For the above chandelier, Gibson used remnants of handblown glass to make this one-of-a-kind chandelier for a client.
Lighting your old or historic home is as important as the actual physical changes to it. Deciding whether to preserve the lighting fixtures or to change them completely will create a very different look and feel.
Jim Gibson of Gibson & Gibson Antique Lighting has worked on historic homes like the turn-of-the-century Victorian, Timken House (when he owned a wood restoration company) as well as recreating lighting fixtures for the White House
“We designed the chandelier. I fabricated all the metal components to hang the glass on…There’s an internal lighting system inside which pushes light through all of them,” says Gibson.
Older homes often have beautiful molding that you typically don’t see in newer homes. This eye-catching molding, including detail around the doors and windows, is what so many of us fall in love with. If you’re trying to hide any imperfections, paint the walls, ceiling, and trim one color. Add a slightly higher gloss to the trim and it will standout and draw attention to its architectural beauty. To make the trim really standout, try a neutral shade that contrasts with the walls.
Deciding on the right window dressing can be challenging in older and historic homes. If you have a window in an odd place, you can put full length drapery to hide the window without having to remove it. The room will have a clean, elegant look. In-window shades will help expose your beautiful vintage wood trim.
A nice twist in a historic or older home is to have simple contemporary pieces of furniture and accessories. If you search for furnishings that aren’t too modern but offer soft colors, rich textures, and clean lines, you’ll give the home a more modern look and still keep the authenticity of its traditional style.
Marrokal Design & Remodeling was hired to renovate an old house in the historic Old Town district of San Diego. The home was originally constructed in the early 1920’s and was essentially a craftsman cottage with Victorian influences.
The house was transformed into a music studio and retail space. A new turret and front porch entry were created and have become the visual focus as you approach the structure. The initial effort involved razing the existing house, removing and replacing the foundation and replacing the whole structure on the site.
All new energy-efficient windows were installed, as well as “green” siding and interior drywall. The existing floors were unsalvageable after many years of abuse and destruction so new hardwood floors, acoustically beneficial to the music studio, were added in keeping with the era of the original construction.
The crowning touch to the Victorian turret is the custom gold harp which became the project’s icon.
Photo credit: Gibson & Gibson Antique Lighting