Novelty of color
There are many interesting examples of how ancient artifacts successfully combine with modern design trends. Of course, most often such offers can be found in the historical regions of Europe.
In the department of Alpes-Maritimes (Alpes-Maritimes) in the south-east of France, a mill of the XV century is for sale, reconstructed into a residential building. The area of this five-bedroom building is 490 sq. m. In its central part, an old mill wheel has been preserved along with the original mechanism. The atmosphere of antiquity is also created by open stone walls. At the same time, the kitchen is superbly equipped in a modern style, with shiny chrome surfaces, and glass doors lead to the wine cellar. A modern billiard table contrasts with an old door made of rough wood. The house is put on the market at a price of 4.3 million euros.
An interesting historical mansion is being sold by the Spanish agency La Cobijada. During the reconstruction of the house, the designers tried to preserve as many of its original features as possible. The dining room has an updated antique ceiling with exposed crisscrossing wooden beams, which contrast pleasantly with modern lighting. In the bathroom, a brick column has been restored, previously hidden under two layers of tiles, and during the reconstruction of the ceiling, stones from ancient masonry around the entrance door were used. The bedroom has been restored with antique wooden frames, ceiling beams and a brick arch.
Another example of unusual interior solutions is the Molino Bajo house, located in the Andalusian city of Melechis (Melegis). Olive oil was once produced in this building, and only recently it was rebuilt for housing. The architects, having executed the interior in the Moorish style, used ancient equipment to create a special flavor. In the spacious living room, on both sides of the open fireplace in the Moroccan style, there are two two-meter clay jugs, which in the past were used to store olive oil. Two more jugs and an antique oil press separate the living room from the dining room. In the dining room, an old stone oil press was turned into a dining table for 12 people, and various mechanical parts were stirred on the exposed wooden beams of the ceiling.
A lot of restored materials and old furniture were used in the decor and furnishings of the house, but despite this, the house fully meets modern comfort requirements. In the kitchen, a dishwasher, washing machine and microwave are organically combined with traditional ceramic dishes and original scales that still work. The house has five bedrooms and three large bathrooms, it is available for rent – from $1,700 to $4,200 per week.
Also in Andalusia there is a newly reconstructed estate, founded in 1890. The owners not only restored the old fireplaces and wooden ceiling beams, but also used traditional Spanish furniture. As a result, the created interior can be attributed both to modern minimalism and to the simple, ascetic style of the recent past. The original shape of the windows has been preserved, including a small round window in the bedroom and a semicircular window on the stairs, although new wooden frames have now been installed in them. Bright paintings on the walls and many other original interior elements also serve to harmoniously combine the old and the new. The house has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, two dining rooms, a large modern kitchen, a hall and rest rooms. The estate is put on the market by 1Casa Estate Agents at a price of 695,000 euros.
The same company recently sold the house, which, despite its age of more than 150 years, after reconstruction not only retained its original historical features, but also began to meet all modern comfort requirements. The ceiling with rough wooden beams has been left almost unchanged in the house, arches and doors have been carefully preserved. These antique details stand out favorably against the light palette of the interior and simple furniture. The house was sold at a price of 260 000 euros.
Into the past – with comfort
Antiquity is often associated with the so-called rural style in architecture. One of the most popular techniques in its framework is the restoration or renovation of wooden ceiling beams. Often, to create an atmosphere of rural antiquity, the walls of the room are painted in light tones contrasting with the dark wood of the beams. Sometimes one such poll is already enough to feel as if in the past.
However, during the reconstruction of the Italian estate Torre Longobarda, consisting of several buildings, the designers did not limit themselves to ceilings alone. Many other historical features were preserved: stone walls with niches, as well as arches leading to the rooms, were left partially open. The floor was covered with handmade terracotta tiles, which are also used in the decoration of the ceiling. The six bathrooms of the house have carved marble sinks from Iran, and one of the baths is carved from yellow-green stone imported from China. This six-bedroom house is on the market at a price of 2.4 million euros.
Another huge Italian estate, Castello Scotti, consisting of several buildings with towers and resembling a castle, is located an hour's drive from Milan. Ten bedrooms and 15 bathrooms of this house are located on three floors. Another floor has been reconstructed in the lower level of the house, where the stables and basements used to be located. The distinctive features of this house are ornate ceilings and historic fireplaces, one of which remembers the Renaissance era. The building also houses a small theater, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes by Alexander Yakovlev, made in 1920.
The Tenuta Paradiso estate is not so large – it includes the main house, a small house and two outbuildings. During the reconstruction of the house, the owners preserved both wooden beams and handmade terracotta tiles, which are used not only as a floor covering, but in separate rooms and for ceiling decoration. This ten-bedroom, eight-bathroom estate is located on a 60-hectare plot of land in a secluded corner of Italy. The house is put on the market at a price of 3.3 million euros.
Thirst for renewal
The use of restored materials in the interior is becoming increasingly popular. Updated historical fireplaces, terracotta tiles, stone are in the greatest demand. The charm of antiquity and functionality are the main advantages of these materials, in addition, they perfectly fit into the interior of historical real estate. Often such materials were created manually, which makes them unique, and buying and searching are as interesting as collecting antiques. Sometimes buyers bring restored materials or interior items from another country.
For example, in the reconstruction of a house located in the American city of Seabrook Island in South Carolina, interior details brought from Europe were used. The owners hung an old French chandelier in the hall, and a restored old fireplace from England was installed in the living room. The walls of the office are lined with Swiss stone edged with blue tiles. Other distinctive features of this house are a staircase made of wrought iron, vaulted ceilings with wooden beams, a floor covering made of marble, terracotta tiles and wood. This two-storey three-bedroom mansion is on the market by Seabrook Island Real Estate at a price of $4.1 million.
You can also find antiquity on the "green continent" – in Australia. So, in Tennyson Point, a northern suburb of Sydney, Australia, a house with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, built in 1913, is for sale. During the reconstruction, high patterned ceilings, original wooden flooring, large fireplaces in the dining area and hall were preserved in the front part of the house. The rest of the building has undergone significant alterations – an open layout has been created with numerous recreation areas and spacious living space. A modern "kitchen island" with granite work surfaces was built in the kitchen, and in the bathrooms the owners tried to preserve the old style, with patterned tiles, copper taps and bathtubs standing at a distance from the walls on cast-iron legs.
An old villa in the Turkish town of Koycegiz was restored after a fire that occurred in 1980. Many things were completely preserved, for example, an open fireplace in the kitchen dated 1934, where traditional food used to be cooked. Another fireplace, with a sculptural ornament, located in the hall, is perfectly combined with soft leather sofas. This five-bedroom house is in excellent condition and is on the market by Lykia Homes at a price of $620,000.
No matter what continent you look for a house "with history", there is always an opportunity to create a unique interior within its walls, in whichcomfort and modernity will not contradict each other. Carefully preserving the identity of your home, you not only create an atmosphere of special comfort, but also increase the market value of your property.