10 Things You Need to Know When Renovating a Historic Home, According to Ben and Erin Napier

When it comes to renovating heritage homes and capturing historic charm, there’s no better team than Ben and Erin Napier. From craftsman cottages to rambling old Victorians, they’ve seen it all – and demoed it, too! Read on for their top 10 tips on restoring a historic home.

Watch the Napiers work their restoration magic on Home Town Takeover every Sunday, 10 p.m. ET/PT, also available on the Global TV App, and on STACKTV with Amazon Prime Video Channels. HGTV Canada is available through all major TV service providers.

Ben and Erin in front of orange and white house

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Historically Accurate Colours

Ben and Erin believe in updating historic homes with modern comforts while ensuring cosmetic upgrades stay true to the home’s original style and time period. One way to achieve this is sticking with a heritage home’s traditional colours and combinations. Traditionally, craftsmen homes featured a combination of three colours, and if you tour through Home Town’s makeovers, you’ll notice Erin sticks to that principle (in the cutest colour palettes, naturally).

Exterior of pink and white home with blue door

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Be On the Lookout for Hidden Roommates

Ben and Erin were chipping away on this 1920s craftsmen when they came across a very costly roadblock: termites! When it comes to renovating heritage homes, it’s not uncommon to discover hiccups during the renovation process (whether it’s an infestation or structural challenges). In this case, it cost the homeowner an additional $16,000 to treat the termites, which is why Ben and Erin always recommend padding the reno budget to account for unexpected costs.

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Allocate Your Budget Wisely

When it comes to divvying up your renovation budget, consider the upgrades that will give the biggest boost to your historical home’s value. Updating kitchens and bathrooms always pay off. This kitchen renovation cost a third of the total reno budget, but if you take a peek at the original kitchen, it was clearly worth every penny!

Exterior of grey and white home with double staircase

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Look for Existing Treasures

If a heritage home has fallen into disrepair, it might be challenging to see past overgrown hedges or dusty hardwood floors. But with a keen eye, you can discover all kinds of incredible treasures and save loads on your reno budget. This double staircase was hidden behind ivy, but after Ben and Erin Napier’s landscape team came in, it was restored to the focal point it was always meant to be.

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Showcase Historical Architecture

This butler’s pantry literally made the sale of this home, but it was originally hidden behind a wall, cut off from the kitchen. Erin Napier knew a feature as beautiful (not to mention handy) as this needed to be celebrated! By pulling down the wall, they not only expanded the square footage of the kitchen, they also gave this architectural gem the spotlight it rightly deserved!

Bright living room with wood floors and beige decor

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

As you renovate, think creatively about how materials can be repurposed. In this case, Ben used the home’s original front door to create a practical entryway bench. This a great way to honour original materials, create one-of-a-kind items and save a few dollars on your reno!

Living room wood beams on ceiling and antique decor

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Look for a Heritage Home with Good Bones

A heritage home with good bones such as this one, with beautiful hardwood floors, original door frames and beams across the ceiling, should never be passed over. Keep your eyes peeled for these key features when you’re on the hunt for an older home – they’ll save you loads during a renovation!

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Ensure Everything is Up to Code

Houses have come a long way over the last 100 years, so when it comes to your health and safety, it’s integral to ensure everything is up to code – especially electrical work and your home’s foundation.

Watch: This is the Wallpaper Sweet Dreams Are Made Of

Kitchen with retro tile backsplash and wooden table with food

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A Little Retro Goes a Long Way

A hint of a home’s past can offer a sweet nod to the historical period without the feeling of dated decor. In this kitchen, Erin did a partial backsplash of the home’s original tile. It’s unique, without dating the kitchen.

Living room with white couch and renovated fireplace

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Don’t Be Afraid to Make Your Mark

While Ben and Erin always aim to honour the home’s original style, you should never feel bound by your heritage home. In this instance, the original brick fireplace didn’t serve the style of the renovation, so Erin built out a wall around it. You can still see a hint of the brick, but the finished effect is much more modern and fresh.

For more Ben and Erin Napier, watch Home Town Takeover, on Home Town Takeover every Sunday, 10 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV Canada.