Historic Renovation

Preserve the Past. Update for Today.

Brickmoon Design’s residential architecture practice helps homeowners in Houston Heights, Tarrytown, Austin historic districts, and surrounding communities preserve original character while updating for modern living. Historic renovation isn’t about freezing a home in time — it’s about honoring what came before while making it function well today.

The firm knows the guidelines, knows what historic district boards approve, and designs renovations that work the first time because it’s been through the process on dozens of projects across Texas.

The Historic Renovation Process

Historic districts have design review boards, preservation guidelines, and approval processes that govern what can and can’t be changed — and what it has to look like when it is. Most contractors don’t understand these requirements. Work gets done, the board rejects it, and correcting the problem costs more than getting it right from the start.

Understand the Home's History

We research what was built, what’s original, and what’s been changed. That history guides every design decision that follows.

Review Preservation Guidelines

We pull the exact guidelines for the specific property. Houston Heights, Tarrytown, and Austin historic zones each have different requirements. We know what the board approves before the design begins.

Design for Compliance

Historic requirements are built into the first drawing, not checked at the end. This eliminates rejections and moves the project through approval cleanly.

Coordinate Modern Systems

Outdated electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are updated with minimal visible change, routed around original details and concealed where possible.

Preserve Historic Details

Original trim, floors, built-ins, and plaster are saved where possible and recreated where they can’t be. Replacing authentic details with contemporary substitutes isn’t renovation. It’s erasure.

Submit for Approval

We manage submissions, coordinate with review boards, and represent the project through approval. Clients don’t deal with city boards. The firm handles it.

Historic Renovation Services

 

Historic Kitchen and Bathroom Design

Kitchens and bathrooms must perform like modern spaces while looking like they belong in the home’s original era.

Historic Exterior Restoration

Rooflines, siding, windows, doors, and porches — the elements the historic review board evaluates first. 

Historic Interior Restoration

Original hardwood floors, plaster walls, crown molding, built-in shelving, and wood paneling carry the character of a historic home.

Structural Updates Within Historic Guidelines

Historic homes settle, shift, and develop structural issues that need to be addressed without altering the home’s appearance or character.

System Upgrades — Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC

Outdated systems are brought to current code while minimizing visible impact on the home’s historic fabric. Routing, concealment, and phasing are all designed to protect original details.

Historic Building Conservation Planning

For homeowners uncertain where to begin, Brickmoon creates a conservation plan that prioritizes what’s most urgent, most significant, and what can be phased over time. 

Why Choose Brickmoon for Historic Renovation

Learn more about the firm and the experience behind every Brickmoon project in Texas.

  • Historic District Knowledge — Brickmoon knows the guidelines for Houston Heights, Tarrytown, Austin historic districts, and surrounding preservation areas. The firm knows what review boards will approve and what they won’t — because it’s designed for those boards on dozens of projects.
  • Designed for Compliance From the Start — Historic district requirements are built into the design process, not checked at the end. This eliminates rejections, eliminates redesigns, and moves projects through the approval process without delays that could have been avoided.
  • Preservation Expertise — Some original details are irreplaceable. Brickmoon knows which ones to save, how to save them, and when restoration is the right approach versus period-appropriate recreation. That judgment isn’t something most contractors or general residential architects have.
  • Modern Systems, Historic Appearance — Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC upgrades are coordinated to protect original details and minimize visible change. The home performs to modern standards. It doesn’t look like it was retrofitted to get there.
  • Integrated Interior Design — Brickmoon’s interior design team coordinates finishes, fixtures, and material selections alongside the architectural work — so the renovation is cohesive from structure to final room, not just structurally compliant.
  • Specialist Network — Some historic renovation work requires specialists — plaster restorers, millwork recreators, flooring conservators. Brickmoon coordinates this work within the larger project and ensures every specialist’s output meets district guidelines and design intent.

What Our Clients Say

Brickmoon Design’s client reviews reflect a consistent experience — precise design work, clear navigation of complex approval processes, and renovations that honor the original character of a home while making it genuinely livable today.

Contact Brickmoon Design

Schedule an initial consultation with Brickmoon Design to discuss a custom home, remodel, addition, or lake house project.

Houston Headquarters
7155 Old Katy Rd, Suite N190
Houston, Texas 77024

Central Texas / Hill Country Office
13501 Ranch Road 12, Suite 111
Wimberley, Texas 78676

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FAQs About Historic Renovations

Does every renovation in a historic district require board approval?

It depends on scope and location. Exterior changes visible from the street almost always do. Interior work often doesn’t, but mechanical upgrades, structural changes, and anything affecting the exterior envelope typically require review. Brickmoon confirms what’s required for the specific property before the design begins.

How long does historic district approval take?

Typically 4 to 8 weeks depending on the board. Some districts move faster. Brickmoon manages the submission process and coordinates with the review board throughout. Clients don’t track timelines or respond to board questions directly.

Can original details be removed?

Generally no. Historic guidelines exist to protect original details, and removal isn’t approved unless the element is beyond repair. Brickmoon is direct about what the board will and won’t approve before anything is proposed.

What if the home was already altered before the renovation?

Changes made before historic designation are often treated differently than original features. Not every alteration needs to be reversed. Brickmoon reviews the documented history and applicable guidelines to establish what’s actually required versus what’s optional.

Can modern systems be added to a historic home?

Yes. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC can all be incorporated. The challenge is doing it without damaging original details or creating visible evidence of a retrofit. Brickmoon coordinates system upgrades as part of the overall renovation design.

Can a kitchen be made fully functional?

Yes. Modern kitchens work in historic homes when they’re designed thoughtfully. The goal is a kitchen that performs entirely in the present while looking like it belongs to the home’s original era.

Can original windows be replaced?

Sometimes. If they’re beyond repair, replacement may be approved, but replacements must closely match the originals. Original window repair is always preferred when viable. Brickmoon evaluates each window’s condition before recommending a direction.

What's the difference between restoration and renovation?

Restoration returns something to its original condition. Renovation updates it for modern use. Most historic projects require both: restored original details combined with systems and spaces that function well for the people living there today.

What permits are required?

Historic renovations require standard building permits plus historic district approval. That’s two separate processes on different timelines. Brickmoon manages both from submission through approval.

Can Brickmoon assist with post-disaster restoration?

Yes. After floods or other disasters, historic homes need specialized restoration that meets district requirements while addressing structural and systems damage. Brickmoon coordinates the rebuild, manages approvals, and brings in preservation specialists where needed.

Related Resources

The Brickmoon Design blog covers historic district guidelines across Texas, preservation planning, how to navigate the approval process, and what to expect when renovating a home in a protected historic area. Explore the home remodeling category for in-depth articles on historic renovation and whole-home restoration projects.

Get In Touch

At Brickmoon Design, we believe the best projects start with great conversations. To make sure our first virtual meeting is as valuable as possible, we'd like to understand your vision, goals, and project details upfront. This helps us come prepared with ideas, insights, and solutions tailored specifically to your needs.

Get In Touch

At Brickmoon Design, we believe the best projects start with great conversations. To make sure our first virtual meeting is as valuable as possible, we'd like to understand your vision, goals, and project details upfront. This helps us come prepared with ideas, insights, and solutions tailored specifically to your needs.