Been daydreaming lately about buying one of those charming old houses downtown. You know the ones—creaky floors, beautiful woodwork, and windows that've probably seen better days. But then I started thinking...if I actually did get one, what would I do about the windows? They're gorgeous, sure, but drafty as heck and probably not energy efficient at all. Would it be better to bite the bullet and replace them with something modern that looks vintage-y, or just try to restore what's already there?
I mean, part of me feels like ripping out original windows is kinda sacrilegious, lol. But then again, heating bills are no joke. Curious how other folks feel about this—would you prioritize authenticity or practicality if you were in this situation?
I feel ya on the heating bills...my sister bought one of those old Victorians a few years back and tried to keep the original windows at first. Gorgeous, but she basically had to wear three sweaters indoors all winter, lol. Eventually she compromised—kept originals in front rooms for charm, replaced upstairs and back windows with modern replicas. Worked out pretty well, actually.