An older home is not a blank canvas waiting for your customization, but rather a rich portrait meant to be enjoyed by the right collector. The floors may creak and the electricity may need updating, but an older home offers a treasure trove of other features that the right kind of owner will appreciate.

What I often admire in older homes is the attention to scale and construction, which was used to maximize organic features like light. Not able to rely on technology, older homes included transom windows atop of doorways to let in air and light. Additionally, older homes usually have a distinct separation between public and private space. While this may mean smaller bedrooms, it also means that the public spaces have been designed specifically to foster community and togetherness for family and friends. 

Mature landscaping can add color and drama to an older home. Owners of a new house might have to wait for at least 10 years for a magnolia tree to reach it’s full size, but it’s heady blooms, perfect climbing limbs, and shady leaves are waiting for you at an older property. Consider for a moment the big pecan tree on Armstrong Parkway. At over 140 years old, it has become a landmark of the Highland Park community and the site of the oldest community tree lighting tradition in Dallas County. The sophisticated and lush greenery of the Park Cities are one of the key selling features of the area adding charm and ambiance throughout the neighborhood.

Benefits aside, older homes do have their own set of unique challenges. Possible health hazards like lead and asbestos must be mitigated before you can move in.  It’s also unlikely that you will find an older home with sufficient closet space or enough kitchen upgrades to suit modern tastes. Utilities like electrical and plumbing may need updates or complete overhauls depending on what has been done in the past- and how well it was done. You may find a leaky roof over your head or a sagging deck in the backyard. Not all older homes are maintained with the attention to detail and sustainability that is required.

Ultimately, if you find yourself annoyed rather than charmed by the quirks of your older home, than you should buy or build new construction. It’s always a shame to see an older home ruined with endless upgrades and attempts to modernize. Wondering if you are ready for the challenge of loving and living in an older home? Stay tuned for the last article in the series where I’ll talk about how you can protect and preserve your older home for generations to come. 

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

At the April 21st Lambert's Garden Tour hosted by the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art- Texas Chapter, William Briggs participated in a panel discussion the collaboration between interiors, architecture and landscape design. William Briggs said, "All design elements must work together to form a cohesive and functional home for the owners. Great design should always be both beautiful and livable."

Panelists: Elaine Honea, William Briggs, Tom Black, Paul Fields

Photo from The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Texas Chapter Facebook page

Photography by James Edward

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

There is a towel rack on the top of my dishwasher.  This might seem like an innocuous design feature, but it ultimately left me with a broken dishwasher.  Time after time, that towel rack was mistaken for a handle and daily wear and tear pulled the dishwasher loose and broke it.  

Even though the rest of the world may be crazy, I think your home should be a place of calm amongst the chaos.  That’s why I believe in design that is intuitive and making spaces both functional and beautiful.  A front door should look like a front door- there shouldn’t be any hidden meanings.  Working with an architect can help you see through layers of design glamour and decide what pieces will stand the test of time.

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

We are honored to announce that William S. Briggs has won a 2015 John Staub Award for our work at Lee Park.  The John Staub Awards “recognize and promote excellence in the classical and vernacular traditions.”  John Staub was a residential architect known for his traditional-style mansions built in Houston from the 1920s to the 1960s.  Staub’s work blended classical architectural styles with his own design perspectives to create majestic, stately homes.  The Allie Beth and Pierce Allman Arbor Pavilion was nominated in the Institutional/Civic/Ecclesiastic/Commercial Architecture category of the John Staub Awards.

To see the other award winners, please visit The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art- http://www.classicist-texas.org

Source: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/home/gauge/article/Four-stately-John-Staub-houses-on-the-market-now-5595715.php

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com

Everything’s bigger in Texas, including our homes, but where you allocate that space in your home can really make a difference.  You don’t want to sacrifice square footage in common areas for a larger bedroom.  Where you need space most is not in the individual rooms, but in the areas you move through.  Adding more space to the hallway will make a house feel more expansive.  

How the space is allocated in a room is also really important.  Adding enough distance between countertops is the difference between a functional kitchen and one that is too cramped to work in.  You also wouldn’t want to take a square foot or two in a bathroom to make a larger bedroom in an ensuite.  That would make the entire area feel too crowded and awkward.  

While we might love our wide open spaces in Texas, when it’s time to build you want to think strategically about how to use your home’s footprint.  Adding or subtracting a square foot here or there can truly make the difference between a home that working for you or against you.  

William S. Briggs, Architect, PLLC
214.696.1988

William@WilliamsBriggs.com
http://www.williamsbriggs.com