Archer & Buchanan Architecture, a West Chester-based design firm that Peter Archer and Richard Buchanan started 25 years ago, strives to modernize local homes while preserving their historic charm, writes Melissa Jacobs for Main Line Today.

The firm’s efforts are in response to the changing standards of living. People who are buying homes no longer just want central air. They want smart home systems, but they also want to keep the historic and often rustic aesthetic that is closely identified with Chester County.

To accomplish this, Archer & Buchanan focuses more on renovation than preservation.

“We’re not doing reproductions,” said Buchanan. “We utilize the beauty, character, and detail of these 18th-century houses to create homes that people can live in now.”

This renovation movement based on regional architectural language was initiated by Comcast founder Ralph Roberts in the 1990s, around the time Archer & Buchanan was founded.

“We had the benefit of being in the right place and time,” said Buchanan. “Our mission is to use the visual language of Chester County responsibly and accurately to interpret for modern living.”

Read more about Archer & Buchanan Architecture in Main Line Today.