Does ripping out period features make you a bad person?

When I first moved into my current home – a Victorian terrace – I was fully expecting to find a period fireplace behind the boxed in, pretend real fire.

I set about removing the MDF that I felt sure was covering a hidden gem only to find a mess of soot, rubble – and no fireplace. Who in their right mind would rip out a perfectly good ( and it would have been, these pieces last forever ) antique feature, I thought. Or rather, exclaimed. Looking up, I was further aghast to see the ceiling rose gone and six downlighters in its place. How did I not notice those before?

Cursing the former owners who committed this sacrilege –  in the nineties, according to my neighbours – I found more evidence of period features trashed, removed or covered. Lovely stair spindles covered in thick layers of paint. A bank of unreachable cupboards all the way up to the high ceiling. And downlighters in the bedroom.

These people clearly needed their heads examined. Or – maybe I was being too harsh?

Back in the nineties, there was a very different aesthetic. Minimalist interiors, built-in storage, the ‘loft’ look and bold colours were all the rage, so I could hardly blame the previous owners for picking up on these trends and wanting a clean, bright aesthetic. They probably thought period features were old-fashioned.

And although it pains me to say it sometimes these features, although beautiful, just aren’t up to modern living. Original windows in particular are single glazed, draughty and very expensive to restore properly. It’s possible to do so on a budget by sealing gaps and using heavy curtains – but that’s not always practical. They may be too far gone, as can be the case with other period features. Coving and ceiling roses might be falling away or timber floors warped and beyond repair. Even a marble fireplace — as I would have had, sob —might have become structurally unsound.

There is defnitely a tension faced by many homeowners: how to balance preservation with practicality. While purists may shudder at the thought of removing original features, restoration isn’t always financially or structurally possible. Personally, I would keep everything –  in our former home I loved the single glass bay window, even if it wouldn’t open. But, really, we should’ve replaced it.

The trick is to find a balance. To retain your home’s soul and be respectful of its heritage whilst making sure you’re not tripping over uneven floors. Unfortunately I’ve seen many people buy a home and rip everything out, without even living in it for one day – because living day to day is the only way to connect you and your home’s rhythm. To find a way to rub along together. Sounds a little woo woo, but I find it works. That’s why I prefer to paint my own walls and do as much DIY as my limited skills allow –  with my dad’s invaluable help and input. I feel like I’m bonding with the house.

Sometimes, heritage colours and pattern, elegant light fittings, wider skirting boards or reclaimed tiles, for example, can honour a period property’s soul whilst keeping it fit for modern living. If the ceiling rose is crumbling, you could replace it with a new one? But even though boot cut jeans and crop tops are back in fashion – and, some say, orange pine, stainless steel and (whisper it) sponge paint effects – maybe those bedroom downlighters could stay in 1996.