8 Ways to Update an Antique Home That Don't Take Away From Its Charm

The unfortunate truth is that for a vintage home to look fresh and modern, it's probably going to take a little elbow grease. The average length of ownership is thought to be about seven years, so if you have a 100-year-old building, that's a lot of changing of keys; that means there were a lot of opportunities for the home to lose some of its original character. Some trim may be painted, some may be natural. Figure out which works best for your house, and be consistent. If the rooms look put together and kept up, so will the rest of your house.