From Lost Diaries To Hidden Passages, Here Are 50 Astonishing Finds Within Old Homes (New Pics)

Matthew Bridges and his partner Jessi purchased their 1912 beauty in April of 2021 and have been sharing their journey on Instagram ever since. When we ask Matthew what captured his and Jessi's attention about the house, he says it was the original woodwork and the old door hardware.

"This house needed a lot of work but the first time we walked in and saw the beautiful staircase we knew this was the house for us," he told Bored Panda. "Some of the 'updates' dated to the 1960s, which didn't fit the vibe of the house, so we decided to give it a more period-appropriate feel but with modern conveniences."

Granted, the updates might not happen as quickly as one would want. Matthew says that time and money have been the biggest challenges in bringing this beautiful house back to life.

"I do a lot of the work myself so it sometimes gets pushed aside due to an otherwise busy schedule," he explains. "Restoration can also be expensive, even if you're doing the work yourself. So far we've tackled maybe one big project per year."

Nevertheless, he believes the house would be happy with their 'upgrades' if it were a sentient being. "We didn't strip it of its remaining original features and we added a few elements, like period light fixtures, that complement and fit the era of the home. Decor aside, I think we've preserved the integrity, the history, and the legacy of this old beauty."

If you're a fan of authentic old houses, be sure to follow Matthew and Jessi's journey in restoring their 1912 home!

Buying an old house can be fascinating for more reasons than just the possibility that you'll come across an interesting find in the attic. In fact, current trends are all about old character houses. Just like with everything millennial-related, the new generation is rejecting the modern millennial-gray houses, which, according to them, lack character.

There's a whole subgenre of videos on TikTok about shaming millennial house flippers turning vintage, charming houses into 'sad beige.' In one such video, creator @everyones.junk.drawer points to how realtors covered up and painted over a whimsical and authentic clinker brick chimney. "They see something charming or that has character and say: 'Nope! Cover it up.'"

Why are people getting so mad? It's because new owners buy fixer-uppers and take most of their charm away. They cover the hardwood floors, paint over colorful, original wallpaper, or rip out and replace vintage tiling with off-white floors that give off the vibe of an asylum more than that of a modern house.

Katie Way writes for Vice that these "modernizing an old Victorian house" renovations are "the nouveau-McMansion chic." These houses are often characterized by "shades of beige and gray, brushed silver fixtures, a 'clean,' monotonous look." Basically, something you'd probably see on HGTV.

There's a reason why millennials like their interior and architecture to be clean and minimalistic. As designer Katelyn De Spain of Makehouse Design Studio explained to Apartment Therapy, they are, too, rejecting what they grew up with. "The neutral grays emerged as a way to counterbalance the ruddy browns and overly warm beiges that dominated home interiors in the early 2000s," she said.

The best example of the houses millennials grew up in and are now desperate to rebel against is Tony and Carmela Soprano's home: Tuscan villa-inspired golden brown countertops, terracotta lamps, and even some golden accents, which today, no doubt, many would deem to be tacky.

Yet even therapists are defending millennials' taste in homes. Jennifer Chappell Marsh, LMFT, explains that we have to look at the "sad beige gray" trend through the lens of what that generation went and still is going through. They experienced two major economic crises, climate anxiety, student loan debt, and a housing crisis. "An uncluttered house done up in palatable, neutral tones can provide a sense of stability and control," Marsh told HuffPost.

Essentially, when buying a house today in America, you can either choose a modern one, or a home with character. Home&Texture has gone over the pros and cons of buying both and suggests that choosing a timeless character house with history connects its occupants to the past, while modern houses offer contemporary aesthetics and convenience.