It is 2015 and I hope everyone has had a lovely holiday season. I have been asked to clarify my definition of restore and renovate. I am not a gifted word smith or literary scholar but I will expound on how I use these two words. Be kind, friends.
To me, the word restore means to bring an object back to a former condition or type of preservation. For example, when I say I want to restore a painting what I mean is I want to preserve the condition of the painting or repair any damage to as close to the original new condition of the painting that I can personally achieve. I use the word renovation to describe repairing, reviving, repurposing and modifying something to a new condition or a new state of being. I use restore as a mechanism of describing a form of preservation and renovations to describe renewing something with modifications and changes to the original design.
When I plan to repair and refinish an original Airstream coach or Airstream part to as close to original factory condition as I am able I would describe myself as restoring the Airstream. Ido make exceptions for items that are a safety hazard. An example of a safety issue would be the original furnace in our Airstream Argosy. I plan to update the propane furnace to a newer model while preserving the original location and infrastructure. I am removing the old unit because it is known to be a carbon monoxide and fire hazard. A new furnace will be more efficient and safer but the cabinet, ducting, wiring and location will restored to as close to new condition from the factory as I am able to produce. Clear as mud, I know but this is how I apply these words conceptually. I could be completely using them in error but you asked and I answered. It is a chilly winter day in New England and I need to go shovel out the outer base of the hoop house. It is a toast 58 degrees inside the greenhouse and lovely in the our 31ft Airstream Sovereign.
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