings makes this a welcoming bohemian retreat: “Far from the smooth appearance of some holiday chalets, the facade treatment reminds the functional aspect of the ancient barn, rather rudimentary than aesthetic.” All interiors are highly minimalist, with extensive use of wood compensating for the lack of detailing. Large windows open up the spaces towards the great views, making every morning spent here memorable. [Photos by Thomas Jantscher] The post Barn Converted into Minimalist Holiday House in Ayent, Switzerland appeared first on Freshome.com.

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