Contrary to what capitalism will try to convince you, newer is not always better. When it comes to homes, the more mature, the merrier. Below, we’ve gathered a list of some of the most stunning homes featured in the Old Houses subreddit for all of you A&D followers who can appreciate beautiful architecture.
Homes age like fine wine, so enjoys viewing this gorgeous eye candy and imagining your life in any of these humble abodes. And don’t forget to upvote the houses you’d happily settle in if you had the chance!
01. Finally Finished Putting The Attic Library Together In My 220yo Federal Farm House. It Was Completely Gutted 3 Years Ago. I Built The Shelves And Railing With Reclaimed Wood, Rebuilt The Walls/Ceiling With Spray Foam Insulation, And Refinished The Floors, Doors, And Moldings
02. My Stunning Old House And A Pink Sky
03. I Moved In A Month Ago, And I Just Wanna Share My “Eeeeeee!!!” Feelings With Reddit
The Old Houses subreddit was created in 2015 and has amassed an impressive 24k members since then. The concept of this subreddit is straightforward, but the beautiful photos it features are anything but boring. The community is encouraged to “post DIY, find architectural styles, document historic preservation and restoration in your area, nerd out on building styles, see utilities and services progress with time,” and share everything old and residential. There are only two simple rules to follow in this community: posts must be about old houses, and commercial buildings are not welcome.
From stunning Victorian homes to delightful Tudors, these houses belong in every architecture lover’s dreams. They have so much character, so if you’re not already a fan of old homes, we think you will be by the time you reach the end of this list! If you’re wondering what the appeal of an old home is, we consulted Everyday Old House to find out why older homes are superior to new ones. The first reason they note is the charm and character many old houses have. “Old homes boast a welcoming charm and quaintness you don’t usually see with new builds,” Jen at Everyday Old House writes. “Historic houses reflect various architectural styles, like Victorian and Craftsman, that possess distinctive architectural characteristics you don’t see in newer homes.”
04. Dogwood In Bloom. This Is My 1895 Queen Anne Still Working On Restoring
05. We Just Moved Into Our First Home! 1885!
06. Stunning Old Houses In Gorodets, Russia
Old homes were typically built with higher caliber materials and better craftsmanship than newer ones. “For example, wood in old houses was cut from ‘old growth,’ which has proven to be more stable, durable, and rot-resistant than today’s wood,” Jen explains. “Another example is plaster. Old homes used plaster for walls, which is more durable than today’s drywall. Plaster outperforms drywall in superior insulation, soundproofing, fireproofing, and mold resistance. Unfortunately, today’s standard practice is to install inexpensive, manufactured materials such as particle board and drywall to cut costs.”
Similar to clothing, furniture, and many other items produced cheaply today, homes a century ago were built with a different mindset. They were made to last and to be repaired rather than replaced. Families do not often live in their homes for 50+ years nowadays, and unfortunately, many areas mass produce homes as quickly as possible simply for profit. Cheap materials are chosen, and the emphasis on having unique features in your home that will last a lifetime is often lost. And it’s easy to tell the difference when comparing a new home to an old one.
07. Interiors Like These Are Becoming Rarer
08. Far From Perfect, But I’m Proud Of Our DIY Job On Our Almost 100-Year-Old Floors
09. Photos Don’t Do Our Entryway Woodwork Justice, But I Thought I’d Try!
Old homes usually have beautiful features that we rarely find in newer builds. Many houses today are cookie-cutter replicas of one another and are built to be bland to appeal to broad audiences. But the unique features that old houses have should never be overlooked, and if you find a gem that still has these characteristics, snatch it up!
Bob Vila shared on their blog some of the best features many old homes have that we don’t often see today, and the first one they noted is Dutch doors. These beautiful doors were popular with 18th-century Dutch settlers in the Northeastern United States. They are split in half so that one half can be opened simultaneously. The first house I lived in as a kid had one of these doors in the kitchen, and they were great for letting some fresh air in or allowing my mom to speak to us while we were playing outside without inviting every little creature in the yard into our home.
10. Today, I Became A Homeowner For The First Time. She Was Built In 1875
11. I Found This Little Gem In My City, Bergen, Norway
12. My 1925… Bungalow Craftsman?
Laundry chutes are another attractive feature that many old homes have that, for some reason, we don’t often see today. Both houses that I grew up in happened to have a laundry chute, and they were incredibly convenient for my entire family. Rather than keeping a bag of dirty laundry in my bedroom or having to lug all of my clothes down the stairs, I had the luxury of just sending them down the chute and washing them whenever I had time during the week. Plus, it’s fun for kids to open up a small chute and send whatever they like into the laundry room! If my memory serves me correctly, some toys and stuffed animals ended up making their way down there from time to time as well…
13. A Few More Pictures Of My House Built In 1640
14. Beautiful 1868 Victorian In The Mountains Of NC
15. The 1926 Gingerbread Cottage By Architect Sam Stoltz
One feature of 1970s-era homes that I’m sad to announce has gone out of style is an intercom system being built into the home. The first house I lived in actually did have one of these, but it was no longer in use by the time we moved in during the 90s. Sure, we all have cell phones, and it’s easy enough to shout to whoever is in the next room. But conversing with your family via a home intercom sounds like way too much fun. Nobody has to yell or walk to another room! Whoever came up with this idea was really onto something, and, unfortunately, homes built today don’t often utilize this feature.
