The Whole House Remodel

Many times it’s possible to rearrange spaces within an existing house and make it work so much better than before. By opening up floor plans, moving stairs, even moving bedrooms and living spaces, it’s possible to create a plan that is appropriate for today’s living. Here are some things to consider:Let go of Preconceived IdeasBy letting go of preconceived ideas of how rooms should be arranged, you may be able to arrive at a solution that you couldn’t imagine before. That may mean that the master bedroom needs to go where the living room is. Or moving the kitchen may solve many layout problems. While the project is still early in the design phase it’s easy to test bold ideas, so do this early on to arrive at the best solution for your project.Move the Stairs and Get Rid of the FireplacesIt seems more often than not that stairs and fireplaces are just in the wrong spot. Stairs are often too tight and dangerous to navigate. By moving the stair, it can often be designed to better connect different floor levels and also be a more comfortable dimension to make the stair safer to use.Old masonry fireplaces are often located where it would be much nicer to have large windows or french doors to the outside. Or they are just much more massive than they need to be, taking up valuable floor space. With the advent of modern prefabricated metal fireplaces, it’s possible to remove an old masonry fireplace, and replace it (possibly in a new location) with a smaller and more efficient unit.Get Rid of HallwaysLook at turning hallways into part of the space of the adjacent rooms. This is not always possible, but hallways don’t generally make a house feel larger or more expansive. They generally are perceived as being wasted space. By connecting rooms to each other without hallways, you’ll end up with a space that feels larger and flows better.Consider Green MaterialsA large portion of a whole house remodel is new finishes. Consider green materials such as low VOC paints, sustainably harvested wood floors, natural carpets, and other materials that do not off-gas. Use the remodel as an opportunity to incorporate as many green materials as possible. This will result in a better interior living environment with less chemicals off-gassing, and it is better overall for the environment.Don’t Forget the OutsideWhile the interior of many homes needs a major overhaul, often the exterior does as well. Consider new paint colors, new windows, doors, roof, and siding. When adding new doors and windows, don’t be constrained by existing openings. It can be easy to lower sill heights or even add french doors where a window was once located. Also consider adding architectural features such as dormers or an interesting entry canopy. A whole house remodel is an exciting project to undertake because the result is often a new, fresh design that doesn’t have any resemblance to the old design. By making bold design moves, rearranging spaces, and upgrading and renewing materials, an old house can be given new purpose and extend its useful life many years.