Hugh Siler has been making waves with his innovative restorations of homes in the Old Towne Historic District of Orange, California. Old Towne’s historic vibe is unique in Orange County. Working with a variety of artists and artisans, Hugh infuses these small cottages and homes with an undeniable cool-factor, and rents them out to ecstatic tenants.

So, tell me what you’ve been up to in Orange?

Over the past seven years we’ve restored ten houses in Old Towne Orange, and a few dozen throughout Orange County. My take is probably different from just about everybody else. We don’t just take the houses back to period correctness, but we are trying to create some of the coolest, most retro, historically accurate homes on the West Coast and making them available for people to rent. It’s been incredible. There are still people out there who appreciate quality, especially when you’re giving it to them at a fair price.

What inspired you to add these personal touches, and really quirky artistic details?

It's all part of the process when you're working with these unique homes– it's all rooted in authenticity. With the smaller cottages you can add these whimsical touches and not take it too seriously, when you're living in 450 square feet and people appreciate this character and personality. I like to integrate the art into the walls that have been there 100, 110 years. It just naturally happens when you're working with like-minded artisans and craftsmen. Yesterday, for example, I brought a sign painter in from Reno, Nevada, to paint a piece of glass on the pantry door in the kitchen. After doing some research we found the oldest bakery in town was built in 1911 just 200 yards from the home. I got ahold of the family, and from early pictures we were able to replicate the logo from the early 1900s and it's now on the pantry door. The family was so excited. The 92-year-old matriarch of the family was ecstatic.

What drew you to preservation and historic homes?

I would say growing up my dad always restored old motorcycles and cars, so I would watch him meticulously restore these old hot rods and motorcycles. I wasn't the type of guy who liked to get greasy, it wasn't really me. But you'll see a lot of mechanical history in these homes… lights out of commercial buildings and parts of 1880s trains... Back in the day trains were really elegant, and their fixtures were adapted for a small spaces, so they adapt perfectly for these little cottages. One light is from a former dentist office, one of the first dentist lights from about 1900.

Typically five homes are selected every other year, and they selected three of our cottages. The tenants were super into it, and each chose to lead people through their homes for 1,500 people over two days. They gave the tours and told the histories of their own home.

How do you find the balance between livable, modern amenities and historical accuracy and character?

That is probably the most difficult challenge. People can find newer homes with dual-pane windows and granite counter tops, that's not hard to find here. In a historic home there are a lot of good things, but your windows are going to creak a little bit, and they may not close as tightly as you would like. There are 115-year-old Douglas Fir floors that if you wear high heels it'll leave dents.

I try to educate people on how these homes should be treated and lived in, and for the most part they really respect it and quickly get used to it. Most people who choose to live in a historic house want to live in and experience it respectfully.