16. One Of The Stunning Old Houses In Alderbrook, 1902
17. Crittenden Farm, Ohio. Is It Italianate? Is It Second-Empire? Who Cares, It’s Gorgeous
18. My 1931 Brick Tudor In The Snow
We might even consider some aspects of old homes magical today, such as hidden bookcase doors. It’s rare to find a modern home with secret compartments, but for some reason, bookcase doors were all the rage back in the day, particularly in Victorian times. On a similar note, an old house is much more likely to feature pocket doors than a newer home. Pocket doors are those adorable, sliding doors that slip right into the wall rather than having to be opened into or out of the room you’re entering. These save space, are so cute, and make a room look much cleaner than a door that sticks out. I say, bring back the pocket doors!
19. My 1948 Montgomery Ward Kit House. My Husband And I Are Its Second Owners. I Think It’s One Of The Cutest And Most Stunning Old Houses In The World
20. Our Home Was A 19th Century School For Young Ladies. We Are Using The Attached Conservatory As A Narnia-Themed Sensory Playground
21. Some Before/After Exterior Pictures Of My House In Vt, Built In 1870
If you’re on the hunt for a home of your own, it might be wise to consider purchasing an old house. This can be for many reasons, one of them is that you might save yourself a decent amount of money. “On average, a comparably sized new construction can sell for 10% to 20% more than an older, updated home,” Shelley Cluff, a real estate broker and owner of Park Place Homes in Midland, MI, told Realtor.com. “While newer homes might cost less to maintain, they are also built with different materials such as energy-efficient products that drive up the cost of building them and, by extension, the cost of buying them.”
22. Closing On This Beauty Tomorrow! Built In 1910. Any Thoughts On Architectural Style Would Be Appreciated
23. More Old Hinge Pics
24. House Built In 1900. Pug Was Built In 2013
Old homes are the way to go if you want a home that looks nothing like your friends’ houses. “Some older homes have managed to maintain the amenities characteristic of the built era—for example, original crown molding, herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, and built-ins,” Niko Vercelletto writes for Realtor.com. “While newer homes will reflect the trends of current times, they won’t satisfy other eclectic tastes. Victorian homes are hard to find with authentic stained-glass windows or a midcentury sunken living room in modern houses. While many designers emulate these characteristics, you might prefer the real thing.”
25. Here Are Some Pictures Of Our 1898 Historic Home Decorated For Christmas 🙂
26. 1855 Italianate, Yonkers, NY
27. New Old House Owner
What kind of home would you purchase if you had unlimited resources, A&D followers? I don’t know about you, but I would go for something built at least 60 years ago, preferably with an unconventional color painted outside. We hope you’re enjoying this list of stunning old houses; keep upvoting the ones that give you house envy. Then, if you’re interested in reading another A&D list featuring stunning photos of historical homes, look no further than right here!
28. 1925 Tudor Detroit
29. Picture Of Our Home (1880) And The Family That Lived In It For Over 100 Years
30. My 1897 Victorian House
31. Picture Of One Of The Oldest Rooms In Our House – Old Houses Are Stunning
32. 1794 Survivor. I Recently Restored This Classic Center Chimney, In Vermont, Cape. Remarkably, This Gem Is Never Updated Or Remodeled. It Also Had Never Had Electricity Or Plumbing. Original Bubbled Glass Windows Intact. I Rebuilt Fireplaces And Chimney With Original Salvaged Brick. 2 Year Project
33. I Drew The House That Belonged To A Friend’s Grandmother, Which Unfortunately Has Already Been Demolished. I Made The Drawing Based On An Old Picture So That I will Remember The Good Memories Forever
34. No Period Renovation Is Complete Without Light Fixtures. More To Come Once Installed
35. I Can’t Afford Much, But This Schoolhouse In Maine Is Pretty Tempting
36. Merry Christmas From Our 1865 Gothic In Ohio!
37. This Old Well Inside A 1700s Renovation I’m Working On In Chester County, PA
38. I Want To Share My Depression Era Tudor Revival. I Recently Purchased All Original Unpainted Millwork
39. Look How Great My Dipped N’ Stripped 120 Yo Windows Turned Out…good As New!
40. My 1936 Log House. Stunning Old Houses In Finland
41. My Offer Was Accepted To Buy This 1922 House, Any Idea What Style It Is? Tia!
42. Face Lift Of This 1882 Lady. We Put The Roof On About 20 Years Ago. Now We’re Painting Her (Almost Done), Replacing All Windows, Redoing The Decks And Porches, One Bathroom, One Kitchen, And Adding A Deck On Top Of The Garage
43. The Previous Owners Removed These Windows. We Found This Picture In An Old Listing Photo And Had Them Remade By A Local Stained Glass Guy!
44. We Got Our Radiators Back Today, Sandblasted, And Painted Them
45. This House Is Being Demolished This Week In My City. Can We Take Some Time To Mourn?
46. Maymont: A 12,000 Sqft Mansion Built In 1893 In Richmond, Virginia. Here Are A Few Of My Favorite Photos I Took During The Tour. It Is, Even More, Breathtaking In Person!
47. 1883 Tudor Revival House With Many Original Details
48. Found A Box Of Architectural Magazines Dated From 1885-1895. Each Issue Includes A Color Print Of A Building Design Along With Tissue-Paper Blueprints
49. I Just Bought This 1858 Victorian House In Illinois
50. Even With Minimal Decoration, My House Was Ready For Halloween!
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