We see Victorian homes dotting Salt Lake City's historic districts. One home in particular had lost its Victorian charm when previous owners replaced the circular column style porch with wrought iron and covered the original shakes with aluminum siding.

The owners hardly recognized their house when they found a photo of the home in its original condition. That is when they started to consider a renovation to restore the Victorian style and to add a small bathroom to create a guest suite.

The aluminum wrapping was stripped from the beams, and the iron columns and railings removed.

New wood columns that matched the original photo replaced the iron ones. A new railing was also added. The original wood siding in the front gables, previously covered with aluminum siding, was uncovered and restored.

The porch roof was replaced by a hip roof to match the original home. The decaying aluminum siding and windows were replaced with fiber-cement siding and wood windows. And finally, the aluminum awning was replaced with a custom-designed wood awning.

Renovating and maintaining Victorian-style homes can be a challenge. But thankfully some are willing to do it right so we can all continue to enjoy this unique style from an important part in modern history.

Architects Ann Robinson and Annie V. Schwemmer are the founders of Renovation Design Group, www.renovationdesigngroup.com, a local architectural firm specializing in residential remodels.