Beam Me Up

When Jeff and Donna bought their historic 1740s home, they knew something special was hiding above the lowered ceilings throughout the home. “That ceiling was put in when they wired the house for electricity,” says Donna, adding that the insulation consisted of old newspapers from the 1930s. But that wasn’t the only surprise lurking above. “On the third floor, we found two wine bottles in the ceiling,” she recalls. After some research, she learned that the bottles came by ship to the New World and were likely original to the tavern; today, they are on display in the living room’s tavern cage. The couple’s discoveries show that the process of exposing beams is just part of the fun in preserving an old home. Here are a few ideas that helped the Vizards make the most of their experience:

AIM FOR AUTHENTICITY.

Salvage materials from within your renovation to ensure design consistency and stay faithful to the history of the dwelling. Donna and Jeff used wood from the original ceilings to build out new structures that honored the home’s origins, including the tavern cage. “Nothing was wasted,” Donna notes.

ACCENTUATE STRUCTURAL FEATURES.

“When we opened up the living room ceiling, it had a wonderful huge beam right down the middle,” Donna explains. To ensure a beautiful beam like this remains the star of the show, arrange furniture so pieces are equally weighted on each side of the main dividing line. This will also help the space feel balanced and centered.