Ways to Bring Your Old Home Into Your New House
Moving or downsizing? You don't need to leave your old home behind. Here's how to take a piece of it as a memento
Urbanism: In a small country like Singapore, there’s no escaping having to sacrifice a sprawling home for a more convenient or central location. For those who grew up in kampung (village) style rustic houses, or estates that have gone en bloc, instead of the usual excitement, there’s a tinge of heartache moving to a new house. Although it’s inevitable, you can bring a piece of your old home into your new one, as these ideas show.
If the grillework comes in slender panels, you can turn it into an arty triptych on the wall!
Doors
Barn-style hardware lets you bring your old home’s door to your new home! If it’s big, like this, you can use it as a sliding ‘wall panel’, to cover a part of storage when you don’t need it. In this photo, the barn door conceals TV and book shelves, or the pantry of this smaller home.
Barn-style hardware lets you bring your old home’s door to your new home! If it’s big, like this, you can use it as a sliding ‘wall panel’, to cover a part of storage when you don’t need it. In this photo, the barn door conceals TV and book shelves, or the pantry of this smaller home.
A smaller door can become a coffee table top…
While a heavier door can become your dining table top. Not only are you preserving memories from your old house, you’re also thoughtfully reusing solid timber that’s so hard to find these days.
Doors can also be turned into headboards. Add a splash of brightly hued paint for impact…
Or contrasting colours to highlight intricate architectural details.
Windows/shutters
Plantation shutters – common in black-and-whites as well as shophouses – make for a nice wall installation when placed like so.
Plantation shutters – common in black-and-whites as well as shophouses – make for a nice wall installation when placed like so.
Cover up one end of the louvres so you can have miniature planter boxes, and just lean the window panel-turned-planter against your balcony wall.
If you have several window panels to make the width of your bed, they can also be turned into a headboard.
Screw hinges and feet to the window panels, and you can turn them into a screen or room divider.
Here, the window panels-turned-screen are used to cordon off a dressing area.
Moulding or skirting
Reuse a length of moulding or skirting board as a ledge, screw on coat hooks and you have storage for cleaning implements.
Reuse a length of moulding or skirting board as a ledge, screw on coat hooks and you have storage for cleaning implements.
Timber (or laminate) floor planks
If you have a lot, you can do something similar to the feature wall installation in this photo (above), especially with solid wood floor planks that are in excellent condition.
If you have a lot, you can do something similar to the feature wall installation in this photo (above), especially with solid wood floor planks that are in excellent condition.
An old dresser
If you had one of those Victorian or country-chic dressing tables as a girl, you don’t have to give it up when you get married and set up your marital home. Incorporate it in your bathroom or powder room as a vanity top. You can install the washbasin into it, or just place it on top like in the next photo.
If you had one of those Victorian or country-chic dressing tables as a girl, you don’t have to give it up when you get married and set up your marital home. Incorporate it in your bathroom or powder room as a vanity top. You can install the washbasin into it, or just place it on top like in the next photo.
A vintage sewing machine
Use your mum’s old sewing machine as a vanity top…
Use your mum’s old sewing machine as a vanity top…
… Or a vanity table…
Or a small dining table.
Bird cage
This cage reminds me of the one my brother had his parrots in, when we were kids. Paint it a pretty pastel or a bright colour, and use as a toiletries cabinet.
This cage reminds me of the one my brother had his parrots in, when we were kids. Paint it a pretty pastel or a bright colour, and use as a toiletries cabinet.
Suitcases
For those who are pack rats and can’t bear to get rid of their parents or grandparents’ vintage luggage, a low shelf with slots where you can slide them in makes for a quirky, personalised storage unit for the foyer.
For those who are pack rats and can’t bear to get rid of their parents or grandparents’ vintage luggage, a low shelf with slots where you can slide them in makes for a quirky, personalised storage unit for the foyer.
A smaller suitcase can also be perched on top of a low stool, and used as bedside table.
TELL US
Have you repurposed anything from your old home? Post a photo in the Comments section!
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Browse ideas in these retro homes
TELL US
Have you repurposed anything from your old home? Post a photo in the Comments section!
MORE
Browse ideas in these retro homes
Hang a gate/grille from the ceiling, and you’ll always have that childhood metalwork wherever you go.
Although this photo is of a laundry room, this idea in fact would work splendidly in the kitchen. Suspend the gate panel over the kitchen island and use s-hooks to hang pots and pans from it. In an open-concept kitchen, a piece of your past home will be the centrepiece for your present one, and always a conversation-starter with guests.