Inside a 130-Year-Old Heritage Renovation: What It Actually Takes to Restore a Victoria Character Home

I recently had someone reach out asking if I could help them as a "heritage home expert" — and it reminded me I've never properly shared one of my favourite projects on this site: a full renovation of a heritage-designated home built in the late 1800s, filmed start to finish.

The home had passed through several interior updates over 130 years, but the new owners — both fans of the era — wanted to do something different: work with the Heritage Board and a heritage-experienced contractor to restore the craftsmanship the house was originally built with, rather than strip it away. I followed the project in three parts, from the first Heritage Board conversation through to move-in day.

Part 1: Meeting the Heritage Board

We start as a fly on the wall with one of the Heritage Board members and the contractor, walking through what's actually protected on a heritage-designated property in Victoria, and what has to be respected before a single wall comes down.

Part 2: Stripped to the Essentials

Midway through, the home is stripped back to its bones — but every heritage element worth keeping is protected and preserved. This is the part of a heritage reno where the real decisions get made: what stays, what's restored, and what's rebuilt to match.

Part 3: The Finished Home

The final walkthrough, with all the heritage character intact and the new owners moved in. It's the payoff for a lot of careful, permit-conscious work — and a good look at what's possible when a heritage home is renovated with the era in mind instead of against it.

Thinking About Buying or Renovating a Heritage Home in Victoria?

Heritage-designated homes come with real rules — Heritage Board approval, permit requirements, and restrictions on what can and can't change — but they also come with character you simply can't build new. If you're considering buying, selling, or renovating a heritage or character property in Victoria, I'd be glad to walk you through what's involved.

You can browse current character homes for sale in Victoria here, or reach out directly — I'm always happy to talk heritage homes.

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• heritage homes Victoria (1)
• Victoria heritage designation (1)
• character home renovation (1)
• 130 Years in 130 Days (1)
• heritage renovation BC (1)