Local restoration consultant Buddy Schum knows his Victorian “ladies.” He gained this architectural experience after extensive work with residences built in between 1830 and 1901, the reign of Queen Victoria. His long-term record of success, including stunningly revived historic homes in Bucks County and Ocean City, N.J., was nailed down in the OCNJ Daily.

“Living in a Victorian house is often like living in a time capsule,” Schum said. “What makes it so charming and quirky — the overabundance of wood, the heavy marble, the decorative turrets —now makes it seem outdated and cold.”

He tries to open the once-stylish compartmentalized rooms to make things airier. This must be done with caution, he advises, because many of the interior walls are weight-bearing.

Once completed, however, Schum believes the work proves to be worth the effort. It enables “residing in a home of arresting beauty you love while giving it the lift it needs for the 21st Century.”

His restoration work tends to center on some core issues these dwellings develop over time: stained plaster, problematic masonry, sub-code wiring, and insufficient insulation.

He believes that all restorations — whether targeted toward a Victorian or other building style — begin with the proper setting of a budget. From there, projections of interior flow, design features, and timelines follow.

More on Buddy Schum and his architectural artistry is at OCNJ Daily.