Home Investments That Will Last the Next 250 Years
As we approach the 250th anniversary since America became a country, the team has been thinking a lot about the longevity of design choices! We don’t have structures that have been up nearly as long as some other countries, but what if we could in the next 250 years?
What makes the Palace of Versailles at 400 years old, the Tower of London at about 950 years old, or the Roman Colosseum at nearly 2,000 years old, stand the test of time? How do these historic buildings continue to inspire us, much less, remain standing? What can we learn from these buildings, in hopes that the decisions we make today may last the next 250 years? And how are these historic venues still so compelling when the Texas Rangers and Dallas Cowboys can’t play in a stadium longer than 25 years?
If you’re looking for an answer to all these questions, and why they apply in your own home, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s dive into it!
Natural Materials
We have all heard the logic against natural materials — “Well, the hardwood is susceptible to damage, so I’m going to get the vinyl” — when in reality, the hardwood could last literally forever! Vinyl, on the other hand, will likely be replaced within maybe 10 years. For various reasons… including damage!! That’s right, vinyl flooring is still susceptible to water damage. And don’t misunderstand me - if you do the research, talk to our experts, and still decide that vinyl flooring is the best choice for you, that’s great and we’d be happy to help you find the right one! However, I really want you to have all the facts as you make your decision!
Our industrialized aversion to natural patina, wear, and character has created a world of builder-grade, white box homes. We have to wake up and reclaim identity, and heritage, and culture, and meaning in our structures!!!! For a moment, imagine the Taj Mahal were not made up of white marble inlaid with semi-precious stones, but instead were made of vinyl and MDF. Not only would it not exist, but nobody would care at all! Investing in natural materials now could make the difference of your home serving you now, and your kids down the line. You could be creating a heritage home that will be loved for generations!
It’s important to be mindful when deciding on the vinyl floor, the quartz countertop, and the veneer-wrapped particle board cabinets. Why are you making those choices? If you’re looking for longevity, there are always alternatives like nail-down natural hardwoods, marble, quartzite, soapstone, and hardwood cabinets that might help you get a little more bang for your buck in the long run.
I could go on and on, but I just want to make one more note! Natural materials in your furniture matter, too! Acrylic and poly upholstery are great, but it never hurts to look into choosing full-grain leather, wool, linen, cotton, etc.
Authentic design
Speaking of the Taj Mahal! Imagine it was about 400 years ago. The architects, designers, dreamers, and developers of the Taj Mahal are presenting their iconic onion-dome design, and an intern in the corner raises their hand and says, “Well…I’m just not sure this is the look that’s really popular right now.” And maybe the locals get to voice their opinions and say, “Yeah, see that’s not what France is building, nor Italy, or anywhere else!”
This is a real issue, and it’s something we’ve battled for years! We must understand that there is a difference in appreciating a certain aesthetic and authentically connecting with a certain aesthetic. I can enjoy the bright white and blue of the 30A cottages in Seaside Florida and deeply love it. At the same time, I still note that though I LOVE it, it’s not me to my core.
This is something I hear a lot — “I just love so many things.” Ope! See, it’s not just about loving these things. It’s about identifying who you are to your core, and designing towards your heart, mind, interests, and passions, and ultimately your culture! This can be difficult, but don’t get discouraged! Try starting with our design style quiz!
The Drover in Fort Worth, in my opinion, is getting this SO RIGHT! The authenticity is the thing that attracts the crowds!! Let’s not forget about the Ballpark in Arlington, back when the Rangers played there… I think they got this SOOOO right. However, we’ll talk more about where they missed the mark later!
Ultimately, there’s no point in building anything if it’s not true to character. Period.
Heritage Investment
Aha. Now this is a tricky one, but it must be discussed.
I read a great article that talked about whether we were to build the Palace of Versailles in 2026 dollars, it could cost upwards of 300 billion dollars.
Let me put that into perspective. The most expensive building in the entire United States of America is SoFi Stadium in California…it cost 5.5 billion dollars to build. Let that sink in.
I bring this up because I think there’s a cultural, foundational difference in our approach. I frequently hear, “I’ll just get a crappy rug for now, because of the puppy.” Or, “I’m not looking for the investment furniture yet, not until the kids are out of the house.” Or even, “I don’t trust myself with marble…I think we’ll just do quartz.” We’ve been trained to think that there is another time ahead. There is a later date, a different day, or a setting where quality materials will fit into our lives. This is simply a fallacy in so many ways. I want to just ask, “Why do you think the 80-year-old rug is $5,000 and the brand new polypropylene rug is $800?? And do you really think one spilled Diet Coke is going to destroy an 80-year-old hand-knotted Oushak?” If the rug COULD be destroyed, don’t you think it would’ve happened in the last 80 years of install, transport, and trade?!
So, in America, instead of buying the $5,000 rug that we will keep for our whole lives and pass down the generations, we buy the $800 rug, and in 4 years, we buy another $800, and the cycle never ends. And I get it! I’m guilty of it too! (Or have been, in the past.)
Every day, I speak to a new client who says something like, “Well. We did the kitchen, kinda, 6 years ago, but it really needs a refresh.” — Can you imagine the marble halls of Versailles? Can you imagine them allowing anything to be refreshed?! No! Of course not!!
NOW, back to how the Texas Rangers got it wrong. The Ballpark in Arlington (where the Rangers played 26 seasons from 1994 to 2019) was gorgeous. More seats than the stadium today. Beautiful field. Incredible traffic flow. But what was the one thing missing? … A roof. A budget-saving decision made in the early 90s, to build the roofless $191 million stadium, somehow evolved into a 1.2 BILLION dollar project to design the stadium with a roof, just 26 years later. It’s decisions like these that not only create waste, but more importantly, lose history, timelessness, culture, and feel!
In the end, if you’re looking to apply these principles to your next project, whether small or large, just remember: choose natural materials, commit to authentic design, and be prepared to invest! If you feel lost or confused and don’t know where to start, don’t fret! Lambert Home is here to help. Come stop by our store or click the button below to book a consultation today!
