THIS OLD HOUSE: A Guide to Getting Started

Charlene and Tom have rehabbed and remodeled three historical homes during their 44 years of marriage and wouldn’t have it any other way. “We moved into a new house in a new neighborhood, and that lasted about a year,” Charlene recalls. “We put it up for sale and went back to old houses.” Follow their lead as these two pros reveal how they balance preserving a home’s unique features with the demands of a modern-day lifestyle. BUILDING BASICS:

Be sure the plumbing, heating, electricity, roof and other systems are functional and meet local building codes. “Those are necessities you have to have to live comfortably,”Tom advises.

FLOOR FUNDAMENTALS:

Original wood floors are optimal but not always possible if they are warped, sloped or damaged beyond repair. If you can’t refinish, lay neutral carpeting, and place area rugs on top.

MILLWORK MAKEOVER:

Should you paint wood trim? It depends, Charlene says. White trim makes a home appear larger and cleaner, but natural wood might better suit its character. Tom, however, votes no.

REAL OR REPRODUCTION:

Wherever practical, the couple opt for vintage fixtures and hardware, including lighting and clawfoot bathtubs. They buy reproduction faucets and up-to-date appliances for everyday convenience.

After replacing the rotted floor and crumbling plaster walls, the Kortzendorfs decorated the summer kitchen with an assortment of primitive antiques. They retrofitted the wood-burning stove with gas logs for nearly year-round comfort. A tiered baker’s tray provides plenty of space for a layered centerpiece, which sits atop a rag rug used as a table runner.