The Stunning Tile Detail In Old Homes That's Worth Preserving (It Looks So Luxurious)

One of my favorite things about working in historic building preservation was getting to see all the amazing features that historic homes and buildings feature. I have always felt that modern construction has lost the art of craftsmanship in favor of cheap and fast building techniques and materials. When you see something like a handcrafted tile fireplace surround in a historic home, it can feel like you've been transported through time. Not only is a feature like this worth preserving, but it is something that just can't be replaced with modern design. The luxurious craftsmanship of bygone eras can often be used as a design focal point and a guide for styling the rest of your room.

Many homes owned by the wealthy during the Victorian era (1830s to 1910s) will have colorful and intricate tile fireplace surrounds, and there are a lot of decisions that need to be made when you're remodeling such a historic home. One tip to follow when renovating a historic home that I learned from my co-workers at the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia is that it is always best to err on the side of preserving, not replacing. I asked Jami Billman, the Preservation Manager at PAWV, what she thought about replacing vintage tile fireplace surrounds with modern materials. "When you remove vintage tile from a fireplace or other part of your home, often you have to break it to remove it and it cannot be reused," she said. "These tiles are unique and often irreplaceable." Because of their craftsmanship, themes, and often being framed with hand-carved wood, these tile surrounds exude luxury even to this day.

The Gilded Age left behind untold treasures in the form of lavish homes with design features that cost the equivalent of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars today. The irony is that a lot of the homes once owned by robber barons and railway tycoons are now within reach of ambitious middle-class DIYers and first-time homeowners. And, what was once considered the height of luxury in the form of elaborate tile work can breathe new life into your home. Unlike the mass-produced materials that we are accustomed to today, many of these tiles were handmade, and each tile could be considered one-of-a-kind.

A feature like a tile fireplace surround is considered rare if it's in good condition — almost an artifact. If it's not your usual style, try selecting one color or tile design from the fireplace that you like, and design your room around that. If you're already in love with it, allow the fireplace to be a historically artistic focal point by using simple furnishings with neutral tones. Replacing it with something modern is simply not going to have the same antique luxury, so you're better off spending money on something that actually needs to be replaced, like vintage plumbing. My advice: Give your antique tile fireplace surround time to grow on you — it might even end up being your favorite feature of the home.

This design feature is just one of the many perks of owning an old home, which often is like having your own personal scavenger hunt — you might be surprised at what your home could be hiding from you.