An Original Historic Home Feature You Should Never Remodel

When moving into a new home, the goal is often to make it your own. This usually means bringing in your furniture and removing the bits of personality that don't fit your style or the modern trends. Despite that, some vintage features remain in homes across multiple owners. Now, some of those more antique home details are coming back into popularity as the vintage designs and uniqueness become more desirable.

Still, they don't sit well with everyone. For example, when homeowners see traditionally tiled fireplaces, it seems many people's first instinct is to remove them, or perhaps dress up an existing fireplace with a budget-friendly technique. This reaction is understandable, since these features can be pretty bold, including bright green or a mix of pinks and blues, which makes them hard to fit into modern homes. However, this is one original feature worth keeping. 

Designer Bethany Adams, founder of Bethany Adams Interiors, shared her own struggle with a vintage fireplace in an interview with Veranda. "I so often see people bowing to trends and replacing... old tiles," she starts. "I admit that the apple green tile really tempted to me to do the same. I'm glad I didn't jump into replacing it, however, and instead lived with it for several years before designing a bedroom around it. No amount of money can buy the luxury that is original architectural details."

As Bethany Adams suggests, it may be worth living with your tile fireplace for a while, to appreciate it and see if it's really all that bad. Perhaps also take the time to research the materials, as you may find they have a richer history than expected, which could, in turn, help you appreciate them more. These fireplaces are often one-of-a-kind and can carry significant value. In some cases, the original tile can be worth thousands of dollars, and removing it without damage is often difficult.

Tile is the way to make your fireplace stand out, so instead of trying to cover or move focus away from this home feature, consider embracing its quirky design. It may take some adjustment, but preserving the original charm is often worth the effort. Sometimes, all you need is to change something around your fireplace for it to suddenly be the perfect piece. 

For example, a deep clean to remove years of grime and repainting the walls or the wood surrounding the tile can make a world of difference. Those updates can even highlight tiles that initially felt overwhelming. If that still feels unbalanced, you can try some fireplace decor ideas to further accentuate this charming conversation starter.