Affirming integrity

You can learn much about a society's values by studying how its inhabitants spend their leisure time. In some instances changes within the society can have occurred in as little as a single generation.

Older homes, for example, were designed with rooms dedicated to a purpose, says spatial designer Jennie Dunlop. Entrance foyers, staircases with ornate timber balustrades, formal living and dining rooms all were designed and decorated to impress. Our lifestyle in the 21st century is less structured, and our homes represent that.

"With our time spent with family being crunched we enjoy having the kitchen, dining and main living areas incorporated into one large, more casual space," says Dunlop.

That's not to say that one ideology is better than the other, or that the two are mutually exclusive.

"Interior design has moved on from the 90s love of minimalism. To combat our frenetic pace we are seeing a shift back to surrounding ourselves with more tactile possessions, but without the formal clutter. There's also a bit of glamour about, indicating a look good, feel good' approach."

Older homes are ideal for this purpose, says Dunlop. With their formal spaces designed to face the street and the utilitarian spaces to the rear, there is usually a natural demarcation line between the two. This leaves the formal room configurations at the front reasonably intact, retaining the home's heritage.

"With good planning and sympathetic spatial design, there's no reason why the two ideologies can't reside in harmony."

When undertaking a renovation project it is important to ask yourself whether there are original features worth keeping or reinstating, such as decorative mouldings, cornices, and balustrades.

"While older homes quite often lack the light and airiness of modern architecture, this doesn't have to be a negative. Build on the atmosphere that light and shadow make and use this as a tool to create a unique and harmonious environment."

Story by: Trendsideas