No, it's not possible to restore an old home to it's original glory without costing an arm and a leg. Quality craftsmanship of old...can it be replaced? Find one that has not been "restored" and bring it back to life with TLC. :)

It's so sad to see the cultural value of old houses lost. Mind you, if we could combine the beauty of age with the function of youth, wouldn't that be grand?

...and not just for houses!

Who would want a kitchen sink like that?

Ummmm, what's wrong with the sink?

If you want an old home with original architecture and fixtures, why buy this? I'm trying to understand your reasoning. So many Houzz dilemmas deal with turning one type of house into another, I always wonder why they bought it to begin with. Modern to Craftsman, older to modern, Bungalow to French Country. I'm not being mean, or snarky, just wondering why this house? And I agree, if you try to turn back the clock on the cheap, it's not going to look right. The only way is a restoration with original materials. Not an inexpensive thing to do.

If you want an old home with original character, you may need to buy one that still has it's authentic roots. Then get an architect to update it in a way that respects it's origins. Ask neighbors, friends, coworkers, family for referrals. You may have better luck finding such a home in a neighborhood that has homes from that era. Have a conversation with your realtor regarding this issue.

this is a beautiful kitchen and bathroom with some high end upgrades. If you don't like the upgrades, don't buy it. Spend $50K or more less for a 1930's fixer upper and make the changes you want.

We bought a 1930 fixer upper. We've already spent $100k fixing & have about $60-75k more to go. And we are not putting in high end fixes, either. Our home is 1343 sf, so not a big fancy home. It's considered a starter home in our town. Yes, our home was priced lower than the "fixed" homes on the market (this was 7 years ago). Know the renovation rates in your area. FWIW, our home is outside of Boston, MA where renovating is expensive. We found that renovated homes had just done mostly cosmetic things like a cheap kitchen & bathroom. In an older home, insulation, wiring, plumbing, foundation repair, roofs, air sealing, window repair or replacement etc are the more important items needed & often not done. Not to mention heating repair, plaster work, outside stone work, appliance replacement... I could go on & on & on.

Bottom line, if you want kitchen & baths more in line with a 1930's home, work with your realtor to find you one in original or only updated 50 years ago. Then find professionals to help you. You can do a lot yourself, but please work with licensed pros on electric, plumbing & anything you'll need a permit for. When you open up old walls, you never know what you'll find!

I would not want a 1930’s kitchen in this day and the same for bathrooms I think both those spaces look well done so live with it for a while and see how you feel.

I could definitely settle for this kitchen

At least it's tastefully done if not authentic--remember that a renovation will cost way more than the estimate, take much longer and be messy to the max -- not to mention the stress.

They are both very pretty rooms,and it would not make a lot of sense to redo them in my opinion; even if they are not in the style of the original house, they are pretty neutral and do not take away from it. But I agree with the other posters - if you want a reno in the 1930s style, you are probably better off buying a different house.

Real authentic bathrooms have claw foot tubs, no shower and a tiny sink attached to the wall with plumbing exposed. I am updating a 1980 Inn. Believe me, a modern sink is a lot more comfortable. And less scary when you don't have to worry about the sink falling off the wall. And showers in claw foot tubs are uncomfortable and difficult to navigate.

It looks like they updated the bathroom with a nod to an old fashioned vibe with the pedestal sink, lighting and the tub/shower combo. I think they did a good job.

I love your kitchen, it is beautiful. Modern convenience without a hugely contemporary look. Agree with others. Live there for awhile before you make too many changes.

I appreciate all your comments. The problem is, there are not a lot of houses in this area that haven't been renovated! I wish I could find one....

1930 era stuff is perfectly wonderful for modern use, except the whole no dishwasher thing. I have zero desire to modernize anything and am putting everything back that was changed. You would be surprised how functional things are and they look right which that kitchen posted above most certainly will not in 10-20 years. Of course, my house is not a bungalow so I have a real shower in the master, good sized closets etc.

Many homes from the 20s, 30s and 40s have lovely, well-maintained kitchens and baths. They don't need gutting and modernizing to be beautiful, useful and comfortable. It is the ones that have been ruined by neglect or butchered by clueless "remodeling" that present such challenges to restore any semblance of their original charm.

Pick several areas where the homes' exteriors have a look you like...and ask your Realtor* to call you if anything is offered for sale in those neighborhoods. You might find some original interiors. Just a thought.

Macareral, it depends on what is an arm and a leg to you. In the bathroom the pedestal sink and the mirror over it look art deco to me. They are acceptable. I see a towel bar that to me looks modern. It could be replaced. Something more like this:

The shower curtain will be gone, as it belongs to the home owners. Same regarding the short chest under the towel bar. I am not pleased with the light fixture. I would want sconces instead. Something like this. The tub and tile (and probably the floor) are modern. I would just buy a drab shower curtain and keep it covering that area. Moving on to the kitchen; you really only need to change the countertop and that dreadful sink. It would be cute with ceramic tile. I would just remove the backsplash and go with the same tile as the countertop. It would not be cheap, but would the cost be an arm and a leg to you? The cabinets could be painted white or that green shade that never seems to go out of style. I am not very skilled but I can do my own painting and my own light fixtures. If you are handy that would reduce your cost. By your own admission, there are not many intact 1930's houses to be had. Do you really want to live without a dishwasher? With this house you know it has been maintained. Much better than a fixer upper. If the price was acceptable and the location is good, why let modern improvements keep you from purchasing this house? Remember, location, location, location. Did anyone else notice the odd backsplash behind the coffee maker?

Get the remodeled house and give the home some character with hardwood floors, crown molding, subway tile (been around forever). Custom built-ins, etc. If the remodel included upgraded energy efficient windows, insulation, upgraded electrical and HVAC, roof, etc, you will be money ahead even with the cost of adding architectural interest. You can purchase vintage looking light fixtures, sconces, etc.

paint the cabinets (or leave them), but change out the backsplash and hardware and add a vintage light over the sink; also, change faucet and sink if you want to go big. wood counters aren't that expensive and would look great with white painted cabinets. you could definitely change the look to feel more like a 30s kitchen without ripping out what's there… good luck