You walk into your newly renovated home. The floorboards gleam. The back extension catches the afternoon light perfectly. And for a second, everything feels… right. But then you glance up. And what you see makes your stomach drop.
A ceiling-height wardrobe has been boxed in straight through the middle of your ornate plaster cornice. A crisp modern light fitting is jammed into the middle of a 100 year old ceiling rose. There’s a stainless-steel balustrade attached to your original timber stairs.
It’s not just one thing. It’s the creeping realisation that the beautiful period features you wanted to preserve have been clashed – badly – with a modern build that didn’t take them into account.
And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
The good news is that this frustration is totally avoidable. But only if you know what to watch for before you build.
Blending Old and New Isn’t a Style Choice – It’s an Aesthetic One
If you’re renovating a period home, especially in Sydney’s eastern or inner suburbs, chances are you’ll be keeping the original façade and front rooms.
Sometimes that’s because of council regulations. Sometimes it’s because the existing bones and features are just that good.
High ceilings. Decorative cornices. Solid brickwork. These homes weren’t thrown up in a rush. They were crafted.
Which means the first part of your renovation is often a given: preserve what’s there. Clean it up. Respect it. Upgrade where needed (air con, wiring, light switches). But do it with subtlety.
Then comes the hard part: adding something modern without making it look like an afterthought.
Here’s Where It Usually Goes Wrong
Not with the builder’s tools, but with their judgment.
We’ve seen it all:
- Built-in wardrobes that slice through ornate plaster ceilings
- Square air vents punched straight into century-old cornices
- Modern bathroom walls thrown up mid-ceiling, right through a detailed ceiling pattern
- Glass balustrades clipped to 100-year-old stairs
- Harsh transitions from hallway to open plan without any pause or logic
These are the moments where the renovation falls apart. Not structurally, but aesthetically. You don’t need to be an architect to feel it. Your home just feels… wrong.
And fixing it after the fact? That’s not just expensive. It’s often impossible without undoing the very work you’ve just paid for.
The Smart Way to Merge Eras (Without Butchering Either)
There’s a reason some period renovations feel effortless and others feel jarring. The best ones follow a structure that works:
1. Restore the front, don’t redesign it
These homes weren’t made for open-plan living. And that’s okay. Treat the original front rooms as their own chapter. One that sets the tone and tells a story.
2. Use the hallway as a natural divider
Most period homes have a central hallway. Let that become your architectural threshold. The place where the past ends and the present begins. You don’t need tricks or gimmicks. Just a thoughtful, intentional shift.
3. Don’t mix styles where they don’t belong
Modern kitchens, big glass doors, open layouts – they belong in the extension. Not awkwardly wedged into the front of the house. Likewise, ornate cornices and period timber skirtings don’t need to be replicated in the back. Let each space speak its own language.
4. Choose a builder who respects both sides
It’s not enough for your builder to be good at new builds. They need to understand period construction. They need to know why you don’t put a vent through a ceiling rose. Why you do keep ornate plaster intact wherever possible. Why transition points matter.
The only way to know? Ask them. Ask for examples. Ask them to walk you through a similar job. Ask them what they would do – and why.
Because It’s Not Just About What You Build – It’s About What You Protect
There’s a lie that says modern design and heritage features can’t coexist. That it has to be one or the other.
But the truth is, when the build is done right, you don’t even notice the transition. It just feels natural. Comfortable. Cohesive.
You still get the open kitchen. The big windows. The modern comforts.
But you also get the story. The detail. And the parts of your home that make it yours.
Of course, there’s so much more that goes into designing a home that feels this seamless. The structure. The sequencing. The conversations that need to happen long before any plans are drawn or walls go up.
That’s why I’ve created this free guide for you to download:
7 Things You Must Know Before Designing a New Home
Inside, you’ll find:
- The decisions that have the biggest downstream impact
- The traps that most homeowners don’t see coming
- And the simple steps to make sure your renovation doesn’t just look good, but actually lives well
Learn more about Jay and David’s Story. HDMB are proud APB and HIA members.
