An independent magazine about careful renovation of old houses. It is not a restoration company or a heritage authority, provides no services and has no connection with previous websites on this domain.
Ideas
Renovating an old house doesn't have to mean living in a museum. A flat with high ceilings and timber windows can be perfectly modern to live in, with a practical kitchen, warm rooms and a good bathroom. What matters is that the new sits alongside the old rather than in its place. Below are six ideas that help keep the character of a house while making it more comfortable.
The best renovations in old houses are hard to spot: the same windows, the same ceiling, only the flat has become warm, bright and quiet. That is the sign of a job well done.
How this section works: we describe ideas in general terms, with no estimates, timelines or specific products. Whether an idea suits your flat depends on the condition of the structure and the status of the building: if it is a protected heritage building, changes are agreed with the heritage authority.
Six solutions that owners of flats in old buildings think about most often.
An old timber frame can usually be repaired: rotten sections replaced, joints re-made, ironmongery restored and draught seals added to the rebates. The window keeps its historic pattern, and the room becomes noticeably warmer and quieter.
A patterned floor under a layer of old varnish or linoleum is often in better condition than it looks. A craftsman re-lays loose blocks, matches missing ones to the pattern and refinishes the surface. Sometimes a gentle clean and a new protective coat are enough.
A stove that is no longer lit can become the centrepiece of a room. The tiles are cleaned, the doors and dampers kept and the flue left closed. Don't dismantle the stove or light it without a specialist's check: it is a heavy structure and a potential fire hazard.
Cornices and ceiling roses are often hidden under decades of whitewash. Once a craftsman has cleaned them, the detail reappears, and missing sections are restored from the surviving parts. The room immediately regains the proportions its builders intended.
A modern kitchen can be fitted without touching mouldings or windows: freestanding units, an extractor connected to a working ventilation duct, light-coloured fronts that don't compete with a high ceiling. Moving wet areas and gas appliances is discussed with specialists and the building's management.
Floors in old houses are often built on timber joists, and a heavy screed or a leak can damage them. A bathroom is planned with a designer: they assess the floor structure, choose lightweight solutions and reliable waterproofing, and leave access to the pipes for inspection.
Timber windows and doors, parquet, lime, plaster mouldings, stove tiles and old paints in general terms. The article catalogue is here too.
How to plan a renovation in an old building: its status, a survey, approvals, choosing a team and signing off the work.
Caring for timber windows, parquet, mouldings, stoves, old doors and lime-plastered walls, plus a seasonal check.
This information is given in general terms, based on the text of Russian Federal Law No. 73-FZ, guidance materials on the preservation of cultural heritage sites and safety recommendations for working with old coatings. Other countries have their own rules for listed or protected buildings. The status of your building and the work allowed are decided by the heritage authority, and the condition of the structure is assessed by survey specialists.