How to Keep Your Home's Original Character When You Renovate
Updated: 2 days ago
To keep a home's character in a renovation, decide what to preserve before you decide what to change: original walls, materials and pieces with history, and design the new work around them.
By Maya Sheinberger | 06.06.26
When actor Walton Goggins opened the door of his Hudson Valley home to the cameras of Architectural Digest, the tour drew more than six million views, ahead of names like Kendall Jenner. It wasn't because of an unlimited budget or designer furniture still in its wrapping. The house, built in 1923, looks like a Scottish hunting lodge frozen in time. Its dark wood paneling stayed, its historic rooms were kept, and its old furniture is exactly what makes it timeless. Goggins asked the house what it wanted to be, and then he listened.
Key takeaways
Before you call a contractor, list what's worth keeping.
Original stone, wood, tiles, arches and doors are often impossible to recreate.
A single preserved element can become the heart of a new design.
Mix new pieces with old ones you already own.
Perfect and new isn't the same as timeless.
Erase vs. listen
Erasing the past | Listening to the house |
Plaster over the stone wall | Clean it and make it the feature wall |
Replace solid old doors with flat new ones | Restore them and update the hardware |
Buy a complete new look in one go | Keep the pieces with a story and build around them |
White, beige and bleached oak everywhere | A palette that respects the existing materials |
Hide every crack and texture | Let some patina show |
Why so many renovated homes look the same
In an age of endless mood boards, many homes have started to look alike. The algorithm taught us that good taste comes in a narrow palette of white, beige and bleached oak, with a kitchen that looks as if cooking is not allowed. In Israel, we sometimes treat our architectural treasures as an embarrassment. Mandate-era homes in Jerusalem, Ottoman buildings in Jaffa, arches and handwork that are almost impossible to find today all get dressed up as a "white cube." Jerusalem stone disappears under sterile plaster, heavy wooden doors are replaced with cold industrial minimalism, and a house that carried decades of family stories becomes one more renovated sublet. If you'd like to avoid that showroom look, my post on making your home feel unique has more ideas.
Decide what to keep before you renovate
A home's original character is the set of built elements, such as stone, floors, doors and arches, that give it its age, proportion and history.
Good design isn't only knowing what to add. It's mostly knowing what not to erase. Before you break a wall, walk through the home and make a list.
Walls and stone: natural stone, old brick and original plaster often have texture no new material can match.
Floors: original tiles or terrazzo can often be restored, or kept in one area as a rug-like feature.
Doors, windows and arches: solid old doors, metal windows and arches give a home proportion and history.
Furniture and lighting: pieces you already own and love can anchor a new design.
The MH apartment was built in the 1970s. The public area was completely rebuilt, but the original textured stone wall in the living room was preserved as it was, and the new design was planned around it. Everything else is calm and light, so the wall is what you remember.
Let old and new live together
A home that feels collected over time is always more interesting than a home bought in one click. Materials don't need to match perfectly. Dark wood, heavy metal and imperfect textures create a feeling you can't order from a catalog. There's a huge difference between a home designed to look like a film set and a home designed to be lived in.
In the H apartment, the couple already owned an original vintage sofa by the Israeli furniture makers Kastiel. Instead of replacing it, we placed it at the center of the new living room. Their vintage table lamps also stayed, beside the new bed in the main bedroom. The old pieces give the brand-new apartment its story.
When to update and when to preserve
Not everything old is worth keeping. Electrical systems, plumbing and insulation should be brought up to today's standards (see my guide to renovation mistakes to avoid), and a layout that doesn't fit your life can change. The art is in separating the systems, which should be new, from the character, which is often worth saving. When in doubt, keep the element and test it. You can always remove it later, but you can never bring back a hundred-year-old wall.
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep the character of an old home during a renovation?
List the original elements before work starts, such as stone, floors, doors and arches. Preserve the ones in good condition, and plan the new design around them.
Is it worth keeping an original stone wall?
Often, yes. A cleaned and well-lit stone wall can become the main feature of a room, and it adds texture that new materials rarely match.
Can vintage furniture work in a modern home?
Yes. One or two vintage pieces in a calm, modern room add depth and a story. Give them space so they stand out.
What should always be replaced in an old home?
Electrical wiring, plumbing and anything that affects safety or comfort should be updated. Visible character elements are often worth keeping.
Why do so many renovated homes look the same?
Many renovations follow the same narrow palette of white, beige and bleached oak and remove original stone, doors and floors, so homes lose what made them different.
Renovating an older home in Tel Aviv or central Israel? I'd love to hear about your project.
Maya Sheinberger is an interior designer with nearly 20 years of experience. She has run her independent studio since 2012, and it is based in Ramat Gan. She holds a B.Des with honors from the College of Management. Eight of her projects have won Archilovers Best Project awards, her work has appeared in more than 100 publications, and one of her Tel Aviv apartments features in the book The New Minimalist Style.
Photography @itaybenitphotographer · Styling: MH apartment, @ofri.paz · H apartment, @maya_livnat_harush
This post was inspired by my column on Mako (in Hebrew).
