When I walk into a century-old home, the floors are usually the first thing that catch my eye.
There’s something about old wood that just feels honest. The scuffs, the worn finish, the creaks as you step, it’s like the home is saying, “I’ve been here a while.” And that matters to me.
Why I don’t rush to cover things up
I’ve worked in a lot of homes where the first instinct is to start fresh with new floors, new doors, new everything. But sometimes, what’s already there is better than anything you could buy new.
Old wood floors carry stories. They’ve seen generations grow up, meals shared, and furniture rearranged a hundred times. They might not be perfect, but they have a presence that’s hard to replicate. That’s why, when I see original floors or a weathered staircase, my first thought isn’t “How can we replace this?” it’s “How can we work with this?”
If you're thinking about renovating your older home and want to keep its best features while updating what’s not working, my free Interior Design Guide is a great place to start, grab it here.
Designing around what’s already beautiful
There’s dust on the floors, the baseboards are missing, and the room hasn’t quite come together yet, but even then, the character shines through.
One of my favorite parts of the job is designing around these existing details, letting the wood do the talking, and bringing the space into the present without losing the charm that makes it special.
Not perfect—but personal
There’s no such thing as a flawless old home. The wood might be uneven, or a bit squeaky. But it’s real. That’s what draws me to these homes in the first place, there’s nothing cookie-cutter about them. And I know that for a lot of my clients, that’s what they love too.
Preserving original details isn’t always the easiest route, but it’s worth it. It adds something you can’t buy or build from scratch: a sense of place. A connection to what came before.
Looking ahead
Right now, I’m working on a few homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and I can’t wait to share more of the process soon. Some of the spaces are still just ideas and measurements… but the materials? They’re already doing half the work!
So next time you walk through your home, take a second look at those old floors or that worn edge on the stair rail. There’s probably a story there. And if you’re planning a renovation, don’t be too quick to cover it up or replace these elements.
—Anika
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