Replanning the house interior design

Embark on any renovation and you'll be presented with endless questions and decisions about your house interior design. Add the fact that your house is particularly old into the mix and it's a safe bet that you'll need more than a lick of paint to get the job done.

So how do you get it right? There are a few things to bear in mind:

The practicalities of house interior design

First up, remember that, unlike building from scratch or renovating a house that's only say, 10 years old, when you're dealing with an older home there's likely to be more going on behind the scenes. Start pulling down the existing fabric and you might be faced with a number of pricey surprises, like faulty wiring or damp, that you haven't budgeted for.

Also remember that if you plan to start pulling down walls yourself, you need to be aware of asbestos, which was commonly used in building materials between the 1940s and 1980s. If your house was built during that period, seek professional help to remove any asbestos-based materials.

Lastly, while council approval may be necessary for any type of renovation, if your house is particularly old it pays to check if it's heritage listed. There are various 'heritage' classifications and if one applies to your house, it could affect what sort of renovations you can carry out. Contact your council for more information.

The look and feel of the interior

Practicalities taken care of, it's time to consider the look of your house - and, like most renovations, this comes down to personal preference. But if it is an old home, there are a few more things to take into consideration.

Contact an interior designer to discover more house interior design ideas:

Depending on the building's age, you may wish to plan a renovation that remains as true to the building's original features and character as possible - and many designers and architects will advise you that this is the best option. Others will be happy to rip as much of the original house down as possible, replacing it with a brand-new, contemporary extension that has little to do with how the house got its start in life.

A good compromise, and one that often produces the most aesthetically pleasing result, is to aim for somewhere in between. While it's definitely important to be sympathetic to a building's heritage and original features - keeping the ones that add something to the house - don't be fooled into thinking you have to install a 'traditional' kitchen or bathroom if something contemporary is what you really have your heart set on.

Similarly, an extension at the back of an original city terrace should be designed to integrate with the rest of the house - there's nothing wrong with making it modern, but architecturally you need to find a way to avoid the feeling that the house exists as two separate sections.

Probably the biggest tip in terms of getting both the practicalities and the look right is to choose an architect or designer who can deliver what you're after. Ask questions, look at examples of their work, and choose one who is willing to do as little or as much as you - and your house - feel comfortable with.