Renovating a Modern Heritage house is a delicate balancing act – you want to honour the charm of the past, but also ‘bake in’ the convenience and superiority of contemporary living.
If you’re planning a heritage house with a modern extension project or refreshing a heritage house, you’ll want to get to grips with the hidden costs of renovating.
What is Modern Heritage?
The Modern Heritage home aesthetic is all about respecting historical architecture while weaving in contemporary design. It should retain the key elements – think fireplaces, ceiling roses, classic facades – while incorporating open-plan layouts and more modern, energy-efficient features.
When you think of a Modern Heritage home, it’s "the best of old and new – functional, timeless and truly liveable,” says award-winning architect Dean Dyson.
“In heritage houses you get this beautiful moment when you can transition through time. It’s the best of both worlds. I love that moment where you bridge the gap between the two periods – when you go from old to new.”
Modern Heritage renovations also mean you can change the home for smarter zoning and multi-functional spaces – which is perfect for today’s hybrid workers and multi-generational living.
Hidden costs to watch out for in Modern Heritage renovations
Heritage renovations do, however, bring with them some challenges that can inflate your budget if you haven’t prepared for them. Here’s what to look out for:
- Structural issues: Many heritage homes were built with materials that degrade over time. Roofs, sub-floors and supporting walls could need expensive reinforcements.
- Plumbing and electrical problems: Older homes tend to have outdated wiring and plumbing that might need full replacements to meet modern standards.
- Heritage restrictions: If your home is classified as heritage, there will likely be council regulations that limit the type of renovations you can do.
- Insulation and energy needs: Older homes generally weren’t built for changing climate conditions, which means heating and cooling costs can skyrocket if you don’t factor in upgrades to the insulation.
- Problematic materials: Many heritage houses in Australia were built using materials that are no longer compliant and require a specialist to remove.
"Modern Heritage is about adaptive reuse rather than throwing everything into a skip,” Dean says. So instead of gutting the space, he suggests you look at how you can repurpose what’s already there to make it more functional.
How to avoid unexpected costs
To help keep your renovation expenses to a minimum, you’ll want to start by doing a thorough site inspection. That means hiring an expert to check for structural issues or outdated electrical work before you start.
Once you are underway, make sure you invest in pre-sealed or pre-primed materials that are ready to paint, like James Hardie’s portfolio of fibre cement exterior solutions, which can help speed up installation and reduce labour costs for the project.
Be sure to prioritise high-impact areas by spending the bulk of your budget on spaces that make the biggest difference – think kitchens, bathrooms and modern extensions. By the same token, focus on getting the insulation right by installing double-glazed windows and upgrading ventilation to help lessen your long-term heating and cooling costs.
“You may not be able to afford to build a new mansion, but you can still invest in quality and functional redesign,” Dean says. “Take something that already exists and make it better.”
Modern extensions that translate to energy efficiency
A heritage house with a modern extension is the perfect opportunity to improve your home’s longevity and overall comfort levels. While older homes weren’t built for modern climate control, your extension can integrate passive design principles to improve its energy efficiency.
Here are some tips:
- North-facing windows: Maximise sunlight in winter while shading against harsh summer heat.
- Good insulation: Improve year-round comfort and reduce your reliance on heating/cooling. Cross-ventilation: Use smart window placement to boost airflow and lower your air conditioning costs.
- Solar panels and smart energy solutions: Generate renewable energy and keep your electricity bills low.
- Exterior solutions by James Hardie: Hardie™ fibre cement is durable, fire resistant and low maintenance, which will mean your Modern Heritage house is built to last.
“Environmental design is a lot more than sticking solar panels on a building,” Dean says. “It’s about adapting a structure so it can have a new, functional life.”
How to renovate without moving out
For many homeowners, moving out during a renovation isn’t an option. For as little disruption as possible, think about doing ‘phased construction’ – that just means working on one area at a time to keep parts of the home liveable.
Prefabricated materials, like James Hardie’s array of exterior and trim product lines, will also help by making sure there are fewer days your builders will need to be on-site. Using materials that require fewer trades will also keep your renovation on time and, hopefully, under budget.
Finally, spend a bit of time beforehand pre-planning your temporary living spaces. You might want to set up a basic but still fully functional kitchen in an unaffected part of the home, for example.
"Saving time in a build saves money,” Dean says. “That’s what tradies work on: time.”
Top materials and cladding solutions for Modern Heritage homes
To achieve the Modern Heritage interior design and exterior aesthetic you’ve been dreaming about, take advantage of Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding for a smooth and refined finish – perfect for contrasting heritage elements with modern simplicity.
“I’ve used Hardie™ Fine Texture Cladding because it’s great for using in small spaces such as courtyards. The large panel format enables us to clad smaller outdoor spaces with ease, needing fewer materials and less labour and cutting involved when installing,” Dean says.
Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding: Featuring distinctive square and angled groove edges, this cladding creates a striking, modern look that juxtaposes beautifully against traditional heritage facades.
Linea™ Weatherboard: These weatherboards are resistant to shrinking, swelling and warping, which can help to maintain your paint finish for longer, making it perfect for refreshing heritage facades.
Axon™ Cladding: The panels capture the elegant look of painted vertical joint timber, offering a timeless aesthetic with the benefits of Hardie™ fibre cement.
Invest in a high-quality, highly functional renovation
Renovating heritage style homes can be daunting, but with the right approach you’ll be able to preserve the past while embracing the future – even if you’re on a tight budget.
Want more renovation tips and design inspiration? You can create a heritage home that stands the test of time – without hidden costs – by downloading the Modern Heritage Design Handbook and reading the Modern Homes Forecast 2025.
